Dominican Sister of Peace Sister Ann Bernadine Shaw, 83, died on September 8, 2020, at Sansbury Care Center, St. Catharine, Kentucky.
Born April 8, 1937, to Margaret Sheehan and Phillip Shaw, Sr. Ann Bernadine grew up in Charlestown, MA, with seven siblings.
Sr. Ann Bernadine earned a Bachelor of Arts in History/Social Science from Regis College in Weston, MA, and a Master of Arts in history from Salem State in Salem, MA. She also expanded her knowledge with courses at St. Stephen’s in Dover, Fairfield University, and Boston State Hospital.
Ann Bernardine entered the community in 1955, made first profession in 1957, and took her final vows in 1959. She served God’s church and God’s people as a consecrated religious for nearly 65 years. She ministered as a teacher and at numerous schools in her native Massachusetts, as well as a principal at Dominican Academy in Plainville, St. John in North Cambridge, and Cathedral Grammar School in Boston. Sr. Ann Bernardine also served her Congregation as Assistant Eastern Regional Coordinator and as Coordinator for six years.
Sr. Ann Bernardine moved to the Congregation’s St. Catharine Motherhouse in St. Catharine, KY, in 2012. Her ministry of service at St. Catharine focused on the loving and compassionate care of residents at the Congregation’s Sansbury Care Center.
In her preaching at Sr. Ann Bernadine’s service, Sr. Teresa Tuite, OP, compared Sr. Ann Bernadine to the crippled woman whose story is told in Luke 13:10-17. “This woman that Luke speaks about had been bent over eighteen years,” Sr. Teresa said. “She was determined that she would make her way into the synagogue and from the shadows hear this traveling preacher called Jesus. She would do it her way. She would do it without drawing attention to herself…. Those who knew Bern knew that if Bern set her mind to something, nothing would stop her. It would be without fanfare. It would be without drawing attention to herself and it would be her way.”
Sr. Ann Bernardine is survived by one sister, Sr. Margaret Philip, and several nieces and nephews.
A limited visitation was held on September 10, and the funeral Mass was held on September 11, 2020. Both services were held at the Congregation’s Magdalen Chapel in St. Catharine, KY. Sr. Ann Bernadine was interred at the St. Catharine Motherhouse cemetery.
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