They grew up inseparable identical twins, sharing home, parents, birth date, teachers and even boyfriends. With common interests and a zest for life, they passed 22 years on the same wavelength until one date when they switched places for the last time. Mary's date became Martha's and it was a match that was fixed at the altar. Martha became "busy about many things" and Mary did her best to ignore the persistent voice within. Commenting on those years of her youth, the Mary of our story reflected, "I was attracted to the religious life but I didn't want to go. I often looked upward and commented, 'I'm coming Lord, but not yet.' Then the 'Hound of Heaven' pursued me and I found myself haunted by the biblical refrain, 'What does it profit a man to gain the whole world if he loses his soul?" The answer did come and the will of God was embraced. After years of Catholic education, boarding school, and the business world, Mary found herself face-to-face with the Mother General after a visit to the Dominican convent in Newark, Ohio. Foregoing a conventional greeting, the community's superior acknowledged this anxious 25-year-old with the observation, "The sisters think you have a vocation." Mary agreed that she thought so too, and was ready to surrender. Within two months she was back at the Motherhouse, this time to stay. The date was September 8, 1940.

Initially, this reluctant "Mary" was attracted to the austerity of the
Carmelite cloister, given her devotion to Saint Theresa of Lisieux. Instead, God drew her to the family of Saint Dominic where her older sister was a religious. Her acceptance of "the better part" led her through initial formation and into classrooms in five northeastern states. During those first weeks, she remembers hoping that her superiors would send her home. Instead she was given the name of Sister Anne Therese, and her high spirits were directed to classroom teaching, administration, and assignments as supervisor for schools in Pittsburgh and Detroit.

In 1970, Sister became aware of the Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia, a small southern community that valued silence, the habit, community living, and prayer. Her interest in this community led Sister Anne Therese to meet with Mother Marie William. Without ever seeing the Motherhouse, she moved South where for the past 27 years she has served in various capacities as teacher, principal, and prioress. In the meantime, Martha was busy with five children and, as the years progressed, the blessing of 23 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. The special bond between the twins remains strong to this day. They both witness to the fruitfulness of a life lived according to the will of God. After fifty-six years as a Dominican, Sister Anne Therese reminisces with a sense of playfulness at all of the fun she and her sister Martha have managed to have through the years. From the beginning they were teased about their biblical namesakes. Sister remarks with a smile, "Martha never did like that Gospel!"