Sister Mary Pius Worland, O.P.

Born:  August 12, 1927

Professed:  March 7, 1948

Born to eternal life:  April 9, 2006

Mary Louise Worland was born August 12, 1927, in Mattoon, Illinois to Tilson Vincent and Cora Mae Parker Worland. She was one of eight children. Alice, Carl, Horace, Gertrude, Julius, and Vincent her priest brother, preceded her in death. She is survived by her sister Elsie, many nieces and nephews, and good friend Judy Grant.

From her grade school days at St. Joseph School in Mattoon she loved music. She played the piano, cornet and French horn and sang in the choir where she often sang solo at Requiem Masses early in the morning.

On September 6, 1946, she entered St. Catharine novitiate, receiving the name Sister Mary Pius.

In an Appeal Talk she gave at St. John Berchmans Church in 1991 she summed up her teaching career: "When I made my vows on March 7, 1948, I began a teaching career that took me to Louisville, Kentucky; Brooklyn, New York; Briartown, Kentucky; Chicago—St. Bartholomew and Our Lady of Peace parishes; Jeffersonville, Indiana; Nebraska, Omaha, Spalding and back to Omaha; then to Mattoon, my hometown; Orland Park; then to Long Beach, California, and back to Jeffersonville, and the Louisville area again…. Some people join the Navy to see the world—I joined the Dominicans and have certainly seen a lot of service throughout the United States." Her love of travel took her beyond the United States, too. She shared some experiences of her trips to the Holy Land and to Russia through articles in Dominican News. In 1979 Sister Mary Pius left her teaching career for that of a secretary—first at St. John Berchmans Parish and then in 1982 at the Pastoral Center for the Archdiocese of Chicago. There she worked in various capacities under Father Francis Kane (now Bishop Kane)—Office Manager in the Office of Ministry for Peace and Justice, Secretary for Director of Evangelization and Christian Life, and secretary for Director of Community Services. In the February 13, 1998 edition of the Chicago Archdiocesan paper, Sister Mary Pius’ office was one of several offices featured in an article on "Sacred Spaces" which portrayed Catholics who were expressing everyday spirituality in the decoration of their work places. Those who knew Mary Pius well appreciated a framed motto in full view in the picture: "God blesses this room….He doesn’t clean it!" Sister Mary Pius moved to St. Catharine Motherhouse in 2002. In 2004 she moved to Sansbury Care Center where she continued to be connected to the many friends she had reached out to throughout the years. Listening to music and playing card games—especially pinochle—were her two great pastimes. What joy there must be as she is welcomed home by the great number of her family and friends in the Paschal season.

Click to read more about other sisters and Associates who have died.

Ellen McClellan, OPA born to eternal life on April 1, 2006

Agnes Mindrup, OPA born to eternal life December 2, 2005

Sister Engelbert Allewelt, OP   born to eternal life November 25, 2005

Elinor "Ellie" Hartnett, OPA  born to eternal life November 17, 2005.

Sister Mary Regis Cullen, OP born to eternal life November 16, 2005.

Sister Sheila Buckley, OP born to eternal life October 9, 2005.

Sister Antonia Gallagher, OP born to eternal life September 28, 2005.

 Margaret Riedel, OPA born to eternal life September 27, 2005.

Sister Rose Vincent O'Brien, OP born to eternal life September 26, 2005.

Sister Verona Weidig, OP born to eternal life September 11, 2005.

Sister Hugh Frances Carey, O.P. born to eternal life July 18, 2005.

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