Day 4: Sister Mary in Detroit

I had a 7 a.m. appointment with Sister Mary Watson at Detroit's St. Patrick's Senior Center. The rain made me a few minutes late. She showed me the dining area, which serves 150-200 seniors lunch every day, before we headed to a room next to her office to talk. Sister Mary told me about her family of 11 children and that her mother had prayed (without her knowledge) that one of her children would enter ministry. At age 14, she went to the convent and knew that a life of service was the right thing for her. After serving as a dietician in hospitals, she was asked by the church to provide meals to seniors in central Detroit. Using an old Catholic girls' high school, she began cooking for seven seniors the first day in 1973. Now over 30 years later, the St. Patrick's Senior Center's staff of 20 provides daily meals, exercise programs, computer training, activities, outings, and, most importantly, a safe and comfortable place for seniors to gather and talk with one another. Sister Mary is their greatest advocate, and she sees what Jesus wants for her community and works for it. What an honor to have the opportunity to record her life story.

From Detroit, I headed back to the hotel to pick up my Dad. Chicago is next...