to become the Principal of St. Matthias. She went on to be Principal at two other schools, St. Francis and St. Helen. She also served for five years as the Coordinator of Education for all 20 SND schools throughout California. Today, Sr. Betty Mae works at Notre Dame Center as the Provincial Secretary. She was also instrumental in founding Notre Dame Learning Center where she serves as Program Supervisor. As a young girl, Sr. Betty Mae joined the Junior Legion of Mary, where she had the joy of teaching young children their prayers. That experience helped shape her desire to dedicate her life to “helping others come to know the awesomeness of God.” Sr. Betty Mae also ministers as a spiritual director, and she says “One of my greatest gifts is to sit with people, to be a loving presence to them, and to affirm their spiritual journey.” Sister Mary Regina Robbins Sr. Mary Regina Robbins was born and raised in Richmond, California, where she attended St. Cornelius Elementary School and first met the Sisters of Notre Dame. She attended Notre Dame Academy in Los Angeles and entered the convent. At an early age, Sister Regina felt called to serve God. In church on Sunday, she heard the Gospel story about a young Jesus being found in the Temple, and was struck by Jesus’ explanation to his parents that he had to ‘be about his Father’s business’ (Luke 2:49). “I realized that the greatest fulfillment of my life would be giving my life back to God and being about God’s business.” After graduating from Mount St. Mary’s College and Loyola Marymount University, Sr. Regina began her career as a teacher, instructing young women in English and Religion at St. Matthias in Huntington Park and at La Reina in Thousand Oaks before turning her talents toward formation. After four years in Rome studying and living at the motherhouse, Sr. Regina came back to California and served the community
for 18 years as Novice Directress. Today Sr. Regina serves on the Provincial Council, is the Formation Director for Temporary Professed Sisters, and is the Assistant Formation Director for college seminarians at Juan Diego House. In addition, she leads retreats and offers spiritual direction. “The ministry of formation chose me,” said Sr. Regina. “It is a way I am called to help people develop their human, spiritual, pastoral, and intellectual gifts.” Sister Mary Karlynn Werth Sr. Mary Karlynn Werth grew up in Southern California. She attended St. Helen’s in South Gate and later Notre Dame Academy, where she had Sisters of Notre Dame as teachers throughout. She joined the community during her senior year at NDA. After studying at Mount St. Mary’s College, Sr. Karlynn spent most of her career in education, first as an elementary level teacher at St. Francis, St. Joan of Arc, St. Timothy in Los Angeles and St. Rose of Lima, Maywood, and later as a principal at Our Lady of Assumption in Ventura, St. Timothy, St. Helen, St. Francis, and St. Lawrence. Sister was widely recognized for her creativity in the classroom, as she engaged children by incorporating students to work as teaching assistants. She regularly taught a special month-long math unit on real world household planning and budgeting. “I would have parents coming in and thanking me for helping their children develop a better appreciation of the value of money and how hard parents work to provide for their families.” In 2005, Sr. Karlynn came to Notre Dame Center to serve as House Administrator. “I have always experienced God through nature,” said Sr. Karlynn. Working in Los Angeles where sisters witnessed high rates of crime, poverty and divorce, Sr. Karlynn always found refuge in nature. “Being outside, I feel the presence of God and give thanks that we get to share in His wonderful creation.” 3
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