“She was true to her surname,” said Father Patrick Cullen of Sister Mary Vernon Gentle, R.S.M., at his dear friend’s funeral Mass on Nov. 20 at the Cathedral of St. Paul. While she was well known for her gentle nature, Father Cullen said she was fierce when it came to her life’s ministry: inclusion of the mentally disabled in the life of the Church.

Sister Mary Vernon grew up in Birmingham and heard the call to religious life early. She was a teenager when she made the solo journey from Birmingham to Baltimore to join the Sisters of Mercy. After her formation and profession, she was slated to minister in Columbus, Georgia; however, before she could get there, the Sisters of Mercy decided it would be best if sisters ministered in their home dioceses with the hopes it would help with the integration of schools. Once she arrived in Birmingham, she began teaching first grade at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School.

As a young teacher, Sister realized that some of God’s children were being overlooked and excluded from becoming full participants in the Body of Christ. At that time, the 1960s, mentally disabled persons did not participate fully in the sacraments. Wanting to help, Sister began ministering to those with disabilities in 1966. Two years later, Father Patrick Cullen was assigned to Our Lady of Sorrows as an associate. The two joined forces, formed the Nazareth House Apostolate, and continued serving the disabled for the next 53 years. Over those five decades, hundreds of children were catechized in their faith and allowed to partake in the sacraments.

Sister Mary Vernon passed away on Nov. 16, four days shy of her eightieth birthday. Her funeral Mass, celebrated by Father Cullen, was concelebrated by Fathers Ray Dunmyer, Joe Culotta, Bryan Jerabek, Justin Ward, Vernon Huguley, Jerry Deasy, Tom Ackerman, Doug Vu, and Joel Martin, O.S.B. Bishop Steven Raica was also present. Long-time friends and fellow Sisters of Mercy Deborah Kennedy, Judith Dianne McGowan, and Áine O'Connor placed a cross, a Bible, and profession ring on Sister Mary Vernon’s casket at the beginning of the Mass as hundreds of mourners looked on.

During the homily, Father Cullen shared many stories about Sister, most of them humorous. One story, however, was not so humorous, but it struck to the core of Sister Mary Vernon’s character. Father Cullen told of how Sister was waiting to catch a plane and noticed two women sitting alone. One of the women got up to visit the restroom, leaving the other lady still sitting and struggling to tie her shoe. Sister Mary Vernon instinctively jumped up and went over to help. While Sister was tying the woman’s shoe, she glanced at the lady’s handbag; on it were the initials “R.P.” It suddenly dawned on Sister who the woman might be, so she asked, “Do those initials stand for Rosa Parks?” The woman answered: “Yes. Did you not know my name?” Sister, of course, answered that she was not aware, prompting Parks to tell the kind sister that the gesture meant a great deal more knowing of its pure intentions.

The story, Father Cullen said, exemplified Sister Mary Vernon, for she was a woman with a gentle and kind nature who lived her ministry and her order’s charism with passion and zeal. As Catherine McAuley, the foundress of the Sisters of Mercy, said: “We should be shining lamps, giving light to all around us.” Yes, Sister Mary Vernon’s earthly light has faded, but her legacy of ministry and of unfailing dedication to the mentally disabled will continue to shine for many years to come.