Sister Abbie Kennedy

Biography:

Sister Abbie Kennedy attended Presentation Junior College, Aberdeen, SD, and earned a bachelor's degree in education from Northern State Teachers College, Aberdeen, SD. For over 30 years, Sister Abbie was an educator in elementary schools in South Dakota and Montana. In 1984, she began parish ministry, following this with ministry at Nano Nagle Inn, a guesthouse for Avera McKennan patients and their families. In 2004, she returned to Aberdeen, SD to volunteer at Avera St. Luke's Auxiliary Guest House.

She shares the story of her first year of teaching when a student asked if she chose where she went to teach. At that time, the mother superior made the decision, so she told the student that she did not decide. His reply was, "Weren't you lucky this year!" Sister explains that she has always felt lucky in her 60 years of religious life. "Being a Presentation Sister has always seemed just right for me," she adds.

1951-1953 - St. Ann, Humboldt, SD - Teacher
1953-1960 - St. Joseph, Woonsocket, SD -Teacher
1960-1965 - St. Mary, Dell Rapids, SD - Teacher
1965-1966 - St. Martin, Huron, SD - Teacher
1966-1971 - Holy Family, Mitchell, SD - Fourth and Fifth Grade
1971-1978 - Sacred Heart, Miles City, MT - Teacher
1978-1979 - St. Mary, Sioux Falls, SD - Teacher
1979-1984 - St. Peter, Jefferson, SD - Teacher
1984-1998 - St. Lawrence, Milbank, SD - Parish Worker
1998-2004 - Avera McKennan Hospital, Sioux Falls, SD - Nano Nagle Innkeeper
2004-2015 - Presentation Convent, Aberdeen, SD - Volunteer and Full-time Prayer Ministry