By Aundra Willis Carrasco, Girls Catholic Central Class of 1962
As St. Patrick Senior Center begins its 52nd successful year as “Detroit’s largest health, wellness and activities center for people aged 55 years and older”, my memories of its beginnings transport me back in time. Back to 1973 when I was first informed that my then vacant former high school building, my alma mater, Girls’ Catholic Central High School, had been miraculously transformed into an activity center for Detroit seniors by an intrepid Dominican nun named Sister Mary Watson, O.P.. I was to learn later that while on her assigned position as the dietary supervisor at Mount Carmel Mercy Hospital, she was approached to start a program for seniors at St. Patrick Catholic Church, previously known as the Chapel of St. Theresa-the Little Flower, which was adjacent to the school building.
With modest beginnings initially, and the approval and support of the Church’s pastors, including Father Thomas J. Duffey, Sister Mary opened a hot meals program, serving just a few meals in the basement Cafeteria setting that I remember so well. Soon thereafter, through word of mouth and the clear need for many services for the senior community, Sister Mary began working tirelessly to raise money for the center. Launching an all-out and relentless campaign on behalf of Detroit’s seniors. Gradually her staunch advocacy triggered increasing attention and significant progress was made. She created an oasis of sustenance and care for a previously neglected community. And our vacant but still sturdy school building experienced a re-birth, as St. Patrick Senior Center. Under the passionate determination and guidance of Sister Mary Watson, O.P., aka: “the Mother Teresa of Detroit”. She single-handedly rescued the building and put it to good use. Her philosophy of “giving seniors a reason to get up in the morning” and eliminating poverty has enhanced and enriched many lives.
I first had the pleasure of meeting Sister Mary during a friendly telephone call from her in 1987. My class of 1962 was in the process of planning our 25th year reunion, and she called in response to my letter. “Oh Boy! This is a big one. How can I help?” she said. And I could feel her smile even over the phone. And several minutes into the conversation, I was convinced that our reunion event at our alma mater would be welcomed with open arms. Sister Mary shared her reverence and respect for our school’s history as well as the fact that she made the decision to keep as many of our school signs and memorabilia as possible. Our classrooms and room numbers were preserved intact and our school seal in the auditorium remained in perfect position just as we remember it. And to my surprise, during our 50th Class Reunion, I received a totally unexpected phone call and interview request from local news anchor Dave LewAllen of WXYZ-TV. Sister Mary had informed him of our reunion event and suggested that he cover it.
In addition to countless and demanding responsibilities running St. Patrick’s, Sister Mary was always accessible to GCC alumnae in the planning and hosting of class reunions over the years, and we always included her in our festivities. But St. Patrick’s was clearly her first priority and always front and center in her thoughts. I recall numerous conversations with her during which she elaborated on her belief that “…the poverty of old age is the poverty of loneliness”, and she was determined to do everything in her power to defeat it.
Thanks to Sister Mary, the school building where, from 1958 to 1962, I had the privilege of attending and graduating from, is still standing and functioning as a haven of services for people my age. This was unimaginable when we were enrolled there as adolescent girls in the private college preparatory secondary school for girls grades 9 through 12. Several years after my class graduated, Detroit began to go through drastic cultural changes that were not in existence during our years at GCC. And after struggling financially, the school held its final graduation ceremony and closed its doors in 1969. Our teachers, the IHM sisters, either transferred to other faculty positions or retired to the IHM Motherhouse in Monroe, Michigan. However, upon the occasion of my class’s 25th reunion, the principal, Mother Loyola and several of our former teachers, our Lay teacher, Mrs. Renata, and Father Albert J. D’Huyvetter attended the event and joined us in joyfully reminiscing our memorable times at GCC.
After retiring in 2017, Sister Mary returned to the Siena Center, her Racine, Wisconsin retirement community on the shore of Lake Michigan. We exchanged several letters and greeting cards during that time, and she was apparently enjoying the new chapter in her life. Before leaving St. Patrick’s, she had confidently handed over the reins of leadership to her long-time assistant, now Executive Director, SaTrice Coleman-Betts, a dedicated advocate for seniors in her own right. SaTrice has continued on magnificently with the daily operations of the center. Numerous dedicated staff members and volunteers are also carrying on with the same dedication and commitment. Fortunately for the former GCC students, Sister Mary had a genuine appreciation for the history of our school and a full understanding of all that it meant to us. Her welcoming spirit towards us was contagious and adopted by the staff and volunteers. They were extremely enthusiastic and accessible and seemed to enjoy our reunions almost as much as we did. SaTrice and her husband, Michael, were of tremendous help with each of the events our class held at the school building, and Michael was particularly helpful and supportive with logistics and set-ups and equipment.
A couple of years after Sister Mary had settled in Racine, I became concerned when there was no response to the birthday and Christmas cards I had sent to her. Especially because our sharing December birthdays was usually a mutual topic of conversation, so my concern was legitimate. Responses to my inquiries were disappointing but not unexpected. “She’s just slowing down.” I was told. But I was still unprepared when the sad news came shortly afterward.
“Sister Mary Watson, O.P., Entered Eternal Life on February 1, 2021, at the age of 86.”
Although I was deeply saddened by the news, my sadness was tempered by happy memories and the extraordinary legacy of advocacy that she left behind. It is tremendously gratifying to know that thanks to Sister Mary, our old school building is still standing proud and strong and serving a vital community that appreciates it, and devoted staff and volunteers continuing her bountiful compassion and standards of caring.
As she often said: “…Take care of God’s people and God will take care of you.”
And she has undoubtedly earned her rightful place in the Kingdom of Heaven.