Mary Agnes Nagle was born in Mobile, Alabama on January 19, 1938 to Raymond and Mary Agnes Smallwood Nagle. She was baptized on February 13th of the same year, and was confirmed on April 12th, 1949 by Bishop Thomas Toolen.
Mary Agnes has a sister, Angele, who is not well enough to travel and be with us. Mary Agnes was very close to her parents and her sister. Her father, a pious man, who converted to Catholicism, was a branch manager of Armored Car, Inc. Her mother, a very loving person, was a homemaker. Mary Agnes graduated from St. Mary’s grade school and Bishop Toolen High School in Mobile. After high school, she worked for seven years as a secretary for Catholic Charities in the then Diocese of Mobile. She received her undergraduate degree in Humanities from Spring Hill College in 1975 and a Master of Religious Studies from St. Michael College in Winooski, Vermont. She found this program inspiring, as well as educational, and said that in some courses she almost felt as though she were on a retreat.
In her letter to Mother Marie of the Trinity requesting to make application for entrance to the Community, Mary Agnes said, “I want to learn more about God, to love Him more and to do something for Him”. She said, “The spirit and works of the Sisters are wonderful. I feel very unworthy, but would like to be part of the Cenacle Family.” In a later letter, she said she really feels the works of the community fulfill both the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy. At the time of her application to the community, Mary Agnes was in her third year in the Missionary Cenacle Apostolate and was a catechist in Prichard, Alabama.
Mary Agnes had a great love for the Cenacle and the Missionary Cenacle Family. She made the Cenacle Exercises retreat several times and was a spiritual guide for both the Missionary Cenacle Apostolate and the Blessed Trinity Missionary Institute.
In his letter of recommendation for entrance to the community, Fr. Nunan, Director of Catholic Charities with whom she had worked for seven years, said, “during this time Mary Agnes has proven herself to be a most reliable, industrious and conscientious member of the staff. Her character and her integrity are above reproach, and with the help and grace of God will make a very fine Sister”.
Mary Agnes entered the Community on August 5, 1963. On August 14, 1964, she entered novitiate and received the name Sister Mary Cabrini of the Abandoned Christ. In June of 1968, Mary Agnes requested to return to her baptismal name. On March 25, 1971, she professed perpetual vows.
Mary Agnes’ first mission was in religious education in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. It was, I imagine, a daunting mission for a sister just out of 4 years of formation at the Motherhouse. The Diocese of Greensburg was beginning a new program, the Institute of Religious Development. Mary Agnes said it was put into effect to help adults in understanding the renewal in the Church and to understand their faith in an adult way. For the program to happen in a parish it needed the pastor’s permission, so this involved visiting pastors. She said they, “found it helpful to do door to door visiting which introduces ourselves and our work to the people. I have also found that two hours of hospital visiting each week is good for public relations – interfaith, interracial and Adult Institute – also it is a contact for souls for God– which we definitely need”.
Mary Agnes’ missions were mostly in Religious Education and Pastoral Ministry in Tucker, MS; Beloit, WI; Kiln, MS; Rock Hill, SC; West Point, VA; Tallahassee, FL; and Montgomery, AL.
Mary Agnes’ ministry in Montgomery was to the elderly. She felt that the most abandoned group of people are the elderly, especially the elderly who are poor.
Mary Agnes took her vow of obedience seriously. At one point she said, “I will do anything. Just don’t give me something involving numbers.” I guess that ruled out the General Treasurer’s office!
In 2016, Mary Agnes was missioned to the Motherhouse. For a time she helped out at the reception desk. When asked how she lived out her mission she said, “Doing acts of kindness for the Sisters”.
In January of 2023, Mary Agnes was missioned to Mother Boniface Missionary Cenacle at Wesley.
Mary Agnes was a missionary through and through in her heart and in her soul. There was a lot of door to door, person to person ministry from Uniontown, PA to her last mission at Wesley, visiting the residents, brightening their day with her big smile and her Southern drawl.
After the 2018 Chapter, we were invited to reflect on our ministry. In an addendum to the booklet, she wrote, “When I was in “outside” ministry, I felt I was not only missioned to the “the ministry”, but also to the Sisters in the cenacle through living community. Now that I am “retired” I feel the same. She went on to say, “I keep the Cenacle Family and their ministry in prayer, and concentrate on our Sisters, reaching out to them. I also contact our Montgomery MCA and former MSBTs. I care for and reach out to all our Sisters on Holy Spirit Hall.
She then wrote, “P.S. I really cared for the people I ministered to. In the Black parish in Rock Hill, SC, one of the parishioner told me I have a “Black heart”. In the Choctaw mission in Tucker, the Medicine Woman told me I was half Choctaw. I am grateful they felt that way.
We could never doubt her love for the community nor for her love for God. She said, “One aspect of God I see is beauty– flowers, nature, music. I keep the radio tuned to classical music and connect with God.” Yes, one of the many ways you connected with God, Mary Agnes.
Sister Mary Agnes of the Abandoned Christ, a beautiful soul. May you rest in peace in arms of our loving God.