Sister Nancy (Rita Mary) Hanes, ASC, celebrated 65 years as an Adorer of the Blood of Christ at the Wichita Center on May 12, 2024. She marked her anniversary with the Eucharist and a meal with the ASC community. She made her first profession on July 1, 1959, and her final vows on July 1, 1964.
Sister Nancy was one of four children born in the family of Murle and Sarah Hanes in Emporia, KS. Her family attended Holy Name Parish in Winfield, KS. She received her bachelor’s degree in English from Newman University in 1962, and her master’s in English from Wichita State University in Wichita in 1971. She also earned a master’s in theology from St. Mary University in San Antonio, TX in 1979.
Sister Nancy served in various levels of education, beginning with elementary teaching at the following schools in Oklahoma: St. Mary in Sterling, St. Mary in McAlester, St. Mary in Medford, St. Eugene in Oklahoma City. She also served at St. Patrick in Plains, KS, and Sacred Heart in Emporia, KS. On the secondary level, she taught English at St. Agnes High School in Springfield, MO, Bishop Carrol in Wichita, KS, and Aquinas High School in David City, NE. She was also an English Instructor at Newman University in Wichita.
She transitioned to Parish Ministry and Religious Education at St. Andrew Parish in Moore, OK. Following her degree in Theology, Sister Nancy served at St. Louis Parish in Castroville, TX, St. Patrick in Great Bend, KS, Nativity Parish in Independence, MO and for the Diocese of Little Rock in Arkansas. She served as a consultant for religious education and media for the Diocese of Salina, KS. In the Diocese of Oklahoma City, she served as Instructor for Catholic Social Ministries, as Associate Faculty at Rose State College in Midwest City and as Associate Faculty at Oklahoma City University.
In addition to her ministry as Chaplain at Via Christi Riverside, Via Christi Senior Services, and Riverside Hospital in Wichita, she volunteered for many years at the Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice in Wichita.
Sister Nancy currently resides at the Wichita Center where she is Living Mission in Later Life.