Sister Mary Esther Otter
Sister Mary Esther Otter cares for the croton plant at the Nazareth Motherhouse on a sunny December morning.
BORN: Clayton, Kan.
RECEIVED: Aug. 15, 1952
CURRENT HOME: Concordia
EDUCATION: BA, Marymount College; post-graduate workshops and studies at College of St. Scholastica, Duluth, Minn., Fort Hays (Kan.) State University, University of Minnesota at St. Paul, Kansas State University, University of La Verne (Calif.), Creighton University, Omaha, Neb.
MINISTRIES:
1954-81: Elementary school teacher in Manhattan, Cawker City, Salina and Schoenchen, Kan., and Silver City, N.M.
1980-81: Teacher in adult education and English-as-a-second-language programs for military spouses, Junction City, Kan.
1981-82: Nazareth Motherhouse staff, Concordia
1985-94: St. Clare House staff member, Junction City, Kan.
1995-99: Care for aged mother in New Almelo, Kan
1999-2000: Assisted in Plainville, Kan.
2000-present: Retirement at the Motherhouse, including prayer ministry, recycling and care of indoor plants
As I reflect on my 60 years as a Sister of St. Joseph, my thoughts are of decades of heritage, faith and service preceding me. Ah, the mysterious ways and marvelous handiwork of our God! I am grateful to God, my parents and siblings. I am also thankful for my Sister of St. Joseph teachers and a high school Methodist principal with rural students of various creeds. At Marymount College, I observed the sisters’ prayerful and simple lifestyle and was excited about their orphanage in Abilene, Kan. Following a retreat, I asked to join the Sisters of St. Joseph community and was accepted.
Prior to the last decade of these 60 years, I was a caregiver for my aged mother who had impaired vision. Three years later I was diagnosed with macular degeneration. I needed care and took oasis and adaptation in the Plainville mission where my sister Sister was teaching. Later I retired to the Motherhouse and assisted Sister Mary Julia Stegeman with the greenhouse work. Among the plants was a small Croton, which can have a variety of leaf shapes and a diversity of designs and colors. In tending and observing its growth, I noticed its sensitivity to environment and care. It reminded me of my 28 years of teaching, including a summer with children of migrants and a year assisting military spouses learning English as a second language. I also visited the Brazil mission and its rich culture. However, the croton’s diversity compares best to my experience of assisting Sister Viatora Solbach in establishing and staffing a shelter for homeless women, children and those in need. I observed God’s extravagant love in these beautiful persons desiring change, a new environment and acceptance.
I thank God for the community for these 60 years as a Sister of St. Joseph.
