Sister Mary Lee Grady, SDS,
Finds Greatest Challenge in Greatest Gift

When Sister Mary Lee Grady, SDS reflects on her 50 years of professed life as a Sister of the Divine Savior, she rejoices in and celebrates the gift of vocation she believes God gives each of us, whether it be religious, married or single life.

“What I consider the great gift of religious life I also consider the greatest challenge, and that is community living,” says Sister Mary Lee, formerly known as Sister Melanie. “I always knew I wanted to teach and to serve the church. Fifty years ago, there weren’t many ways for women to serve the church. It’s why I entered, but it’s not why I stay. I want to live in community with women who want to serve God as I do. It’s a way to respond to living our baptismal commitment to others who share the same deep values of community and prayer.”

Sister Mary Lee fulfilled her dream to teach during more than 20 years at Divine Savior Holy Angels High School in Milwaukee, where she also served as a guidance counselor and member of the administrative team. After ministering 13 years on the Leadership Team, she now serves on the New Membership Team and as a licensed therapist in addictions counseling for Milwaukee-area behavioral health facilities. In her current ministries especially, Sister Mary Lee is inspired as she lives out a passage from her Congregation’s Constitution, which she received when she professed her vows back in 1961: At all times, our concern is for the salvation of the whole person.

“I feel I can do that in serving the physical, emotional, spiritual and psychology needs in my vocation/formation ministry, as well as ministering to persons who struggle with addiction, mental illness, or are otherwise marginalized due to their afflictions.”

When it comes to helping women respond to the call to religious life, Sister Mary Lee says, “I love formation; I love the one-on-one with women and watching God’s work in them.” Sister Mary Lee came to know the Sisters of the Divine Savior when she attended Divine Savior High School. Her own early memories of the Salvatorian Sisters include Sister Margaret Bosch, SDS, whom she had for sophomore home room, Theology, Latin and German. Sister Mary Lee went on to major in Latin, German and French, as well as education at Mt. Mary College, then earned a master’s degree in counseling from Marquette University.

Sister Mary Lee points to one highlight of her 50 years in religious life as being present at international formation meetings in Poland and Bogota, Colombia. She says sharing formation goals, dreams and wishes in international settings helped to develop her own appreciation for being a member of an international congregation.