Fifty years ago a young woman joined the Servants of Mary due to a spiritual longing. This young woman is Patricia Jean Burns, otherwise known as Sr. Pat. She has lived at the motherhouse for the past six years.
Sr. Pat was born in Chicago, Ill. She had been working for the treasury department during the war, when she felt a longing to try something new. At the age of 21 she decided to join the Servants of Mary.
Soon after that, Sr. Pat began teaching. She taught all over the country, including Messina, N.Y. and Detroit, Mich. In Messina she taught at Sacred Heart grade school for three years. "We went on many field trips out in the country. The beauty of t he leaves was like a fairyland," said Sr. Pat.
She spent most her life teaching. "I really loved to teach. I was sad during Christmas break because I could not be with the kids," said Sr. Pat.
After teaching for 22 years, Sr. Pat began working at the Archdiocese office of Omaha. She traveled around evaluating schools. "I'm a city kid so it was fun to see the small towns," she said.
Sr. Pat recently celebrated her jubilee. She has been a part of the Servite community for 50 years. Along with Sr. Pat many other nuns were honored. There was a ceremony held in the chapel at the Motherhouse with a reception following in the studen t center.
Sr. Pat spends her spare time providing transportation for other sisters who cannot drive. She also spends plenty of time substituting here at school. "I've always wanted to teach high school," she said. So, if you see Sr. Pat walking down the hall, s top and say "Hi". She is sure to make you smile.