Left, Sister Anne Schulz (center) is joined at her retirement celebration by Sisters Regina Albers, Judy Niday, Mary Garke, Jeanette Buehler, Joan DeChristopher, Ceil Taphorn, Rosemary Goubeaux, Gerri McGeorge, Dolores Keller and Ann Clark. Sisters Marita Beumer and Mary E. Wendeln also attended. Right, Sister Anne gives a speech.
On Saturday, May 18, family, friends, Precious Blood Sisters and the students and families of Mother Teresa Catholic Elementary School gathered to honor Sister Anne Schulz as she retires from active ministry. The hall at St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish in Liberty Township, Ohio, was filled with well-wishers at the event, which included a variety of speakers, a slide show presentation, and commendations and proclamations from local, state and national officials. Sister Anne also received gifts, memory books and a book containing notes written by every MTCES student.
All those who spoke at the event remarked on Sister Anne’s deep faith and her love for students and families. It was noted that as founding principal of Mother Teresa School, Sister Anne has impacted over 1,000 students and families. The school was founded in 1998 with 20 kindergartners in a church basement; over 400 students have graduated, and 535 students are currently enrolled in grades K-8 on the school’s 25-acre campus.
The impact of Sister Anne’s ministry reaches even further throughout her 44 years in education. She has served as a teacher or principal at schools in Dayton, Fairborn and Troy, Ohio, and served as vocation director for the Congregation.
Last year, MTCES was named a 2018 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education — one of 300 public and 49 nonpublic schools nationwide to receive the honor.
Speaking to the audience at the retirement celebration, Sister Anne said that the growth and success of Mother Teresa School comes from “all of us together. Your response to me and my response to you has created this whole community of love. And that’s what I always treasure.”
She continued, “When you start a school, you never dream how it’s going to be. But I’ve always had a dream of respect for everyone, and I’ve always said to the kids, give God five minutes a day. And many of them have written to me and said how much that means to them. … I will always keep you in prayer, and you will always hold a special place in my heart.”
– Story and photos by Mary Knapke