Political Quotes

“I am going to read some of the facts of her life from her obituary and do my best to fill in some personal thoughts while I do that. I am not going to read the entire thing. It starts out: ``Sister Thomas Welder, 80, a member of the Benedictine Sisters of Annunciation Monastery, Bismarck, and president of the University of Mary for 31 years, passed into eternal life June 22, 2020, at the monastery, following a recent diagnosis of kidney cancer. ``A graduate of St. Mary's High School, she joined Annunciation Monastery after a year of college in Minnesota. Attracted by the community and prayer life of the sisters, she felt God's call to become one of them. As a novice, she was given the name of Sister Thomas. She made her monastic profession on July 11, 1961. Sister Thomas cherished Benedictine monastic life which she lived faithfully for 59 years.'' I recall a speech--or an interview--once at an event. In fact, I think it was during her retirement. She was asked about monastic life. She was asked: What is it that grounds you? Where is it you get your inspiration? She said: ``My wellspring are the Sisters of Annunciation Monastery.'' Skipping down a little bit, her obituary reads: ``A dedicated servant leader''--and we will speak to that in a little bit--``she gave her life to the University of Mary for 57 years. She led from her heart and touched the lives of many.…”