IT’S THE RARE INDIVIDUAL WHO MAKES A LIFELONG VOW TO SERVE GOD and other people. Even more unusual is the person who remains steadfastly devoted to that commitment while joyfully embracing all the obligations and challenges it entails. Sister Mary Agnes Rose Tscherne, SND, who celebrated her 65th Jubilee as a Sister of Notre Dame on August 11 at The Gardens of St. Francis, is just such an individual.
Sr. Mary Agnes Rose Tscherne (S.M.A.R.T.), whose original name was Rita Ann Tscherne (R.A.T.), was born on July 12, 1936 and raised in East Toledo. With respect to her name, she likes to tell the story that when she was young, she was known as “R.A.T.”, but now she is “S.M.A.R.T.” As she got older, her family adopted the habit of putting both names on her birthday cakes and cards.
She attended St. Louis Elementary School on Sixth Street and then went to Central Catholic High School, graduating in 1954. Discovering a heart for serving others at an early age, she always helped her parents in raising her younger siblings.
Sr. Agnes Rose recounts how she walked to St. Louis every day. A true bookworm—or, in her own words, a “read-aholic”—she always had a book in her hand and would read even while walking to school. She boasts of how she memorized every crack in the sidewalk so she knew when to look up from her book to avoid tripping.
She absolutely loved her experience at Central Catholic and fondly recollects how much fun she had and the many friends she made in her years there. Her Catholic upbringing and education apparently had a profound impact on her because she decided to become a religious sister—an announcement that came as a surprise to her family as well as her classmates. After graduation, she entered the Convent of the Sisters of Notre Dame, then located on Secor Road in Toledo, and professed her vows on August 13, 1957.
Interestingly, Sr. Agnes Rose isn’t the only member of the Tscherne family to pursue a religious vocation. Her youngest brother, Father Dave Tscherne, is a priest and the Associate Pastor of St. Patrick of Heatherdowns Catholic Church in Toledo. She has one other living sibling, Ruth Petersberger, who resides in the Toledo area.
Sr. Agnes Rose’s academic achievements include earning a BA in Education from Mary Manse College, and an MA in English from the University of Toledo. She also acquired a great deal of education firsthand through travel, one of her most memorable experiences being a 1999 pilgrimage to the roots of her congregation of the Sisters of Notre Dame in Rome.
Her educational focus led to a career as an elementary school teacher that spanned over 40 years and took Sr. Agnes Rose to various schools around Northwest Ohio, including Mary Immaculate, St. Joseph Maumee, Gesu, St. Mary, and St. James in the Toledo area. She found that she loved teaching, especially (and not surprisingly) reading to students.
Sr. Agnes Rose is also a breast cancer survivor. She was diagnosed at the age of 30 and underwent a double mastectomy, but she approached her diagnosis and treatment with characteristic optimism. According to Heidi Hoffman, Director of Mission Integration and Spiritual Care at The Gardens of St. Francis, she often tells everyone at the Gardens that during her ordeal with breast cancer, she was never afraid and never felt alone, that it was God’s will and she was in His hands the entire time. Hoffman adds, “She would laugh and say, ‘I guess God wasn’t finished with me yet and wanted me to continue with my journey.’” Hoffman also comments that since Sr. Agnes Rose came to The Gardens of St. Francis in April of 2021, it has been obvious to residents and staff alike that she not only loves to read, but she also loves to sing. “You can always hear her coming down the halls, off the elevator, or in the chapel, singing. It doesn’t matter the song— she just sings. And like her young self, she still always has a book in her hand,” says Hoffman.
As for that characteristic optimism and caring spirit, Hoffman notes, “She always wears a smile. She looks out for the other residents. I guess that comes from being the oldest child and having to care for her siblings.”
In celebration of Sr. Agnes Rose’s 65th Jubilee, a Mass was held in her honor in the chapel at The Gardens of St. Francis. Her brother (Father Dave) celebrated the Mass along with Father Jerry Chmiel. Four other Notre Dame Sisters and several Gardens residents attended the Mass as well.
Hoffman recounts, “At the conclusion of the Mass, Fr. Dave asked Sr. Agnes Rose to stand up. He told a few stories about her and talked about how she embraced life and her commitment to God and the Sisters of Notre Dame. He also mentioned that she was the one who always led her family to God. He then offered a special blessing for her, with the entire congregation participating, and we had a special luncheon afterwards.”
The Toledo Province of the Sisters of Notre Dame was founded in 1924 and has sponsored Notre Dame Academy since 1904. There are currently 139 Notre Dame Sisters in the Toledo area and 449 in the USA.
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