Sister Ann Shaw, CSC (Sister M. Philothea)

Sister Ann Shaw

(Sister M. Philothea)

February 8, 1939 – July 10, 2024

Entered the Sisters of the Holy Cross from Arlington, Virginia, on August 1, 1956

Initial Profession of Vows on August 15, 1959

Harriet Ann Shaw was born on February 8, 1939, in Washington, D.C., the daughter of William and Myrtle Aleese (Kenney) Shaw. Harriet had one older sister, Mary Aleese, and two younger brothers, William and James. She grew up in nearby Arlington, Virginia, where her father worked as an accountant for a realty company while her mother stayed home to raise the children. She attended St. Thomas More Cathedral School, Arlington, before enrolling at the Academy of the Holy Cross, Washington, D.C. for high school. She was introduced to the Sisters of the Holy Cross through the teachers at the academy and was quickly inspired by their kindness and devotion to service. Following her graduation from high school in 1956, Harriet entered the Sisters of the Holy Cross, Notre Dame, Indiana, on August 1, 1956. Upon reception of the holy habit, she became Sister Mary Philothea.

As Sister Philothea, she taught in Catholic elementary and junior high schools in Maryland, Ohio, and New York for eight years. She returned to her baptismal name in 1967, but decided to be called by her middle name, Ann. Sister Ann earned her bachelor’s degree in history from Dunbarton College of Holy Cross, Washington, D.C., in 1968. She taught at St. Peter’s School, Washington, D.C., until 1969, when she was elected to service as a regional councilor and secretary for the Congregation’s East Elementary I Region. At the conclusion of her six-year term, she began her master’s program in religious studies at Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri, and graduated with the degree in 1977.

From 1977 to 1981, Sister Ann was assigned to Mount Carmel East Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, to serve in pastoral care. She briefly left the hospital in 1980 to volunteer in Cambodian refugee camps located in Thailand as a coordinator of volunteers and housing. She returned to Mount Carmel after three months in Thailand. In 1981, she was elected to be a regional councilor for the Congregation’s Eastern Region until 1987. After a brief sabbatical, Sister Ann’s gifts of affability and the strong desire to help people led her to become a counselor for Prince George’s Home, a shelter for the houseless that is managed by Catholic Charities in Capitol Heights, Maryland, for three years. Her ministry working with those struggling financially continued from 1991 to 1996, with an assignment to Dorothy Day Place, Rockville, Maryland. There she coordinated and provided case management for the shelter. Following this assignment, Sister Ann spent three years researching and planning a new ministry project involving economically dependent women in Montgomery County, Maryland. Her research was in response to the Congregation’s invitation to initiate new Holy Cross ministries that address the needs of the poor. In 1999, Sister Ann was elected again to serve a five-year term as regional councilor for the eastern region of the Congregation.

Sister Ann was an empathetic and driven woman who sought to help those in need. This passion and gift led to her beginning a 12-year ministry as a volunteer chaplain at the Maryland Correctional Institute for Women, Jessup, Maryland, in 2004. Her work with the women at the correctional facility included coordinating a course in emotional awareness and health, and was funded by the CSC Ministry With the Poor fund. After this assignment, Sister Ann volunteered with Shepherd’s Table, an organization in Silver Spring, Maryland, that offers meals, employment assistance, and medical services to the houseless population. In addition to her ministry with Shepherd’s Table, she also tutored in English as a second language at the Muslim Community Center, Silver Spring.

In 2019, Sister Ann moved to live in community at Saint Mary’s, Notre Dame, and transitioned to a ministry of prayer and presence. She died in the evening of June 10, 2024, at Saint Mary’s Convent. A professed Sister of the Holy Cross for 65 years, Sister Ann was intelligent, creative, compassionate, and seemingly had no shortage of ideas of how to improve the lives of those around her. As Sister Ann now rests in God’s loving embrace, she will be in the thoughts and prayers of the Holy Cross sisters, who are currently engaged in General Chapter at the motherhouse at Saint Mary’s.

Sister Ann had requested a Green Burial.  The Gathering to Receive the Body with Final Commendation will be Friday, July 12, at 1:00p.m. in the Church of Our Lady of Loretto.  A memorial mass will be planned at a later date.  Kaniewski Funeral Homes assisted with the arrangements.

Written by Madisen Toth, archivist

Sisters of the Holy Cross Congregational Archives and Records

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