On any given day Sister Helen Timothy might walk into a board meeting to discuss a multimillion dollar capital campaign with a conviction that removes any doubt the task is mission inevitable.

The Loretto High School president might just as typically be observed chatting outside her office with a visiting alum, or sharing a personal anecdote with staff members leaving them in fits of laughter.

But whatever the setting, she’s a compelling presence inspiring Loretto High School students to live out their faith one day at a time.

Because of this and more, Sister Timothy, a member of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, will be honored Feb. 1 as the Distinguished Catholic School Graduate by the Diocese of Sacramento for her “exceptional achievement and contributions to the life of the community.”

Two of the biggest decisions of Sister Timothy’s life were made when she was a student at Loretto, the same high school where she has worked as an administrator for the past eight years. She says during her four years at Loretto she decided to dedicate her life to educating women and to enter religious life.

“Loretto was a close community,” she recalled. “It was a faith community and it was what attracted me to religious life. Loretto made our faith be alive.”

As a Loretto student Sister Timothy was inspired to activism by community service. She spent one summer in the tiny Delta town of Hood, where she and her classmates taught religion to migrant farm worker children.

She graduated from Loretto in 1960 and later received her bachelor’s degree in English from California State University-Sacramento and a master’s degree in administration from the University of Notre Dame.

One of her friends during the high school years was Mimi Scherber, now diocesan director of stewardship and development. Scherber says its no surprise to those who know Sister Timothy that she’s being honored.

“(Sister Timothy) was someone who always did the right thing…and had the ability to bring her faith alive in others,” Scherber noted. “She has a zest for living that makes people around her want to do their best.”

Sister Timothy began her work in education in the diocese in 1990 as principal at St. John’s Notre Dame School in Folsom. In 1991 she became assistant principal at Loretto, then principal in 1992 and was appointed president in 2000.

As an administrator she has been guided by a philosophy that is reflected in Loretto’s motto: “Mind, Heart, Action.”

“When I think about whether we are successful, I don’t think about how many students went to Ivy League schools but did the graduating class have a sense of mission? Did they know what the church is calling us to do?” Sister Timothy said.

Sister Arlene Connelly, also a member of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary and principal of Holy Family School in Citrus Heights, has known Sister Timothy since she was a Loretto student when Sister Connelly was teaching at neighboring St. Philomene School. Sister Connelly said that the same qualities that made Sister Timothy popular with classmates makes her an exceptional administrator.

“She’s fun, extremely organized and has a wonderful sense of humor…that makes people like to be with her,” Sister Connelly said. “She draws people in and makes them see the bigger picture.”

In reflecting back over her career as an educator, Sister Timothy says her greatest challenge came with the decision to double the size of the Loretto campus, a $7.5 million project set for completion by 2002.

Receiving the support and financial commitment from her religious community was crucial, as her request came at a time when the focus of many religious orders was moving from education to social justice ministry. Sister Timothy, who made the case for expanding Loretto personally to her community, said receiving an affirming vote from her order “was a huge thing” in insuring the building project’s success.

Current Loretto principal Sister Barbara Nelson and Bishop William K. Weigand have also offered key support for the “Campaign for Loretto,” which is right on track. Sister Timothy couldn’t be more pleased.

“The education of women is what (the Loretto sisters) were founded to do,” she said. “We need to serve more people who have been waiting in line to come here.”

Sister Timothy has also been active in the broader Sacramento community as a strong supporter of the Sacramento Life Center and as treasurer of the Metropolitan Athletic League.

She has also led the way in Loretto’s support for Wellspring Women’s Center. For the past two years the Loretto girl’s choir has donated proceeds from their Christmas concert to support Wellspring programs.

“Sister Timothy is an incredibly remarkable woman,” said Sister of Social Service Catherine Connell, Wellsprings’ founder and past director. “She has a real commitment to service and has followed her heart to educate women.”

Copyright © 2001 Diocese of Sacramento - All Rights Reserved

[Catholic Herald - Cover Page]