“Sister Miriam is our miracle worker. She has given us her love and we thank her with gratitude.”

Sister Miriam Theresa Ringer (commonly referred to as “Mim”) was born in Lynn to Ross and Agnes (McCarthy) Ringer. She grew up with her three sisters, Bernice, Phyllis, and Rita, with whom she was always close.

Mim entered the Congregation in 1946. Her early years were spent in the classroom teaching elementary school in Winchester, Brighton, and Newton. She then served as a teacher, and then administrator, for ten years at the Boston School for the Deaf. This ministry was very meaningful to her. Sister Miriam had received both a Masters in Special Education and a Masters in Social Work, and following her years in Randolph, she ministered at Catholic Charities in Brockton. In her work there, with those struggling with substance abuse, Sr. Miriam brought compassion, hope and healing. She understood their humanity — but more importantly, because of her own experience of God, knew their worth in the eyes of God, and brought that truth to them in her words and actions. That is where the healing begins, and that is what Mim knew her call to be. When she retired from Catholic Charities, this is what they said of her, quoting first Mother Teresa:

“There are many people in this world dying for a piece of bread, but there are many more dying for a piece of love.”

“Sister Miriam is our miracle worker.  She has given us her love and we thank her with gratitude.”

In her family, Mim created and found deep love, joy and devotion. As Auntie Sister, she always knew her place: right in the center of the family. She often spoke of how abundantly blessed she was to have the family she had. They were a constant source of joy in her life.

At Bethany, as so many kept vigil in her last days, what was also moving was watching the staff come in — sometimes standing at the foot of her bed, other times kneeling by her side — thanking her for being “their buddy.”  That was the expression I heard most. And I knew that her ministry had continued to her last awareness – connecting, affirming, healing, as Jesus did.

Sister Miriam’s scripture selection for her funeral tell us what she knew of her God and what she held onto and tried to live into throughout her life. God’s thoughts, ways, and love are beyond our understanding, and to hope in the promises of God is to find the way to navigate the challenges that life offers. Now she rests in the peace and love of God, knowing all promises have been fulfilled.

To quote the late Jesuit priest, Anthony De Mello, Mim, “Behold God, beholding you, and smiling.”

Reflections given by Betsy Conway, CSJ

December 5, 2024

Sister Miriam Theresa Ringer (commonly referred to as “Mim”) was born in Lynn to Ross and Agnes (McCarthy) Ringer. She grew up with her three sisters, Bernice, Phyllis, and Rita, with whom she was always close.

Mim entered the Congregation in 1946. Her early years were spent in the classroom teaching elementary school in Winchester, Brighton, and Newton. She then served as a teacher, and then administrator, for ten years at the Boston School for the Deaf. This ministry was very meaningful to her. Sister Miriam had received both a Masters in Special Education and a Masters in Social Work, and following her years in Randolph, she ministered at Catholic Charities in Brockton. In her work there, with those struggling with substance abuse, Sr. Miriam brought compassion, hope and healing. She understood their humanity — but more importantly, because of her own experience of God, knew their worth in the eyes of God, and brought that truth to them in her words and actions. That is where the healing begins, and that is what Mim knew her call to be. When she retired from Catholic Charities, this is what they said of her, quoting first Mother Teresa:

“There are many people in this world dying for a piece of bread, but there are many more dying for a piece of love.”

“Sister Miriam is our miracle worker.  She has given us her love and we thank her with gratitude.”

In her family, Mim created and found deep love, joy and devotion. As Auntie Sister, she always knew her place: right in the center of the family. She often spoke of how abundantly blessed she was to have the family she had. They were a constant source of joy in her life.

At Bethany, as so many kept vigil in her last days, what was also moving was watching the staff come in — sometimes standing at the foot of her bed, other times kneeling by her side — thanking her for being “their buddy.”  That was the expression I heard most. And I knew that her ministry had continued to her last awareness – connecting, affirming, healing, as Jesus did.

Sister Miriam’s scripture selection for her funeral tell us what she knew of her God and what she held onto and tried to live into throughout her life. God’s thoughts, ways, and love are beyond our understanding, and to hope in the promises of God is to find the way to navigate the challenges that life offers. Now she rests in the peace and love of God, knowing all promises have been fulfilled.

To quote the late Jesuit priest, Anthony De Mello, Mim, “Behold God, beholding you, and smiling.”

Reflections given by Betsy Conway, CSJ

December 5, 2024