Mary Ellen McDonald

McDonald, OP, Sister Mary Ellen of Grand Rapids (the former Sister Aquinette) died on March 5, 2022. She was 81 years old and a Dominican Sister for 60 years.

Sister Mary Ellen earned a BA in Sociology and English and an MA in Religious Education from Aquinas College. Her teaching career took her to St. Boniface, Bay City; Catholic Central, Grand Rapids; and St. Mary Cathedral High School, Saginaw. She joined the co-pastors of the Cathedral for eight years to minister as part of a team.

Asked by the congregational leadership to attend a conference and training on social justice, Sr. Mary Ellen had an encounter with the liberation theologian, Gustavo Gutiérrez Merino, OP. It changed her life and gave her a deep understanding of and commitment to the poor and those treated unjustly. She later wrote, “We must develop our own consciousness on justice issues and help others in their awareness. But our efforts cannot be simply limited to charity . . . we must take the approach of systemic change to remove injustice.” In 1977, Sr. Mary Ellen authored an article for the Catholic Weekly in which she summarized a conference on justice with these words: “If we believe in the Right to Life, then we must believe in the right to adequate food, shelter, health care, etc. for all people in order to maintain life. To accomplish this there will have to be changes in the economic structures and priorities in our country, state, and city. We will have to put people and their needs and services before things and profit.”

Recognizing Sr. Mary Ellen’s competence and the quality of her work, Saginaw Bishop Ken Untener asked her to consider becoming a pastoral administrator - doing everything in the parish except those sacramental duties reserved for ordained priests. She studied at Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, preparing for roles she would hold for the next twenty years - three years at SS. Peter and Paul, Saginaw and then in parishes in rural Michigan where there were no resident priests. These included St. Felix Parish, Pinnebog; St. Henry, Rosebush/St. Charles, Leaton; St. Philip Neri, Coleman/St. Anne, Edenville. Wherever she went, she built up small struggling parishes and was esteemed and loved by the people. She, in turn, was energized by the work – even as she coped with the dual diagnoses of Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s Disease. Of these conditions, she seldom spoke and never complained.

Sr. Mary Ellen initiated and developed the ministry of Pastoral Care on the Marywood Campus. She trained and supervised spiritual care companions for the Marywood Home Health Collaboration with Porter Hills.

Sr. Mary Ellen was selfless in her care for others; she lived simply and had few possessions. She loved people, good conversations, shared meals, and time with others. Sr. Mary Ellen continued to inspire, counsel, teach and preach to the end of her days. She courageously and calmly predicted - “I may not be here tomorrow,” and then this loving, kind, justice-seeking Sister walked humbly with God into eternity.

Sr. Mary Ellen is survived by her sisters: Ann Drueke, Grandville, MI; Bernadette (Robert) Norris, Alto, MI; Martha (Terry) Cliff, Grand Rapids, MI, Judith McDonald, Wyoming, MI and brother-in-law Tom Powers, Kalamazoo, MI; nieces, nephews and many friends and members of her Dominican Community.

In an effort to protect our vulnerable population from the Covid-19 virus a private Funeral Mass with vaccinated immediate family members and Sisters will be celebrated at Chapel of the Word, Marywood on Thursday, March 10. Masks are required.

Burial will be at Resurrection Cemetery. Memorials in Sister Mary Ellen McDonald’s name may be made to the Grand Rapids Dominican Sisters.