Sister Rose Marie Dwyer
Sister Rose Marie Dwyer teaches English as a second language four evenings a week at the Motherhouse in Concordia.
BORN: Rural Jennings, Kan.
RECEIVED: March 19, 1952
CURRENT HOME: Motherhouse, Concordia
EDUCATION: BA, Marymount College
MINISTRIES:
1954-64: Taught primary grades in Salina, Kan.
1965-87: Served in Brazil Mission, in Teresina, Piauí
1987-92: Worked in a Hispanic parish in Kansas City, Mo.
1992-2005: Worked on formation of communities in Picos, Piauí, Brazil
2006-10: Kindergarten helper in Plainville, Kan.
2010-present: Prayer ministry at the Motherhouse
As I think about my 60 years as a Sister of St. Joseph, I remember most fondly my five years in Xinguara, Brazil, where I served as something of an itinerant missionary. There were groupings of villages, or small communities, on various bus and truck lines, and the parish priest, Father Bene, and I went out to give workshops, Bible studies, and leadership training. The people from the whole region would group together, arriving by horseback, bicycle, and on foot to study in a chosen home, which had an open area of shade with houses nearby for hospitality.
One of the biggest communities was Sao Jose, where there were many leaders, a youth group and catechists to be accompanied. On the way to Sao Jose, I would get off the bus or van so I could visit another community. At the bus stop, I would see if there was anyone there to meet a traveler and would catch a ride up the line about three miles to this community. I would walk up the lane to the leader’s home, spend the night, and visit people the next day. Many times there was no one with a wagon, motor bike, or anything, so I’d walk the whole trip, watching for snakes and herds of white long-horned cattle. After visits and one or two meetings, someone would take me on their horse or loan me a second horse to go farther up the road to another community.
There were lots of other communities on another road leading away from Xinguara. There was one group of communities where an old pickup came to town every week for the Saturday market. I loved to go on this very certain transportation. Robao was the driver who had a farm at the end of the line, the community of John the Baptist. I would visit the people there, meet with catechists, and have my nightly Bible studies.
On other trips, I would get out of Robao’s truck and walk a few kilometers to another cluster of homes to meet in a school or chapel. These were some of my favorite communities.
But in all these villages, wherever I went, I was simply a humble channel of love to all whom God wishes to reach. Thank you, God, for using this lowly instrument as your Divine Plan so wills.
