“Be diligent in serving the poor. Love the poor, honor them, my children, as you would honor Christ Himself.”
St. Louise de Marillac
A New Adventure
During her 10 years as director of the Sisters of Charity Spirituality Center, S. Marty Dermody offered a warm and welcoming presence to all who visited.
On Jan. 22, Sisters and employees gathered in the Motherhouse dining room to celebrate the retirement of S. Marty Dermody from the Sisters of Charity Spirituality Center, where she ministered as director for 10 years.
Reflecting on her decision to retire after many dedicated years at the Spirituality Center, as well as 15 years in the Communications Office, S. Marty describes this transition as “a step into a new adventure” and shared her anticipation for what lies ahead.
In addition to dreams of traveling and reading a book titled The Blue Highways—about a man who journeys along the outer edges of the United States, a trip she hopes one day to take herself—she says, “I know that some of this adventure is going to require more quiet time, for prayer and spending time outside with creation.”
As S. Marty discerned this next chapter and sorted through a decade of papers and memories from her office, she noticed that one thought-provoking Scripture verse surfaced again and again.
She reads Jeremiah 29:11-13 aloud: “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.’”
She places particular emphasis on Line 13, where the Lord calls, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart.”
S. Marty’s hope in the near future is to give herself the space to pray – just as she so generously created space for others throughout her ministry. One aspect of her work at the Spirituality Center that stood out most to her was the opportunity to draw others closer to God, inviting them into a place where they could pray and find time “to be still and listen.”
S. Marty Dermody (right) and Administrative Assistant Micki Trentman worked side by side for 10 years before both recently retiring.
“I’ve met a lot of new people that I didn’t know anything about before. That was an exciting time, in addition to managing the day-to-day work of the office,” she said, from coordinating retreats and speakers to overseeing bookings. “I think for anybody that came here, I tried to make them feel welcome.”
Hospitality has been a common thread throughout every chapter of her life – from teaching in Catholic schools and at the Mount Campus School, to pursuing her passion for photography in the Communications Office, and finally to offering a knowledgeable, welcoming presence to all who entered the Spirituality Center.
As she reflects on what the future may hold, and on the hope-filled promise of the passage from Jeremiah, it is clear that the lessons S. Marty has learned across her many ministries will continue to guide her into whatever comes next.
Being involved in the Communications Office allowed her to “open up a lot of different avenues for myself, because I felt the work that I did here broadened my scope and helped me to step into Spirituality more freely.”
Holding the role of director at the Spirituality Center has “taught me to slow down, to focus on what’s important in life,” S. Marty said. “It taught me how to be a welcoming person, to be hospitable to others, to be open to different possibilities. It taught me to be aware of what’s happening in our world and how much we need one another to make things work.”
As the congregation discerns next steps for the Spirituality Center, S. Marty believes that cooperation with one another, grounded in trust in God, will guide the Community forward.
“I just hope that there can be an openness to continuing to create things and places for people to come to – that we remain open to the mystery of what could happen,” she shared.
She recalled a question posed during a congregational retreat in January: “Can you live with unknowing at this time?” Many religious communities, including our own, she noted, are asking, “Where do we go from here?”
“I am hopeful that we can continue to offer time and space for people searching for God,” S. Marty said.
As she steps into this new adventure, S. Marty carries with her the heart of her ministry: creating space for prayer, reflection, and connection. Just as she has welcomed countless individuals into the Spirituality Center, she now embraces the invitation to be still, to seek God with her whole heart, and to listen deeply to the unfolding of her own journey.
birdwatching group
S. Marty Dermody (front right) enjoys birdwatching with a local group that includes S. Karina Montes-Ayala (front, left), finding joy in nature as she watches and photographs birds.
dermody birdwatching
Pictured with her friend Dave Russell, S. Marty Dermody (front) is an avid birdwatcher who appreciates God’s creation through time spent in nature.
marty dermody
As she looks ahead to a new chapter, S. Marty Dermody hopes to spend more time outdoors, deepening her connection with creation.
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