Sister Therese Marie Smith, ASC, celebrated 75 years as a vowed religious at St. Anne’s Chapel in Columbia, PA on Saturday, August 2, 2025. She was one of 10 children born to the late Maurice and Evelyn (Adams) Smith of Hanover, PA. Sister Margaret Mary, one of her sisters, was also an ASC. Sr. Therese Marie marked her anniversary with the Eucharist and a reception.
Sister Therese Marie received a bachelor’s degree in history from Mount Mercy College in Pittsburgh in 1962, and a bachelor’s in history from Catholic University in Washington, DC in 1963. She attended a variety of workshops, including Theology, Spirituality, Formation, Administration, and Catechetics.
Her teaching ministry began in Steelton, PA; she also taught at Sacred Heart in McKeesport, PA. She spent several years teaching in Illinois at Immaculate Conception in East Chicago, IL. In North Carolina she taught at St. Francis in Lumberton and Christ the King in Kinston.
Some of Sr. Therese Marie’s ministries included administration combined with teaching. While she taught at St. Joseph Academy in Columbia, PA, she was also Dorm Moderator, a position she resumed again after spending many years in Community Service. She served as Formation Director for 15 years, and as Provincial Superior of the former Columbia Province for six years.
Her last service in ministry was for San Juan Bautista in Lancaster, PA. For more than 20 years she served the parish as the Pastoral Assistant. After six years, in addition to that position, she spent 15 years as Director of Religious Education for Spanish-speaking members of the parish.
Sister Therese Marie resides at St. Anne Retirement Community where she is Living Mission in Later Life.