Sr. Mary Angela Deane, OP, a native of Gross Ile, near Detroit, Michigan, celebrates her 25th Jubilee this year. She formally entered religious life in 1995 and made her perpetual profession in March 2000. She initially served as an educator in secondary schools in Riverview, Bay City, Waterford, and Saginaw, Michigan.
During her time as a teacher, Sr. Mary Angela particularly enjoyed instructing high school students in Saginaw and Bay City, Michigan, “It was the combination of serving as a teacher and putting a lot of time into community service and retreats. It amounted to holding down two full-time jobs that were both very rewarding. The time spent in Waterford teaching theology, social studies, and helping with school plays was also enriching.”
After years of spending time teaching young students, her ministry led her to the Dominican Learning Center (DLC) in Columbus, where she helped adult learners reach their goals. She also worked diligently with former DLC Director Sr. Shawn Fitzpatrickto improve the GED curriculum at the Center. Today, Sr. Mary Angela continues to serve as a teacher when she has the opportunity and volunteers in the activity center and the Office of Mission Advancement at the Dominican Sisters of Peace Columbus Motherhouse.
At this point, Sr. Mary doesn’t believe her journey has ended – her ambition is to make the world a better place with her prayer and actions. She is persistent in her work towards this goal, and she is often inspired by former First Lady Bird Johnson.
Johnson’s famous quote, “Where flowers bloom, so does hope” - a reflection on the vibrancy of blooming flowers (symbolizing hope) even in difficult circumstances - lives on in Sr. Mary’s day-to-day life.
Sr. Mary Angela’s 6th grade teacher, Sr Angelique Rose, I.H.M., was influential in her decision to serve others as a woman religious, which she did after finishing her education.
Sr. Mary Angela Deane received her Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Michigan in both English & Political Science, and her Secondary Teaching Certificate as well as a Master of Arts in Education specializing in Instruction and Curriculum from the University of Detroit.
Sr Mary also studied post graduate work in theology at Sacred Heart Seminary in Orchard Lake, Michigan, Saints Cyril & Methodius in Orchard Lake, Michigan, Aquinas Institute in St. Louis, Missouri and Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, Illinois.