Ann Brennan, SNDdeN and her older brother were raised in Milton, Massachusetts. Their parents, Albert and Mildred (Davenport) Brennan, wanted the children to have a Catholic education, so both attended St. Gregory School in Dorchester, Massachusetts. They were taught by Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur.
Sister Ann recalls in the sixth grade, one of their regular class assignments was to read aloud letters sent by Sisters serving in Okayama, Japan. She looked forward to hearing about what the youngsters going to school in Okayama were learning and doing, and it kindled her interest in serving in the Missions.
In high school, she felt called to join the Congregation and, still inspired by knowing of the Sisters’ work in Japan, did so after graduating from St. Gregory in 1947.
Sister Ann chose the religious name Ann Mildred. Her first ministries were in Brighton, Massachusetts, where she taught second and third grades at Presentation School.
In 1956, just a year after taking her perpetual vows, Sister Ann and three other Sisters made the long journey to Japan by boat. They brought 18 full trunks of supplies, such as towels, cloth and pencils, because supplies were very limited in post-war Japan. Even during the voyage, Sister Ann furthered her education by taking an English course from another Sister.
In Japan, Sister Ann formally completed her degree from Emmanuel College.
She later earned a master’s degree in elementary education from the University of Massachusetts, Boston and became certified to teach English to Speakers of other Languages (ESL).
Sister Ann feels extremely fortunate that while in Okayama, she was able to live with the very first group of SNDdeNs to go to Japan—women who had been interned during WWII. She describes them as “Beautiful, beautiful people,” and she values the close community of Sisters there.
Sister Ann taught in Okayama for about five years and then went to Hiroshima for a year and a half. News of her mother’s grave illness and impending death sent Sister Ann back home to Massachusetts.
After returning to the U.S., Sister Ann taught elementary grades at Massachusetts schools. Her hope, however, was always to return to Japan.
Twelve years later, Sister Ann returned and taught English for three years at Notre Dame Seishin High School in Kurashiki.
This was her last time in Japan, except for a brief period in the 1990s, but there would be more international living to come.
Back in the U.S. again, Sister Ann became secretary to the principal of Cathedral High School in Boston. At that time, many newly arriving students from Southeast Asia were there, and Sister Ann became their ESL teacher.
She then moved to Rome for a year to serve as a member of the SNDdeN Generalate Staff, where she kept records for the Congregation and taught English to several young refugees from Eritrea. Many ultimately went on to live in English-speaking countries. One of the young men she tutored went to the U.S., studied medicine, and now has an M.D. who regularly returns to Africa to care for his people.
Sister Ann's dedication to teaching English as a second language continued. For about 15 years, she taught and tutored immigrants from many countries at the Notre Dame Education Center in South Boston.
Though she has retired from formal ministry for some time, Sister Ann has been involved in activities such as sewing clothing for children in Haiti and knitting hats and other items for donations.
Even now, Sister Ann is helping a new immigrant to improve her English skills. She and another Sister living in Ipswich meet weekly with a housekeeping staff member who had to flee her life as a college professor in Ukraine when the war with Russia began. Sister Ann feels very humbled by how many immigrants with prestigious roles in their home countries have adjusted to more modest circumstances with grace.
At this time of her 75th Jubilee, Sister Ann describes her favorite ministry:
“It was a grace-filled moment for me to teach people from other cultures because they had so much to share from and about their own culture and experiences. They may be learning English, and they may be making a lot of mistakes, but inside, they are treasures!”