REMEMBERING
This article is a reprint from PASSAGES and written by S. Carole Sweely (who died in 2011).
Mother Loraine Tracy is a gift to the memory. Among our valiant women, she has been gone the longest since 1966. Mother Loraine was our first prioress from 1948-1954. To lead a newly established community in those early years was no small feat. There were so many firsts that would eventually form traditions and Mother Loraine was the trail blazer, unknowingly forming patterns of community living which served all in many future years. To have this gifted leadership so early was indeed valued and heroic.
I do recall that summer of my high school graduation in 1955 and being invited to the reception ceremony in June at 301 Summit Avenue, the reception service held at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church on Summit. Cars were needed for this trek and I just happened to land in the same car with Mother Loraine. I had no idea who she was but she was kind and that was my grace that weekend, kindness from these strangers in black and white habits. I had little experience with sisters so those hours were mostly a blur except for those obvious positive qualities which attracted my attention and I am spending a lifetime trying to emulate.
More years passed, mostly four or perhaps five, with education classes and preparations for teaching and landing at my first mission where I became steeped in schoolwork. The supervisor of schools at that time was Mother Lorraine and my sixth-grade class knew her enough to have one of the boys come back from a trek outside the classroom and announce to me upon his entry, “That sister is here that visits classrooms.” Of course, I did not really know to whom he was referring and since he had not used her name, my panic button had not been pushed. When I had a few moments to reflect, I began to connect and realized Mother Loraine must be on site. Of course, she would come to my classroom since I was the newest and youngest teaching sister there. I have no unhappy memory of that day so all must have been acceptable.
Later, at that same site, I do recall having to attend church devotions weekly and wishing to spend more time preparing classes. I asked the superior to be excused and lo, she said, she did not have that power saying I should ask Mother Loraine when she appeared on the scene again. Eventually, when Mother Loraine came, we both went into a guest room and I told her my dilemma, devotions or school preparations, and without any hesitation, she agreed to school preps. I was ready to embrace her in joy but declined since I hardly knew her, but I was so very grateful since school preps abounded to say nothing of papers to correct. The next year I was assigned to our new high school to teach and who should be the superior but Mother Loraine. What joy, I thought with anticipation.
We had a contingent of young sisters teaching at Archbishop Murray Memorial High School in the early 1960s. Space was lacking for living quarters so most of the sisters lived in the music wing in small practice rooms which had yet to be furnished with pianos and other instruments. One side had windows, the other did not. Mother Loraine had a large room with windows facing west and the room was directly over the cafeteria which had a clock and connecting bells. Then, bells were a very important part of convent living and teaching. One very early morning, the bells went off in the cafeteria and were loud and clear enough to make Mother Loraine believe her alarm had rung. So, she automatically began to ready herself for morning prayers and while doing this, she noted how dark it was outside, and checking her time, discovered it was only 4 am! She told this story about herself so well with laughter, of course. Laughter was part of her being and appeared sometimes where laughter was not to be—in chapel, for example, and her laughter was infectious to others.
Mother Loraine’s presence was regal, and the habit announced this whenever she appeared. It was hard not to notice this woman in a crowd or even when walking alone. Leadership came natural to her as she proved again and again with her creative quips and a grasp of the whole picture, whatever the topic. She was in great support of the sisters and their stance in a school setting. Mother Loraine loved parties and participated with great glee. Her nature was light-hearted for the occasion even though her duties required her serious side. She was pleasant to meet in any hallway or to visit at a moment’s notice. She had a gift for loving others and appreciation was always felt as if the other was doing her the favor of presence. We have missed this valiant woman and continue to claim her as our very own.
Carole Sweely, OSB
This is the first in the series of Valiant Women in our community.