Newburgh Native Makes Final Profession Of Vows To Passionist Order

WHITESVILLE, Ky. – On October 19, 2013, Sister Mary Andrea Niehaus, C.P. made her profession of vows here before God in the presence of Bishop William F. Medley of the Diocese of Owensboro and the Passionist Nuns of the Monastery of Saint Joseph. 

She is the daughter of Dave and Carol Niehaus of Newburgh, longtime parishioners of St. John the Baptist Parish. Those attending the event included Sister Mary Andrea’s cousin Father Jason Gries, pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Evansville (Daylight). 

Sister Mary Andrea said, “To the honor of God, I, Sister Mary Andrea of the Incarnate Word, firmly resolve to consecrate myself more intimately to Him and to follow Christ more closely. In the presence of the community of this Monastery of St. Joseph, a part of the Institute of the Religious of the Passion of Jesus and a sign of the universal Church, and in your hands, Reverend Mother Catherine Marie, I vow to promote devotion to and grateful remembrance of the Passion and Death of Jesus Christ, and to express it in my style of life. I also vow chastity, poverty, obedience, and to live in enclosure perpetually, according to the Rule and Constitutions of the Religious of the Passion of Jesus Christ.

“I promise to lead a life of love, together with you, my Sisters, called within the Church to be a sign of the love

of Jesus Crucified for the Father and for mankind.

“May the grace of the Holy Spirit, the intercession of the Sorrowful Virgin Mary and of St. Paul of the Cross, and your charity, my Sisters, sustain my weakness, and strengthen me in what I have promised by vow.

“Help Your servant, Lord. With trust in the word of Your Gospel, she has given You her faith.”

The superior, Mother Catherine Marie Schuhmann, C.P. responded: “By the authority entrusted

to me, I accept your vows in the name of the Church for the Institute of the Religious of the Passion of Jesus Christ. I commend you earnestly to God that you may fulfill your dedication, which is linked with this Eucharistic Sacrifice.”

Sr. Mary Andrea then went to the altar for the signing of the profession formula, which was left on the altar for the remainder of the Mass. Bishop Medley then prayed the ancient Consecration of Virgins over Sr. Mary Andrea who knelt before the altar. Next, Sister Andrea was presented with the Cross and Crown of Thorns, a symbolic expression of her Passionist dedication to God. Then Sr. Mary Andrea exchanged the Sign of Peace with the Celebrants, her immediate family, and her Passionist Sisters.

Later, during a solemn blessing, Bishop Medley prayed for Sister Mary Andrea, “God inspires all holy desires and brings them to fulfillment. May He protect you always by His grace, so that you may fulfill the duties of your vocation with a faithful heart.” 

After the Mass, all proceeded to visiting rooms in the monastery for refreshments, photos, and greeting one another as the Niehaus and Steckler families who had prepared the food shared special moments with their beloved new Bride of Christ, Sister Mary Andrea of the Incarnate Word, her Passioniat Sisters and friends and family present for this remarkable day.

Mel Howard is Editor of the Western Kentucky Catholic. This feature package originally appeared in its December 2013 issue, and is reprinted with permission.

‘Indeed, the Lord has done great things!’

NOTE – The following is a message from the Liturgy Aid for the Oct. 19, 2013 Mass of Perpetual Passionist Profession of Sr. Mary Andrea of the Incarante Word.

“Indeed, the Lord has done great things! What else can I say on this day for which I have so longed? When I entered St Joseph’s Monastery nine years ago, this day seemed so far off!

“What is it about this day that makes it something for which I have longed? Today, I give myself totally to my Spouse, Jesus Crucified, perpetually! (In a certain sense, I can even say, ‘until death do

we meet.’) He has chosen me and called me. Therefore, I am able to respond to Him, giving myself to Him totally. I choose to live grateful for His love especially as He manifested it in His Passion and Death

(Passion Vow), and to love Him as my one true Spouse (Chastity). I choose to have Him as my greatest Treasure (Poverty), choosing to do His Will out of love for Him (Obedience), and to live with Him and my Sisters in Community, free from many of the distractions of the world (Enclosure), for ‘only in Him will my soul be at rest.’

“During these past months, I have been reflecting more deeply upon the many great things the Lord has done for me in bringing me to this day, remembering His many graces throughout the years. I know that I could never be here without the prayers, example, and support of each one of you, especially my dear parents, and family. I am deeply grateful for all that each one of you has done in helping me to be open and responsive to God’s loving invitation. Only in Eternity will I know fully all the many graces I received through others. However, I do want to take this time to share with you one of them.

“When I was about 7 years old, my Great-grandfather Henry Steckler passed away. I do not remember much about him, except that he was a man of prayer. When I was in grade school, Mom began to pray with us children from a set of Stations of the Cross, which he himself had written. Often, we would only pray one or two of the Stations each night. Knowing that this was important enough for Great-grandpa that he would even write his own meditations impacted me at a deeper level than I thought, for I now see this simple night-time Lenten practice as the start of my devotion to the Passion of Jesus, and thus of my being here today. I also believe that part of why I am here is due to Great-grandpa’s prayers for me, as well as for our entire family.

“As we pray today for the intercession of the saints, I will also be asking for the prayers of our family members who have gone before us, and I ask for your continued prayers for me and for all those whom God is calling to priestly and/or religious life.

“Know that each of you is in my heart and prayers, as I thank God for the many great things He has done for me.”

– Sr. Mary Andrea of the Incarnate Word, C.P.