Her siblings are John, Dan, Maureen, Michael, Karen, Jane and Chris.
Terry was a very bright girl and attended Bishop McDonnell High School. At age fifteen, Terry wrote to the Reverend Mother of the Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity (MSBT), “I am almost fifteen and I really feel that I have a calling to enter the MSBT.” Her discernment process slowed down when her father’s health took a turn for the worse. Terry felt it necessary to remain at home and help care for her father as her mother worked. After some months, his health improved and both her father and mother told her to move ahead with her application for admission.
She entered the MSBT on August 5, 1957. She had just turned 18. Entering Novitiate Terry received the name Sister Mary Daniel of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. She made first profession on March 25, 1959. When professing her Final Vows in 1964 she requested a change and became Sister Mary Daniel Ahern of the Compassionate Heart of Mary.
In 1961, after First Vows and two years of Juniorate classes she was missioned to Colegio la Merced, Roosevelt, PR where she taught Math and English. In 1964, she moved to Nuestra Senora de Lourdes Parish, Country Club, PR to work in parish ministry and Religious Ed. She completed her Bachelors in Education with honors at the University of Puerto Rico.
In the Fall of 1966, Sr. Terry returned to Philadelphia for a year and taught English at St. Hubert High School, then served as Assistant to the Vocation Director in 1967-1968.
In 1968, she returned to Puerto Rico to teach Math and English at Colegio San Augustin in Cabo Rojo. During this time, she returned to her baptismal name Theresa.
She was missioned to Holy Spirit Parish in Orange, NJ as Director of Religious Education in 1971 and earned a Masters in Religious Education at Fordham University in 1972.
She became Coordinator for the Diocesan Office for Spanish Apostolate Worchester, MA in 1974 and was named Co-director of the Office in 1977.
In 1979, Sr. Terry moved to the Office of Spanish Apostolate in Atlanta, GA and in 1982 she became part of the Retreat Team at Blessed Trinity Shrine Retreat in AL.
In 1983, Sr. Terry was Elected to General Council, serving for 10 years. Her first term with Sr. Ann Maura O’Keefe as General Superior and her second with Sr. Marie Gaffney.
After completing her second term on the General Council, Sr. Terry was asked by Sr. Marie Gaffney to take on several Intra community jobs including Archivist, Liturgist, Vocation Ministry, Communications, Missionary Cenacle Press, and she was appointed assistant to the General Secretary. Terry also served on many committees.
In 2003, Sr. Mary Shaun Dunphy, wrote, “Sister Theresa continues in a variety of ministries that serve both MSBTs on a community wide basis and on the 3501 local basis. During the course of these past five years, I have discussed possibilities of ministries away from here. She asked to remain due to her many health issues; she enjoys what she is doing and feels it needs to be done, we are happy to have her continue. She is intelligent, talented and creative in the various roles in which she functions.”
Terry’s mystery was the Compassionate Heart of Mary. Her practice was to wake up early and spend time in prayer. She wrote about an experience of praying with Mary.
“I tried to come to grips with how little control I have over so very many things happening in my life right now. She (Mary) helped me to look at her life and take note of the things over which she had no control — no control over what Joseph thought, no control over Caesar’s edict, no control over the crowds at Bethlehem, etc. It seems that control over your life is in inverse proportion to the presence of God in your life. Mary did exercise some control over her own life when she went to visit Elizabeth and she was really exercising some control at the wedding in Cana. But for the most part, things happened to her that were beyond her power. I have been able to identify with her in this. She reminds me of my weak spots, and calls me to exercise my weaker functions. (What a lot of psychological jargon!) But, I hope you see what I mean.”
Terry loved Our Lord and the Blessed Mother. She loved the MSBT Community very much.
She loved her family very much. She cared greatly about those suffering poverty and injustice.
I know she suffered physically and was frustrated as her poor mobility and illnesses prevented her doing things she loved. It was so difficult for her to let go of activities she loved and no longer could do. Now she is free of pain and all other burdens. She is with her Lord.