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Some people say Catholic sisters don’t have an impact on children and families the way they used to. The students at Cathedral High School in Indianapolis would disagree. Sister Mary Ann Stewart, SP, is teaching these students U.S. and world history and many will be eligible to vote in the next presidential election. Talk about influence!
Sister Mary Ann Stewart visits with a former student, Father Tom Clegg, during the National Eucharistic Congress.
“I tell my students that the reason they are taking U.S. history is so they can be informed citizens. Many of them as sophomores and juniors will be able to vote in three years, and we talk about how important it is,” said Sister Mary Ann.
Having taught at Cathedral since 1980, Sister Mary Ann has seen a lot of changes – from students lugging backpacks bursting with thick textbooks to carrying an iPad and phone to class. Printing out syllabi, writing papers and taking paper tests has changed to students using an app to review their schedule, take quizzes and read assignments. This is better for the environment and also saves students money, which is important since 45 percent of Cathedral’s students are on financial aid.
She likes working at Cathedral because the values of the Holy Cross brothers are so similar to those of the Sisters of Providence. She was encouraged by her religious community to teach at Cathedral during a tumultuous time when it was difficult to get the tuition to keep the school running. She’s the only Catholic sister, working alongside faculty and staff, two Holy Cross priests and a Holy Cross brother.
History Repeats Itself
Sister Mary Ann has also seen much that hasn’t changed, with history repeating itself. “There is so much conflict over immigration today. Our country’s first colonies were built by immigrants.” One day she was teaching about the Lewis and Clark expedition and she pointed out that St. Louis was initially settled by the French and it grew substantially with an influx of German and Irish immigrants.
“My own family were pioneer settlers in Indiana. My great-great grandparents are on the 1820 census for Vigo County. Mother Theodore was an immigrant, and my Aunt Dorothy’s grandfather, Logan Hagan, an Irish immigrant, was Mother Theodore’s carriage driver,” Sister Mary Ann said.
Sister Mary Ann teaches history at Cathedral High School in Indianapolis.
A Catholic Viewpoint
Sister Mary Ann says it’s important to give students the Catholic viewpoint of U.S. history, hold to the Church’s position and stand strong on the issues, like giving preference to the poor, welcoming immigrants and supporting U.S. Government aid programs for developing countries.
“To be Providence in today’s world,” said Sister Mary Ann, “it takes wisdom, and people have to speak up. I was very encouraged by the No Kings rallies. People feared that the Founding Fathers, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, would be kings in the new government. Washington reassured folks he wasn’t interested in being a king,” noted Sister Mary Ann.
“The peaceful transfer of power from John Adams to Thomas Jefferson was significant because it was the first time power peacefully transferred between opposite political parties in American history. People feared violence then but there wasn’t any.”
She added, “Providence is about us carrying God’s care for the world forward. I think kids need to realize that it’s part of Catholic teaching, that they aren’t hearing from other places. There is a social justice slant to teaching history for people to get the whole story.”
What Gives Her Hope
At Cathedral, Sister Mary Ann said that special assemblies also emphasize important topics for students. “We talked about diversity at an assembly two weeks ago. Forty-one percent of our student body are persons of color, and we had a celebration of Hispanic culture. About a dozen girls modeled their Quinceñera dresses. At the same assembly, several U.S. Marines, accompanying bicycle acrobatic performers, delivered a message about bullying.”
Sister Mary Ann weaves U.S. history in with religious history. On October 22, the Sisters of Providence Foundation Day, Sister Mary Ann said the morning prayer over the PA system. She said the whole school also celebrated Oct. 3 as Saint Mother Theodore Guerin’s Feast Day. “When our young sisters enter as postulants, they come to Cathedral and talk to our religion classes,” said Sister Mary Ann.
“What gives me hope?” Sister Mary Ann wondered aloud. “People are well-meaning and open to other people. That’s the hope for the future. Teenagers need people to care for them, be kind to them, and friendly to them so they have people to talk to during these difficult high school years.”
Diane Weidenbenner is the annual fund manager and donor relations for the Sisters of Providence Advancement Services office. She's also a Providence Associate.
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