Vigil for Sister Andre Hushka – Reflection following Luke 1:39-48a

March 28, 2025

Sister Andre made her first profession in 1952 and, as a Benedictine Sister of the Annunciation, her life helped us know both Mary of the Annunciation and Mary of the Visitation.

As the troubled Mary of the Annunciation asked, “How can this be?”, the angel answered and  also added-- “by the way, your kinswoman Elizabeth, in her old age, has also conceived a son. This is the sixth month for a woman called barren. For, nothing is impossible with God.”  In response, Mary of the Visitation arose and made the arduous journey into Judah’s hill country to greet Elizabeth and stayed with her for about three months. In that companionship of the young Mary and the older Elizabeth, we hold memory of the younger Sister Andre and the older Sister Reinhardt ministering together at the Bishop’s house for 20 years.  And Jesus was there, too.

There were instances of the troubled Mary of the Annunciation in Sister Andre’s life. She saw herself doing ministry of laundry and/or housekeeping and/or cooking – though cooking troubled her because, “its constantly on the go and too many complaints.” Doing laundry was her preference and, the prioress responded. The changes that came with Vatican II were also troubling for Sister Andre and, in the community’s practice of each Sister doing her own discernment regarding dress, Sister Andre was very clear about her preference. As a Mary of the Visitation, away in the hill country, she received the support of family and friends in that choice. As life went along, Sister Andre observed: “as the Blessed Mother taught us, ‘Not my will, but Thy will be done.’”

And, it was as a Mary of the Visitation that Sister Andre seemed to thrive—in her regard for the bishop and priests she came to know at the bishop’s house and at the University of Mary in her many friends there where she considered Bob a special friend. She was a Mary of the Visitation in her cherished time with her sisters and their families, in the friends she made through ministry settings as well as associations made in her participation in many Marian conferences and gatherings. She too, made several journeys to a number of European countries, to Mexico in devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, and to the various locations of her sisters’ homes. Jesus was there, too.

We can only imagine that, in their three months together, Mary and Elizabeth had times of fun and surprise. Once, after traveling alone to visit family, Sister Andre delighted in telling us of what  (over) happened when she found herself at the wrong end of an airport to transfer and needed to run the entire length of the airport to catch her flight. She was amazed that, as she ran, —"the people parted--just like Moses and the Red Sea!” Another time she told of being invited out to the Texas Roadhouse by University of Mary friends for a birthday. She seemed a bit amazed that she provided entertainment for all in the restaurant as these friends convinced her to get on the mechanical bucking bronco and provided coins for the movement! Jesus was there, too.

Mary and Elizabeth’s time together also found time for hobbies, perhaps needlework or music. Sister Eleanor tells that when she received the gift of an accordion from a family member, Sister Andre went to find the source of the accordion music being played. Finding Sister Eleanor, she exclaimed: “now we can play together!”—And they did with Sister Andre sometimes on a banjo, sometimes with a guitar.

Like the young Mary of the Annunciation and Visitation, we knew Sister Andre to be quick moving as we saw her one moment but then, gone!  She enjoyed doing errands to town for the monastery, and, whether making coifs, sewing, or doing and folding laundry, her work was precise and carefully and beautifully done.  As Father Benedict commented about her sacristy work at the University of Mary, “you could count on her.”

As she so often blessed us with the words, “May God reward you,” -- this evening we gather, and together say, “Sister Andre, may God reward you.” May God’s reward include the delight of meeting Mary and Elizabeth, all your beloved family and saints and—perhaps, with a bit of a pat on the cheek,--meeting Jesus face-to-face in the everlasting Kingdom-home of God.