Alumni Director Jane Cannon presented the Rose Philippine Duchesne Award to Eleanor Mayer of the Class of 1963 following the Congé liturgy on June 7.

Sister Elizabeth, a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity, or, as she was better known here in the 1960's, Eleanor "Lori" Mayer, was nominated for the Duchesne Award by her sister, Maria '69, who shared the amazing story of her sister's missionary endeavors-- first in Mexico, then Chile, and now Ecuador. 

After Eleanor Mayer graduated from Sacred Heart in 1963, she attended Maryville and graduated with a degree in education and French. In 1968 she entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Mary in Montreal, where she taught high school English for 15 years and also earned a degree in business administration.

In 1983 she and three other sisters were sent to Mexico to open a house in the outskirts of Mexico City. After five years of work with the poorest of the poor there, the Community bought ground to build a school. Eventually, a kindergarten, elementary school and high school were constructed to serve a total of 1,400 students. Serving as principal of the grade school, while overseeing construction of the remaining plant, Eleanor grappled with dishonesty and unreliability in construction along with corruption at all levels of government.

In need of rest from this arduous pursuit, Eleanor returned to Canada, where she became occupied with translating various books, from Italian into English and Spanish, about the foundress of their Community. It was during this reading that she came across an article in which the Pope declared that the future of the Church lay in Latin America. Convinced that this was true, she begged for permission to establish a new frontier for her Community--perhaps in Chile or Brazil. At first her request was denied due to lack of human and financial resources. Finally, after four years of insistence (and patience!) permission was given for her to go--alone!

Presenting herself to the Bishop of Valparaiso, Chile, Eleanor was introduced to a parish priest whose flock numbered 200,000 on the poor outskirts of Vina del Mar. He asked if she could survive in the tiny, dilapidated hovel that he offered; and she answered, "If the Catholic Church can trace its beginning to a stable in Bethlehem, I suppose my Community can start their missionary life in Chile in this dwelling." She spent one month preparing for the Community to come, then returned to Canada.

Four years later her determination to establish this mission was finally recognized, and permission was granted for her--and two other sisters--to return to Chile to begin this work. One year later Eleanor received a call from her superiors informing her that the Community had been invited by the Consulate of Ecuador to establish a mission there. In Ecuador she found the people friendly, the climate delightful and the need great; so her Superiors dispatched her, with two sisters, to begin a mission there. After six years in Quito, Eleanor is principal of the elementary school comprised of 300 students. The nuns also work with the adult community, spearheading clothing drives, food distribution and adult education. And now a second house has opened in the south--near the border of Peru.

In summing up her sister's life, Maria Mayer '69 said, "My sister owns nothing. Her entire life is in the service of God and others. She speaks five languages, has spent almost her whole life away from her family and her country. Her whole life has been spent solely in finding the need, the land, the architects; hiring teachers, buying desks, counseling. Her faith has been her guide. Many young women in Mexico and South America have found a religious vocation because of her example."

We think Philippine Duchesne would approve of our choice this year!