“How good is the Good God who tries us.” – St. Julie Billiart
Sister Ann Marie McAndrews, SNDdeN was the oldest of six children born to Henry Anthony McAndrews and Anne Cecilia L. McAndrews. She has fond memories of her childhood. Her father worked for the telephone company for over 46 years, and her mother was always home, caring for the children. "We didn't have much money," she recalls, "but we had a lot of love."
In her freshman year of high school, Sister Ann met two Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, Sisters Bernadine and Aloyse Patricia. She was touched by their kindness and patience and was inspired to join the novitiate herself.
She entered the novitiate in 1947 and began her first mission, teaching 3rd grade at St. Joseph School in Somerville, Massachusetts. As a young and inexperienced teacher, she was overwhelmed by her class of 35 first and second graders. “After six months in the classroom, I decided I was never going to learn to teach!” she recalls. “I went to my superior, Sister Aimee Marie, and told her my decision.” Following Sister Aimee Marie’s encouragement, Sister Ann persisted, becoming an accomplished educator who taught in many schools throughout Massachusetts and New Hampshire during her 30 years in the classroom and as principal and director of religious education.
For the past 27 years she has served as pastoral associate at St. George Parish in Framingham, Massachusetts, preparing funeral services, baptism preparations, and home visits. “It’s been very life-giving for me,” she shares.
She has also been active in prison ministry for over twenty years. Until the start of the pandemic, she visited an incarcerated woman weekly. Now, she continues this communication over the phone.
Sister Ann Marie McAndrews is very grateful for her 80 years of service as a Sister of Notre Dame de Namur. She is thankful for her health and that, at 96 years of age, she can still be in active ministry.