Summary
Sister Maureen Farrar, ASC, entered into eternal life, mid-morning on August 10, 2024, in Caritas Center, in Wichita, KS. She was 88 years old and a professed Adorer of the Blood of Christ for 69 years.
Sister Maureen Farrar, ASC, entered into eternal life, mid-morning on August 10, 2024, in Caritas Center, in Wichita, KS. She was 88 years old and a professed Adorer of the Blood of Christ for 69 years.
Sister Maureen was born September 10, 1935, the first child of Ralph and Isabelle (Edmundson) Farrar. In September she was baptized Mary Frances in the mission church of Sts. Peter and Paul in Hobart, OK. Over the next 16 years, four brothers joined the family on their small farm northeast of town.
In her autobiography, Sr. Maureen described her faith formation in the domestic church of the family. “Home life was ordinary – family prayer before meals; quite a bit of time spent in studying catechism in preparation for attending Saturday classes or in reading and filling out materials received from the Religious Correspondence School in Calumet. Vacation school in the summer culminated each year’s religious studies.”
Carmelite Sisters and Adorers of the Blood of Christ working in Oklahoma taught weekend and summer classes in the parish. Both encouraged interest in religious vocations. While Sr. Maureen visited Sacred Heart Convent with her parents and pastor before beginning high school, she decided against entering, at least until after graduation. When exploring college, Sacred Heart was not her first choice. However, the award of a substantial scholarship would ease the burden of education on her parents, and so, she came to Wichita.
During the first semester of her freshman year, Maureen knew she needed to further explore the call she had previously felt to religious life. She entered the community on December 30, 1953, and received the habit six months later on July 1, 1954. First vows and final vows followed, July 1, 1955, and July 1, 1960.
After an additional year of college, Sr. Maureen began her career as an educator in Kansas. She taught in elementary schools in Ost, McPherson, Conway Springs, Augusta, Caldwell, and St. Anne’s in Wichita. During that time, in 1963, she completed a degree in education from Sacred Heart College. In 1964 Sr. Maureen was missioned to Sacred Heart Academy and then, Madonna High School. For seven years she taught English, religion, and journalism, which included yearbook, newspaper, and the schools’ literary magazine.
In 1968 Sr. Maureen graduated from Notre Dame University with a master’s in communication arts. This served her well as she began a new ministry. She served six years as Director of Publications and Public Information during the time Sacred Heart College transitioned to Kansas Newman College. In 1977 she was appointed Director of the Communications Center for the Wichita Province of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ. A year later she was elected to the province leadership team as Councilor for Community Services.
At the conclusion of that service, Sr. Maureen embarked on a new path, which took her to the Navajo Reservation in Crownpoint, New Mexico. For nearly 40 years Sr. Maureen learned from the Navajo community and lived respectfully within their culture. She recounted advice received from a parishioner to “just be present” and let the people come to them. Too often missionaries had their own agenda rather than listening to the people, and most often, they didn’t stay long. The people did come, to share a cup of coffee and, gradually, to share their pain and concerns, knowing what they shared would be held in sacred trust.
Sister Maureen along with Sr. Barb Smith, and later, with Sr. Michelle Woodruff, provided pastoral leadership in a parish that frequently did not have a resident priest. They opened their home to women and children fleeing abuse, until other safe accommodations could be arranged. Their hospitality extended to service groups who came not only to serve, but to learn about the culture of the people they served. They supported the incorporation of native architecture, symbolism and artifacts into the new St. Paul’s Church. They were involved with the Native American Lay Ministry and Deaconate program, which prepared native women for commissioning by the bishop as lay ministers.
Sister Maureen was called upon by the bishop to serve on a commission for the Strengthening of Ministries in the Diocese of Gallup, which enabled deeper participation of the people in their parishes and furthering the vision of the Church in this Mission Diocese. She also contributed civically in establishing the Crownpoint Volunteer Fire Department and supporting this endeavor in many unique ways.
In 2021 Sr. Maureen retired to the Wichita Center. She contributed to the community with her gentle, listening presence, and wisdom. One of the ministries she loved was teaching English to some of the Wichita staff and to sisters in Vietnam via Zoom. Most recently she served on the interim Community Life Team until a new team was in place. Even as she grew weaker from her cancer, Sr. Maureen enjoyed visits from family, friends, and those whom she touched by her love and presence. Some Dine’ from Crownpoint came a great distance to say goodbye.
Sister Maureen was preceded in death by her parents, Ralph and Isabelle and her brothers Ralph, Jr. and Henry. She is survived by brothers Walter (Barbara) Farrar and George (Jan) Farrar and sister-in-law, Cherri Farrar, as well as nieces, nephews, and the ASC community.
A wake will be held August 16 at 7:00 p.m. at the Wichita Center. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated August 17 at 10:30 a.m. with Fr. Tom Welk, C. PP. S. as presider. Cremains will be interred at the ASC cemetery in Wichita.
When Sr. Maureen moved to Caritas Center for nursing care, she asked for a Navajo wall hanging to be brought to her room. This was a gift from the people she served with love and gentleness for nearly 40 years. Maureen, we trust that as God has called you home, you will now walk in beauty for all eternity.
Adorers of the Blood of Christ
United States Region