Sr Ann Bradshaw – a shining light for 60 years

By Najette Abraham-Dominican Laity

It is said that you should never wait until someone passes on from this world to let them know how you feel about them, especially when they have made such an impact on the lives of so many in our beautiful twin-island country.

How do we say thank you to a special woman of God who has given 60 years of service to God’s people at Rosary Monastery?

Sr Mary Ann Bradshaw OP was born to Victor and Carmelita Bradshaw in Point Fortin, the ninth of 13 children. The family moved to Diego Martin where a young Fr David Oliveire introduced her to the nuns of Rosary Monastery.

She entered the Monastery on May 5, 1962. Sr Ann has spoken to us of the emotional state of her mother when she had to leave her at the external door to the Monastery where she began her six-month Postulancy.

She received the Habit and began her Novitiate on November 5 of that year – the same day that St Martin de Porres was canonised. She was given the name Sr Mary Ann of the Blessed Sacrament.

She professed Simple Vows as a Dominican and was accepted to profess her Solemn Vows on November 9, 1963.

Sr Ann has held every position in the Monastery, worked in the altar bread department most of her life and nursed every Sister during their illnesses – even from Postulancy until recently when Sr Mary Thomas OP passed away in  March 2023.

Sr Ann has been mother, sister, confidante, spiritual director to so many of our Dominican friars, sisters, and members of the Laity as well as many priests and religious in our Archdiocese.

We cannot emphasise the importance of the role she has played in our lives and those of our children, our students, and all other friends and family. They are all brought to Sr Ann to help guide them on their journey.

In their joint homilies during the celebratory Mass held at Rosary Monastery on Saturday, November 11, Archbishop Charles Jason Gordon, and Bishop Clyde Harvey of St George’s-in-Grenada spoke of her faithfulness and her devotion to prayer and service.

Archbishop Jason said that “the seminary is the heart of our Archdiocese, but the Rosary Monastery has been the soul of the Archdiocese.” Bishop Clyde spoke of the impact Sr Ann made on him and many priests and seminarians of the Archdiocese.

The special place they held in her heart and her ongoing prayers were never in doubt. The maternal love that was so very visible kept them focused on their personal vocations.

In his message to Sr Ann, Fr John Harris, Prior Provincial of the Irish Dominican Province, said, “….preaching has to have its foundation in prayer. The Nuns of our Order remind us of this truth in a forceful and concrete way. For we all know that no sermon is preached, no confession heard, no book written that does not come forth from the fruits of the prayers and sacrifices of our contemplative sisters. Working together and witnessing together we are all united in the sacra predicanda [holy teaching].

“While this is true generally of the Order, this is specifically true of dearest Sr Ann. Her presence and witness to the Order gives a real expression of the life of the Order in the life of the Archdiocese. You are a shining example to us all, in all the various branches of the Family in the Archdiocese and beyond.

“Your smile and your wise counsel are a living expression of the role which the Nuns play in the life of the Order. Your courage as you continue to remain faithful to your vocation at this time is a strong encouragement for all of us to remain faithful to our specific way of living out the Dominican ideal in the reality of our lives.”

Fr Matthew Martinez OP said, “I praise God for her faith, joy, commitment, and courage in the footsteps of St Dominic and the multitude of Dominican Saints. Sr Ann has always been an inspiration to me and a huge support in my own vocation and faith journey, even from long before I entered the Dominican Order. For this, I will be forever grateful!”

Fr Jesse Maingot OP shared, “The world does not understand your vocation, but God inspired it in you because He was jealous for all of you and wanted to give you as a gift to the world through your hidden life of prayer and sacrifice. Only in Heaven will we truly understand your vocation and what it has meant for the salvation of souls. Your contemplative life inspires me and reminds me God is worthy of all our love, time, and praise!”

Congratulations Sr Ann as we join the Dominican Family and your Rosary Monastery community in asking God for your continued abundant blessings for your 60 years’ service.

May Our Holy Mother and St Dominic along with all our saints and family, join in this celebration.

Sr Ann Bradshaw is the last of the cloistered contemplative nuns at Rosary Monastery in Trinidad.