“Even to your old age and grey hairs, I am He; I am He who will sustain you.  I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”  Isaiah 46:4 

 

These words are so true to whom God has been in Alice’s long and fruitful life. 

 

Mary Augusta was born in Little River Harbor, Nova Scotia, Canada.  Her father was James Oscar Harris and her mother was Annie Mae Muiso.  She had six brothers who are now deceased and five sisters.  Her sister Helen is living in Canada and she has a number of nieces and nephews. 

 

Mary Augusta attributed her longevity and good health to the lobster and fish that was available in Nova Scotia.  She came from humble beginnings, and stated they were not rich but a happy family.  Sister was working before she entered the Marist Missionary Sisters at the age of 30.  

Some of the sisters who entered with her were 18 or 20 and as she said, “still wet behind the ears.” 

 

She entered the postulancy in Bedford, Massachusetts on February 11, 1943 and made her profession in Bedford on August 14, 1948.  Her first mission assignment was to Australia in 1952 where she completed her high school equivalency diploma followed by a nursing diploma.  Mary Augusta was a determined person and when she put her head to something she went full speed ahead.  She also got a physiotherapy certificate and an invalid cooking certificate.  As you see, she had courses that prepared her for her life in Bougainville, Cambodia and Yemen. 

 

From 1959 to 1968, she was missioned to Bougainville; she loved this mission, the people and the culture.  She asked that the people of Bougainville be notified of her death and asked that they would say a Hail Mary for her, as she prayed for them daily.  Sister has been to many places in her many years of giving, too many to mention here, it would fill a volume. 

 

I would like to share with you now who Mary Augusta was as a Marist Missionary sister.  I will do this in using her own words as she wrote her request to serve the Cambodian people at the age of 62.  “It has always been my deepest desire to serve the less fortunate than myself and this plea for medical volunteers to help the starving people of Cambodia has once again touched this soft spot in my heart.  I am willing to go and volunteer for three months with a willingness to stay longer if I am capable.  I feel drawn to do whatever I can to help these suffering unfortunate people.”  Sister Mary Augusta mentioned in a newspaper article that, “I think it is the poverty and the need there that has inspired me to go.  I feel it is going to be tough seeing the suffering but I feel my experience in Papua New Guinea will help me.” Two of our sisters went to Cambodia and they received an outpouring of favors, materials and love from other religious congregations who wanted desperately to go but could not.  The sisters stayed three years and because of visa problems, they had to leave. 

 

In reading her request, I could not help but think of Francoise Perroton and her request to go to the Pacific islands at the age of 49.  These women were tenacious and persistent in carrying out the Word of God in their lives.  Yes, Isaiah’s words rang true in Mary Augusta’s heart, “I am He who will sustain you.  I have made you and I will carry you.”  She has been carried by Him throughout her long life, thru joys and sufferings, in good times and bad times, in illness and good health. 

 

Because of poor health, Mary Augusta was missioned to Marillac Residence in 2013.  Here, she was loved by all and considered a woman who knew who she was.  In 2023, Sister celebrated her 105th birthday at Marillac.  They prepared a 2-pound lobster and she ate the whole thing.  These past months she has been at the Elizabeth Seton nursing residence and slept a lot, but if you bring her a lobster, she is wide-awake.  Often, I would find sister in chapel, just sitting with the Lord, she always recited the whole rosary and when you did something for her, she repaid you with a rosary.  She lived a long and fruitful life as a Marist Missionary Sister and is now receiving the reward of her many years of service. 

 

We want to thank the staff at Marillac Residence and Elizabeth Seton Residence for the loving care given to Mary Augusta. 

 

I would like to close with article 15 of our constitutions, “Through our profession and the constantly renewed desire to reveal Christ, we are missionary for the whole of our life wherever we are sent by the congregation, recognizing in this sending the call of God inviting us to go forth today.” 

   

 

Gratefully in Mary,  

 

Sister Helen Muller, smsm                                                      Sister Claire Rheaume, smsm                                Regional Leader