Jesus is present here – that is pure joy.
Sr. Marie Bernadette George was born in Butte, Montana, a mining town where greenery was scarce and the ground was dry and dusty. Her family lived in a small house tucked behind her grandmother’s and uncle’s homes, all sharing the same patch of land. In front of their house stretched a barren dirt field — no grass, no trees — just earth, hardened by years of mining that defined the life and landscape of Butte.
When Sister Marie was about five and a half years old, her family moved west to Portland, Oregon. Her father had worked at a grocery store in Butte, but Portland’s shipyards offered better opportunities. They settled near her mother’s family, right next door to her grandparents and her mother’s brothers and sisters.
It was in Portland, attending Holy Cross Grade School, that her life’s path began to take shape. There, she first met the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon. Sister Teresa Margaret was her first-grade teacher. At the time, Sr. Marie Bernadette did not realize the lasting effect Sister Teresa Margaret would have on her life, but this was the beginning of her calling.
By sixth grade, the calling grew stronger. That year, her teacher was Sister Baptista, a woman so passionately in love with God that she inspired her entire class of girls to spend every spare moment in church — at recess, during lunch, and after school — sitting and visiting with God. Sister Baptista’s devotion was contagious. She loved Saint Teresa “The Little Flower” deeply, and nearly every girl in the class chose “Teresa” as their confirmation name. However, Sr. Marie Bernadette chose “Mary Ann” for her confirmation name. Her name combined the Blessed Mother Mary, who had always been special to her with St. Anne, Mary’s mother.
Sr. Marie’s family nurtured her growing sense of vocation. She often walked a mile to church with her aunt Isabelle, since they had no car. These walks were filled with meaningful conversations. One day, aunt Isabelle said, “I want to become a sister.” Without hesitation, the young Marie Bernadette replied, “I do too.” But her aunt cautioned her, “Don’t become a sister just because I want to.” Sr. Marie smiled and said, “I’m not. I really want to be a sister.”
Sr. Marie Bernadette’s godmother also encouraged her vocation, giving her a subscription to Sacred Heart Magazine. She devoured its pages and spent hours reading about the lives of the Saints.
Sister Andre also became another guiding light. She taught Sr. Marie Bernadette in seventh and eighth grade and spoke of the sisters’ deep commitment to pray for their deceased members every year without fail. That made a lasting impression. Sister Andre also invited girls to visit the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon’s aspirancy program, where young women could live with the sisters’ during high school and discern whether religious life was for them.
When Sister Andre first invited her, she asked her father for permission to join the aspirancy. He said, “You’re too young.” Still, Sister Andre kept reaching out. When she was a junior in high school, Sister Andre asked if she would like to meet Mother Colette. She agreed, not fully understanding the significance. Afterward, Sister Andre asked again, “Would you like to come in as an aspirant?”
“I don’t know,” she admitted. “I’m going to Immaculata High School. I want to be with my friends and graduate with them.”
Sister Andre suggested they make a novena — nine days of prayer. “I’ll make one, and you make one,” she said. “I’ll call you in nine days.”
She agreed, thinking it would not matter. Her father had already said no once; she expected the same. But when she asked again, his answer surprised her. This time, he said, “It’s up to you.”
Now, the decision was hers. Sr. Marie Bernadette prayed for guidance, but no clear answer came. On the ninth day, the phone rang. She knew exactly who it was. As she picked up the receiver, she silently prayed, “Dear God, please help me.”
On the line, Sister Andre asked gently, “How has the novena been answered?”
She took a breath. “I don’t know.”
“What if you lose your vocation?” Sister Andre asked.
Her answer came clear and certain: “I’m coming.”
She entered the aspirancy in September of 1954 and stayed until February. That was when she was supposed to decide to write her letter to Mother Colette and say yes, she wanted to enter. But she did not — at least not right away. Other girls had already written their letters. They seemed so sure. Sister Teresa Margaret kept asking gently, “When will you write your letter?” There was no pressure, but the question lingered.
Then, Sr. Marie Bernadette’s grandfather died on the day after Christmas. The house was filled with family and visitors. Her father proudly told everyone, “She’s going to be a Sister.” She smiled, but inside, she was not sure. Just before this, she had seen the 1943 film “The Song of Bernadette.” This American film was the story of St. Bernadette Soubirous, who, experienced 18 visions of the Blessed Virgin Mary between Feb. 11 to July 16, 1858. Watching how St. Bernadette was treated made her wonder, Could I really live like that? Could I endure that kind of life forever?
Sr. Marie Bernadette’s struggle with this decision was so tough because she knew that once she said yes, it would be forever. There was no “trying it out.” She added, “I knew that if I wrote that letter, I would be a sister for life. That’s what I wanted — to say yes forever. But I had to pray some more.” Sister Teresa Margaret kept asking; Sr. Marie Bernadette kept praying.
Finally, Sr. Marie Bernadette wrote the letter. Despite being the oldest in the aspirancy program, she was the last one in her class to write the letter. But her “Yes” was forever. Later, her class became postulants in the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon Community and Sr. Marie Bernadette graduated with several of her Sisters from St. Mary of Valley. The following August they became novices.
Afterward, Sr. Marie Bernadette was filled with new routines. First year novices spend the year growing closer to Jesus by learning more about SSMO religious life through classes, prayer and silence. “After breakfast, after every meal,” she recalled. “There was always something to do.” She worked the laundry, pressing sheets on large machines she had never seen before. They picked berries and tended the orchard filled with apples and grapes. She spent time in the park, carefully picking off old flowers so the plants looked their best. Weeding, watering—each act felt purposeful.
As a second year novice, Sr. Marie Bernadette’s education continued at Marylhurst College, where she earned a bachelor’s in education. At first, she was not sure what she wanted her to do, but one thing was clear, “I didn’t want to cook,” she said. Turns out, she quickly learned that, “Teaching was my dream. It was a blessing,” she said.
Sr. Marie Bernadette taught for three years at St. Mary’s in Spokane, Wash. Then at many schools in western Oregon for nearly 40 years. Teaching first and second graders brought her a lot of joy. She loved how their eyes would just sparkle when she led them outside. “They were always so much fun,” she beamed. She loved teaching them about God’s love and their ability to love Him in return.
Next, Sister Marie Bernadette worked at Maryville for three years, while her mother resided there in her last years – until she was 103. In later years, she taught at St. Francis of Assisi School in Roy. One of her favorite subjects was hand writing. She taught the Beacon Method of italic handwriting to help the first and second graders learn cursive. Chuck Lehman introduced the method to her and she loved how it helped the students write legibly and beautifully while helping prepare them for cursive.
Sister Marie Bernadette’s life of teaching left an indelible mark on several of her students – a few even discerned their call to religious life. One student at St. Matthew’s in Hillsboro became a Franciscan Sister of the Eucharist. At Holy Trinity, one would become a Priest who is now studying in Rome and at Roy, where she taught for 13 years, two of her students became priests.
Through 70 years of religious life, Sr. Marie Bernadette says the best part has always been “living in the house of God. Jesus is present here in the Tabernacle. That is such a joy.”
Nowadays, Sr. Marie Bernadette George remains in awe of the life God gave her. Whether tending flowers, guiding first graders, or quietly praying in the chapel, she has lived her “yes” every day since writing that letter so long ago.
