Sister Ann Regis Barrett of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

October 26, 1928–April 28, 2021

Sister Ann Regis Barrett of the Immaculate Heart of Mary was born October 26, 1928 in Scranton, PA. Her father was Michael J. and her mother was Mary M. Andres. She had one brother, John.

Her birth certificate and passport read Anna Marie but her baptismal registery reads Ann. Ann was baptized on November 4, 1928 at Nativity parish in Scranton, PA.

Sr. Ann’s strongest ties with her family are through her nieces and nephew, all of whom she was very fond and with whom she stayed in touch with on a regular basis.

Ann was a teacher and was 32 years old when she entered. She obtained a BA in Art and a MA in Education from Marywood College in Scranton. And all of us who knew Ann knew of the strong bonds that form between with graduates of Marywood.

All through her life Ann took advantage of educational opportunities that would help her in her ministry.

Ann toyed with the idea of a vocation but did nothing about it until 1958 when she contacted the community. Then she struggled with a decision about which community to enter. On Good Friday 1958 she wrote to Mother Sebastian: “A tremendous calm has settled over this previously perplexed spirit. I know now what I must do. I now seek permission to enter your community. What talents and capabilities with which God has blessed me I give back to him to be molded and formed into a MSBT. For it is by learning to live the rule of this community that I feel I can best fulfill God’s will.”

Again, in one of her letters to the community, she wrote:

“Further speculation has led me to realize that I must choose that way which compels me to give all. Such a giving of self is infinitely meager for I know it is I who, in the end, shall gain all.”

She made her first profession March 25, 1960. Again and again, Ann used phrases that spoke of God’s grace: aided by God’s grace, with God’s sustaining graces, with the help of God’s grace.

As Ann moved along in her journey to Final Profession, her requests for permission for vows, to renew vows, and to make Final Profession all arrived just under the deadline. She was always pushing the deadline for vows.

In 1962 she wrote: “After prayerful reflection concerning my continuance as a Missionary Servant of the Most Blessed Trinity, I request your permission to renew my vows according to the constitution of our congregation. With God’s sustaining grace I hope to continue.”

1963 “Hopefully it is not too late to submit this request… If I expect to look ahead to another year in the Cenacle Family- I had better get this off to you. With the help of God’s grace, I hope to continue my efforts to live in accord with the rule and spirit of the Missionary Cenacle.”

1964 “Hopefully it’s not too late to submit this request. At the time of her final vows, in January, 1965, she wrote to Mother Marie of the Holy Trinity: “At this late date, I had better be brief – that is- if I hope to make the deadline? I do wish to make final vows thus; I am requesting your permission. With God’s grace I hope that I will continue to extend these efforts (feeble all too often!) to live permanently in accord with the rule and spirit of the Cenacle.”

She made the deadline and made her final profession on March 25, 1964.

Here are a few quotes from those she worked with over the years:

Her Department Supervisor: Excellent administrator, fully dedicated to her work. She was a role model for us all.

Bishop: I want to express my sincere thanks for your years of service and leadership. The school has done so well under your guidance.

Board Member: Her devotion to ministry has really turned things around. She has molded our faculty of lay teachers into a strong, unified community. They all serve as models for our children. To the Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity, allow me to take the opportunity to thank you for SARB. Surely God heard our cry when he sent Sister to us. She is doing a super job.”

Sr. Ann herself wrote these words on her resume in 1997:

Work experience

Field of education combines nineteen years of teaching Art, Social Studies, Language Arts, and Religion at Junior and Senior High School levels with twelve years administrative experience as Principal. These education ministries were executed in the deep South and in the North East parts of the United States. Field of Social Services accumulated thirteen years experience serving in a variety of capacities including therapeutic counseling to Juveniles, and Adults; Family Units; Services to Birth Parents and Adoptive Applicants; Foster Care Services including Home Selection, Child Placement and Supervision; School Social Work; Administrator of a Group Home for developmentally disabled adults. These Social Service ministries were in the North, South, and deep South.

Sr. Ann ministered in 7 States and 13 locations.

In 1979, Sr. Ann was missioned to Waterflow, New Mexico to work with Navajo people at Sacred Heart Parish. 35 years later her farewell party was held on November 11, 2014.

How she loved this mission. Ann loved the people here and made every effort to learn of the culture and history of the people. She also took classes to address the social problem of the area. She was well loved and respected.

In 2014 Ann was experiencing some medical issues and came to the Motherhouse. It was a difficult adjustment to living with so many people after living alone for so long.  Here she was involved in different ministries and settled into being part of Inn Dwelling, working with the young men and women in that program. She enjoyed this ministry and it was hard for her to let it go when she was unable to continue.

In spite of the challenges, Sr. Ann continued to smile. She had a wonderful sense of humor and could make you laugh even when you didn’t want to.

Ann, you will be missed for so many things. Thanks for the gift you were among us. Please be our intercessor with the Triune God. May you rest eternally in the arms of our Triune God.