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Personal History
Sr. Theodore was born in Brooklyn, New York. When she was a young child, her family moved to Masbeth, Long Island. This is where Sr. Theodore attended elementary school. She had to take two buses to arrive at her high school, Manhattan High.
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Call as a Librarian
When Sr. Theodore entered the convent, at age 16, it was not customary for young sisters to choose their mission. Although sister had always known in her heart that she wanted to be a librarian, the mother superior sent sister off to Fordham University to earn a degree in teaching. Sr. Theodore followed the path laid out for her, but she always prayed that, if it be God’s will, she would eventually pursue her dreams as a librarian. After finishing her degree in teaching and serving God for many years at various elementary schools, her dream was fulfilled. The mother superior was called to find two sisters to go back to school: one to get a masters in theology and the other to get a masters in Library Science. “The blessing fell straight from heaven into my lap," Sister Theodore proclaims. She believes that this blessing was an answer to her prayers; she had never once requested such a job or even spoken to another person about her dream. “Prayer is powerful. God has no limits. He can do the impossible.” And this he did. Sr. Theodore has spent many years since serving God by doing what she loves to do.
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Missions
Sr. Theodore taught upper grade levels of elementary school in Florida, Connecticut, New York, and Pennsylvania. She also taught in New Castle, Pennsylvania teaching strictly Spanish to children who were in junior high.
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Accomplishments
Sr. Theodore has won many awards, but the one that she is most proud of is the Fons Sapientia Award. This is Latin for Fountain of Wisdom. Sr. Theodore was simply ecstatic when she received this award. In fact, she almost threw the letter away in the trash; however a return address caught her eye. When she read the letter, she could not believe that she would have received such a prestigious honor. The Fons Sapientia was awarded to Sr. Theodore by the Catholic Library Association in 2007 for her outstanding excellence as a librarian. However, Sr. Theodore, being the modest nun we all know and love, did not accept the award just in her honor. Instead, Sr. Theodore wanted to thank the 110 volunteers without whom the library would not be what it is today. Sr. Theodore also received this great honor in the name of Cor Jesu Academy.
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New Mission
Sr. Theodore will be moving away from Cor Jesu Academy to her new mission in Connecticut. She asks for our prayers as she begins her new ministry at Sacred Heart Manor. Her new call will consist of many responsibilities. Sr. Theodore will be assisting retired sisters with tasks that they can no longer do on their own. These tasks will consist of writing letters home, acting as a mediator in phone calls for sisters who have difficulty hearing and other similar duties. She also hopes to assist with the adult day care for the elderly that is run by the sisters. There she could be acting as a receptionist, washing clothes, greeting guests, and visiting with others. She hopes she will be able to help out in the two libraries at Sacred Heart Manor, and she would love to help take care of the archives of the congregation as well. Most importantly Sr. Theodore hopes to have more time to spend praying and serving Christ in everyone that she encounters. Sister says that leaving Cor Jesu is the hardest thing that she has ever had to do in her life. Cor Jesu is her home. Over thirty years of service has connected her heart, mind and soul to the school, the community, the students, and the families. Although she hates to leave, Sr. Theodore sees her new mission as God's calling. She is happy to serve God in new places and through new people. Her mother once told her "If you can't do something graciously and with joy, don't do it at all." This mindset allows her to embrace her new calling with love and joy. Sr. Theodore will continue to pray for us and hopes that we will do the same for her.
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