In Memory
Sr. Ann Sebastian of the Holy Agony
Margaret Nebel was born on March 25th, 1913 in East Pittsburgh ,Pa. She was baptized on April 20, 1913 at St. William’s Church.
On May 4,1925 Irene Margaret’s sister writes to Mother Mary Boniface, “My sister and I would like to enter into the Trinity Order. Sister Agatho told me to write to you. My sister Margaret was twelve in March. I will be fourteen in August and she is in the fifth grade and I am in sixth grade in St. Joseph’s School. If you will accept us please send us the particulars. We remain Yours Truly, Margaret and Irene Nebel.”
Mother Boniface writes back to them.
My dear little Friends, I surely was pleased to receive your letter. Just think two little missionaries from my home diocese. How pleasing your letter must be to our Dear Lord and His Blessed Mother, to think that two little girls wish to take up the cause of the Blessed Trinity.
We will be delighted to have you join us at Holy Trinity. I am sure the girls at Holy trinity Academy will welcome you to the Sunny South. My dear little friends, you are too young now to enter the Novitiate, but you may enroll in our preparatory school, and when you reach the age of fifteen years, if you so desire and prove satisfactory to us, you may enter the Blessed Trinity Novitiate.
In January 1932 Margaret writes to Mother Mary of the Incarnate Word asking about arrangements join the convent. She states that both mother and dad are pleased with her decision.
Margaret then enters on February 11,1932. She made her first profession on August 15, 1933 and her finals on March 25 1937.
We have no record if the two sisters went to Holy Trinity. But Irene Nebel did enter the community in August 15th 1926 and left on March 25th 1936. Her names was Sr. Mary Angela.
Sister Ann Sebastian’s first three missions were Richmond Hill, NY, Orange, N.J. and Brooklyn NY. In 1937 to 1941 she was stationed in Auburn,NY.
In 1941 she was sent to Rockford, Ill. And stayed until 1962. She was the Custodian from 1956-1962.
In 1962 she was the custodian in Cambridge, Mass. In 1968 she moved on to Attleboro,Mass and was worried about teaching kindergarten again after thirteen years , The next year she went to Philadelphia, Miss. With the Chccktow Indians. She writes from there.” We are four and need at least two more sisters. It is frustrating to see needs and not be able to meet them. There is a big need to work full time with the children in the dormitory. Some of these children have NEVER been in a home and I would like to do something about it. We need help!”
From 1978 to 1981 she was stationed in Camden, MS working in the parish of Immaculate Conception, In 1981 she became the Director of Ministry for the Elderly at Casa Calderon in a residence for the elderly in Tallahassee Fl. She lived in the building alone for the first time. As her health and hearing started to fade she asked if she could join the Ministry of Prayer. In 1994 she moved into St. Patrick’s Cenacle in Phoenix City. It was there that all her natural talents came to full flower. She painted and did wonderful ceramics and new crafts. She was known for her Christmas Place mats. Today we have beautiful tablecloth on our dining room table in the Generalate. She was always sending money from these endeavors to the GTO.
In 1999 sister came to the Motherhouse. She continued her arts and crafts as long as she was able. One day she turned in her painting things to Sr. Barbara McIntyre and said she was finished, Her missionary spirit however never died. She was always concerned about the welfare of the sisters and about our lay employees. May she continue to keep watch on us all.