We invite readers to send short stories about the ways in which their lives have been personally blessed by the life and work of priests and religious in our diocese.

By Karina Fabian

Born in Anaconda on March 12, 1941, Sister Mary Jo McDonald, SCL, attended St. Paul’s grade school and Anaconda Central High School. She received a bachelor’s degree in education from St. Mary College, a master’s in education (emphasis on counseling and an endorsement in administration) from the University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio, and a master’s in pastoral ministry from the University of Seattle, Seattle, Wash.

Her assignments have taken her to many places – Wyoming, Colorado, California, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas and presently Butte. She has taught junior high, counseled in elementary and high school, and been a principal.

Presently, she is a pastoral assistant at St. Ann Parish in Butte.

“I believe my vocation was fostered in my family simply by the importance of the parish in our lives and how our other activities revolved around the parish events,” Sister McDonald said. “I give particular credit to Father John J. McCoy, who was responsible for steering me in the direction of St. Mary College in Leavenworth, Kansas.”

Until that time, she had not met the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, but had been taught by the Ursulines, Benedictines and Dominicans.

While in college, she met Sister Mary Josepha Talle and Sister Mary Vincentia Maronic, who had a direct impact on her life and her decision to become a Sister of Charity.

“All of the Sisters I had been taught by and those that had entered my life as family friends were dedicated individuals who had a wonderful spirit and happiness about them and their presence,” she said. “I entered the Sisters of Charity in 1960 after one year of college and have been blessed by the life I have chosen.”

Her present assignment has provided her with rich opportunities in the Helena Diocese.

“St. Ann’s Parish is home and the families here are family,” she related. “I thank God every day for my vocation and pray God send more laborers into the vineyard. A religious vocation is a rich opportunity to minister shared faith and be present to families at special times of need and on the occasion of celebration.”

She enjoys time spent with the Sisters, opportunities to photograph wildlife and scenery, and just being with people.


Published in The Montana Catholic, Vol. 19, No. 2, February 21, 2003.