Then and Now

It was her mother’s deep love of the Catholic faith and the many sacrifices she made to give her children a Catholic education that called Sister Maureen Field to religious life. She and her six siblings attended Sacred Heart Elementary School outside of Chicago; she went on to attend Immaculate Heart of Mary High School (IHM) in Westchester, Ill.

“I knew from the first moment I met the IHM Sisters that there was something very special about the young nuns who were my high school teachers,” she says. “They were always joyful, they loved teaching and sports and they were great teachers!”

Sister Maureen worked for a year after high school graduation before joining the IHM community. Coming to the community shortly after Vatican II had a huge influence on her formation; the changes and challenges of religious life deepened her commitment to her faith and vocation.

She completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology after joining the community, and after graduation, became dean of students at IHM High School, Westchester, where she stayed for five years. After her ministry at IHM Westchester, Sister Maureen completed her master’s degree in guidance and counseling at Sienna Heights University and coached the women’s fast pitch softball team as a graduate student.

She ministered in Gates Mills, Ohio, for several years before becoming principal at St. Vincent/St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio. She became principal at Padua Franciscan High School in Parma, Ohio – the first non-Franciscan and the first woman principal. She received her superintendent certification from the University of Akron.

She was the author of two articles published in the Journal of the National Catholic Education Association, titled, “Boosting Teacher Morale” and “Improving School Pride/Spirit.”

Sister Maureen then became principal at Immaculate Conception High School in Elmhurst, Ill., for eight years; took a year to reassess where she wanted to go next; and ministered in human resources in Norridge, Ill. She became supervisor and principal at St. Patrick High School in Lansing, Mich., before working as a document imager and medical billing associate at Paramedic Services of Illinois for eight years.

Sister Maureen treasures meeting former high school students. Many students are quick to offer gratitude for her expertise and kindness that strengthened the same faith and values they now instill in their children. As stated by a former IHM student, “You always encouraged us to live our school motto, “Every student has the need to become what she has the ability to become”.

Sister Maureen is very grateful to the IHM community for its constant love, trust and support. Mindful of the many challenges in the years ahead, she states, “Whenever two or three IHM Sisters are gathered in prayer, God is present, and all things are possible!”