On Sunday, May 12, 2024, Sister Mary Kevin Rooney, ASC, celebrated 75 years as an Adorer of the Blood of Christ. She marked her anniversary with the Eucharist and a meal at the Wichita Center. She made her first profession on July 1, 1949, and final vows on July 1, 1954.
Sister Mary Kevin was born in Bennington, NE. She was one of eight children in the family of Virgil and Marguerite Rooney. Her family attended St. Mary Parish in Cedar Bluffs, NE. She received her bachelor’s degree from Sacred Heart College, now Newman University, in Wichita, KS, and her master’s in theology from St. Mary College in Notre Dame, IN. She also holds a certificate from the Institute for Religious Formation.
Sister Mary Kevin’s ministry in education included serving as teacher and principal as well as coordinator in parish schools of religion. In Kansas, she served at St. Joseph in Andale, Holy Name in Bushton, and St. Mark School in St. Marks. In Nebraska she taught at St. Mary in David City.
She served as a member of the formation team at the Wichita Center, as a staff member in the House of Affirmation in Wichita and later as director of formation in the province. In Rome she spent time in research on the spirituality of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ and subsequently served there as a team member of the Center for International Spirituality. For several years, Sr. Mary Kevin served in Nefta, Tunisia, Africa, in a program designed to promote understanding among Christians and Muslims. She returned home recently from a year in the Philippines where she was the director of young sisters in formation.
Sister Mary Kevin has focused on the ministry of giving retreats and offering spiritual direction for more than 40 years. She resides at the Wichita Center and continues this ministry.