For Sister Dorothy Marie Hennessey, prayer and politics went hand in hand. She said many years ago, “I am convinced more than ever that we should get into today’s political life with gospel motivation…”  Her stamina and faithful witness to the cause of peace and justice through the years is proof of the authenticity of this conviction. May she continue to advocate for us in her heavenly home!

Maurice and Anna Killeas Hennessey were the parents of fifteen children, of whom Sister Dorothy Marie was the oldest. She was born near Oneida, Iowa on March 24, 1913.  Her grade and high school education have two unique features: she completed her grade school education at Oneida Consolidated school at the age of 12 and each year of high was at a different school. In 1929 she graduated from Rowley High School.

The next two years were spent helping at home. On January 25, 1932 she entered Mount St. Francis. That same year she was received with the name Sister Mary Robert. She later returned to her baptismal name.

For thirty years Sister Dorothy taught in the congregation’s parochial schools of Templeton, Remsen, Worthington, Holy Cross, Immaculate Conception Academy in Dubuque, Central and North Catholic in Portland, Oregon and Columbus High School in Waterloo.

In 1964 she moved to Mount St. Francis where for another 25 years she shared responsibility for communications with Sister Rebecca Rosemeyer. When the Academy closed in 1959 and while Sister Dorothy was still at Columbus High School, they converted the Academy’s newsletter, “The Chronicle,” into a congregational newsletter, continuing as editors until 1988. In 1978 they co-authored “Rooted/En Route, Two Decades with the Dubuque Franciscans.”

During these years Sister Dorothy was also pursuing her passion for advocacy for the poor and marginalized. Countless letters to editors and politicians were interspersed with such actions as the Great Peace March across America in 1986, living with AIDS men in Cedar Rapids for four years, protesting the School of the Americas and ultimately receiving a sentence of  six months in prison, along with her sister, Sister Gwen, for “crossing the line,” to name a few.

Since 2004 Sister Dorothy Marie had performed her justice and peace ministry from her room at Holy Family Hall.  On January 24 Sister Dorothy Marie took a sudden turn for the worse and a few short hours later entered eternity.

In a rather recent newspaper interview she said, “I’ve had a lot of grace in my life. Grace to be joyful in whatever I’m doing.” And now, Dorothy, we ask you to intercede for us that we have the courage to continue your legacy of justice advocacy. Thank you for this gift. May you now enjoy the fullness of grace and happiness!

Sister is survived by her sisters, Sr. Gwen, Geraldine, Catherine (Eugene), Marilyn (Robert), and Mary Jane (James); her brothers, Maurice, David (La Vera), and Lawrence (Donna); her sister-in-law, Jo Lynn; her nieces and nephews and her Franciscan sisters with whom she shared 75 years of her life.

Sister was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers, Fr. Ron, Tom, John, and James; her sisters, Sr. Miriam and Monica (Jerome) and her brother-in-law, Donald.