Meet our donor Marya Pohlmeier

One of Marya Pohlmeier’s earliest memories of connecting with a School Sister of Notre Dame (SSND) is of a simple moment between student and teacher. Marya was from a small town in Nebraska and attended a school where SSND were missioned.

“I started there in first grade,” said Marya “I didn’t know my colors, and I didn’t know my numbers. Sister Ona, I had her in first grade and I do remember the day I learned my colors. I had eight tulips and I colored the tulips and told her what colors they all were. I had first, second and third grade with her and she impressed me because she was so sweet, so patient, just absolutely anything you would want to have in a teacher.”

The influence of SSND would drive many aspects of Marya’s life—leading her to even join the order for a time.

At just 13, Marya made the journey from her hometown in Nebraska to St. Louis to attend high school as an aspirant at Notre Dame High School. She recalled making the long journey on her own, and how another passenger helped her navigate which stop she should take, even gifting her with a rosary. Marya completed her education at the high school and then went on to graduate from the former Notre Dame College. Her first ministry found her back in Nebraska, teaching large classes of middle-schoolers.

“My first year, there were three of us [teachers] for a school of 80. In the morning, I had 39 third, fourth and fifth graders. In the afternoon, I swapped and I had 24 sixth, seventh and eighth graders. I stayed up until two in the morning preparing because these kids wanted to learn.”

Marya’s path eventually called her to new directions outside of religious life, but she continued as a SSND-taught educator. Throughout her professional career, she has been a teacher, principal and director of religious education (DRE).

“I used my Notre Dame education all the way through,” said Marya. “I now volunteer coordinating two bible studies at my parish and in prison ministry. The prison ministry is called Residents Encounter Christ—REC for short. It is a weekend retreat for people in Missouri prisons.”

Marya first started volunteering in prisons in the late 1990s and has continued ever since.

“We are able to share with the men that they are loved by God and that they are a person,” says Marya. “Those are the two things that they tell us that the weekend says to them. That delights me. For them to realize they are a person and loved by God no matter what they did. Our whole weekend is around making sure they know that, by our talks, by table conversations. It’s just being kind to them. Hearing their families’ stories, hearing their questions.

“We always need more help in this program. It’s not for everyone, but for people to try it out and see if they feel called to it. It takes a willingness to set aside our own feelings about prisoners. I’m working on getting others from my parish to try it—passing on this ministry.”

While carrying on her own work in prison ministry, Marya also participates as a Blessed Theresa Society member, a special level of committed donor support for SSND. The gifts of these donors help SSND continue in their active ministries of education, social justice and spiritual direction. They also provide essential resources to ensure the care and comfort of sisters who are retired and serve in ministries of prayer and presence.

“SSND are excellent educators—I used the word educators, not just teachers,” said Marya. “And they produce excellent educators who are broad-minded and willing to suffer and enter into challenging situations to help others. They really are courageous—I think of the sisters in the Nun Study alone, giving their brains to be studied. They are one of the largest foreign missionary groups—they were established to educate, but they have a global outlook.

“I am very grateful for all the education I got—high school and college, in prayer and meditation. I want to help them out now as many move into their senior years. It’s what they have given me, I just want to give back.”

Learn more about becoming a member of the Blessed Theresa Society through your planned gift.

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