Long Before

Her name was Dorothy, and she was called Mother.

Of course, she had another name, but one not to be shared after taking the veil. That long overdue correction in convent rules took another twenty years.

I was 15 the year our paths crossed.

Although I didn’t realize it then, I do now. The beautiful young Ursuline nun was probably less than five years older than I that last semester in my high school career.

I also have to admit I didn’t think of Mother Dorothy often in the decades that passed.

I believe the recent surge of feminism and women supporting women is the reason that brought her back into memory.

The young nun was the only female in my life who supported my ambition to tell stories. I have had amazing encouragement from the men in my life, primarily my husband and sons, and a celebrated author, who was also a beloved priest. However, the females mostly believed my ambition was another foolish and nonsensical dream and never hesitated to share their honest opinions.

Mother Dorothy taught English in the large stone building on Lexington Avenue and 50th Street in the vast NY diocese ruled then by the reigning cleric, Cardinal Spellman. For a reason never quite adequately explained, the Junior class was uplifted abruptly into an early graduation. The upheaval from student to a member of the working class held no excitement for me, but there was to be no choice. I was one of 1000 females who walked down the lengthy aisle of the famed Cathedral that June afternoon, a lifetime ago.

Somehow the quiet belief Mother Dorothy had in my words accompanied me for the next twenty odd years. The day I saw my first byline in the NYT I wondered where Mother Dorothy was and if she saw it.

But to my shame, I didn’t investigate any further.

The words and the stories haven’t stopped as yet, but the clock is ticking slowly and will soon run out of time.

However, today I still have time to properly thank a young Ursuline nun who didn’t hesitate to encourage another younger woman to follow her dream.

While it may have had a different name. feminism was alive and well long before today.