Sister Angela’s Irish eyes smiled at 100th birthday celebration
ASTON » The dining room at Assisi House was festive Wednesday afternoon. Friends, family members and fellow religious sisters gathered to celebrate the 100th birthday of Sister Angela Patrice Power, OSF. Following a special Mass in the chapel celebrated by the Rev. Francis Seriego, OFM Cap, Sister Power was treated to a special lunch and cake, seated at a table with cousins and friends, who traveled from as far away as Los Angeles to be with her for the milestone occasion on May 9. Other family members came from Ireland in April to celebrate with her.
Not only was Sister Power celebrating her birthday, but the new centenarian was rejoicing in her 80th Jubilee as a Sister of Saint Francis.
Sister Power grew up as Kathleen Mary Power in Dungarvan, Waterford, Ireland. She was the youngest of eight children four girls and four boys. One of young Kathleen’s favorite things to do was Irish dance. She competed in many competitions and received many awards.
In school, she was taught by the Mercy Sisters and had four aunts who entered various other religious communities. Sister Power said that some Sisters of St. Francis lived nearby, and when they were home, they visited the Power family. Young Angela explained that she was very fond of the sisters and knew she was called to follow in St. Francis’ footsteps. She entered the congregation in 1932 at age 16. Two years after her sister, Eileen, also entered.
Her mother and father thought that she was too young, Sister Power recounted, and they expected her to change her mind, so she was held in Mallow for one year before being sent to the United States.
When she arrived in the states, her sister Eileen was a novice. Back in those days, postulants weren’t allowed to speak to novices.
“Since we weren’t allowed to speak to each other, we would sneak off to the tunnel to talk,” Sister Power remembered. “We were young. I finished high school at the motherhouse and as soon as I was professed, teaching.”
Sister Power spent 50 years in education. She taught at St. Paul School and St. Katharine School in Baltimore, before spending 20 years in the Diocese of Wilmington where she taught at St. Paul School, St. Ann School, and St. Thomas School. She also ministered for five years at Our Lady of Lourdes School in Bethesda, Md.
When asked to share a memory of her years of teaching, Sister Power smiled as she recalled, “I remember it was 1938 and I was teaching a class of 90 first graders at St. Katharine’s. One day I asked a little boy to sit in the front desk and act as ‘principal.’ At the end of the day all the students lined up to leave. I look over and the boy was still sitting there. I asked, ‘Why are you still here?’ to which he replied, ‘You said I would get a prize.’ I didn’t have anything to give him so I gave him an old medal I had.”
She first returned to Ireland in 1949, 13 years after entering the congregation. “It was wonderful to see my family again after so many years,” said Sister Power. While in Ireland, she ministered at Immaculata Convent in Mallow, County Cork, helping young women who wished to enter the congregation to prepare.
“Some of the novices I helped to enter now live here at Assisi House with me. I never imagined I’d be living with those I helped so many years ago,” she remarked. I began “Sister Sheila Byrne is one of them. I call them all my grandchildren.”
In 1979, she got a call from her brother who was a priest that he needed help. He was transferred to a small parish on Shelter Island in New York and was by himself. Sister Power went to lend a hand. She served for one year as his housekeeper and cook but also began a CCD program for the children in the parish.
When she returned to the motherhouse, she was asked to take over the role as administrator of Assisi House in Aston for six years. After that assignment, she served for 12 years at St. Joseph Parish in Aston. While serving in parish ministry at St. Joseph’s, Sister Power took up the task of collecting pennies to help build the church.
“I looked on the ground at gas stations, I asked for donations, and I put containers in restaurants,” she said. “When all was said and done, I brought $10,500 in change to the church.”
In 2005, Sister Power was honored by St. Joseph Parish for her many contributions to the life of the parish and for collecting the money for the new church. When asked about how she felt about turning 100 and celebrating her 80th year as a sister, Sister Power responded, “I always said I didn’t want to live to 100. I was and am ready to go to God anytime that he is ready. I guess he’s just not ready yet.”
She feels the key to her longevity is eating properly and keeping moving.
“I am very independent. I don’t sit still. Even now I get up and walk as much as possible.”
She says that she is grateful to have her mind and her wits about her and says, overall, her body is keeping up nicely for 100.
“I am grateful for the life I have had,” Sister Power said. “I would do it all over again. Living in community is very special. It is wonderful to have a place to pray together.”
Although she never got to live with her sister, Sister Eileen Power, during her years of ministry, they did live across the hall from each other in Assisi House for a couple years before Eileen passed away.
“It was great to be so close for the time we had” recalled Sister Power. “The whole thing is to love God and to remain close to the blessed mother. Anything I ask, she is always there to help.”
Sister Peggy Egan, administrator of Assisi House, couldn’t say enough positive things about Sister Power.
“Sister Angela has spent her entire life bringing joy to every single person that she has ever met,” Sister Peggy commented. “Whether it is a child, an elderly person, or a person who is in need in any way, Sister loves them all the same — and that is the absolute truth. She is a wonderful Sister and a really special person.”