“I trust these years have deepened my spirit and intensified my compassion for those who suffer.”
The year was 1996. Bill Clinton was in the White House, minimum wage bumped to $4.50 an hour, and the Dow Jones average topped the 6000 mark. That same year, Sister Grace Mary Croft, SDS began serving in Rome on the international leadership team, or Generalate for the Sisters of the Divine Savior.
Sr. Grace Mary, formerly known as Sr. Mary Gerald, served 12 years in leadership with the North American Province prior to her election to the Generalate. She previously ministered as directress for SDS candidates and novices, and on the faculty and administration at Divine Savior Holy Angels High School in Milwaukee.
In early spring 2013, after 17 years in international leadership ministry, Sr. Grace Mary came home to Milwaukee. She says she was ready and grateful to return to the North American Province. “I have gladly contributed what I am able at the international level. I have met and worked and shared community with wonderful sisters from Asia, Africa, Europe and North and South America and I’ll miss them very much. I look forward to the unfolding of the significance of those 17 years.”
Sr. Grace Mary believes her international experience helped to broaden her outlook and heighten her appreciation of the Salvatorian worldwide mission. “I trust these years have deepened my spirit and intensified my compassion for those who suffer.”
Now, Sr. Grace Mary serves her Province through her work as sponsorship coordinator. She ensures our mission of sharing the goodness and kindness of Jesus is reflected in the values of our two sponsored institutions, Hadley Terrace and Divine Savior Holy Angels High School. In 2023, she celebrates 65 years of religious life.
