Abell, Sr. Jane, O.P. (Sr. James Marie Abell, O.P.)
06/28/1928 - 04/20/2019
Sr. Jane (Sr. James Marie) was born in Houston and attended St. Agnes Academy for three years. After her family moved to Shreveport, she graduated from St. Vincent’s High School in 1945. She entered our congregation in 1948 and served for 71 years. Sr. Jane earned a B.S. from Dominican College in Houston, an M.A. in Mathematics from the University of Texas in Austin, and an M.A. in Theology from Notre Dame. She continued her extensive religious studies at Catholic University of America in Washington, DC and later learned Spanish at Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio.
As a secondary teacher Sr. Jane ministered at St. Agnes Academy and St. Pius X High School in Houston and at St. Paul Catholic High School in California. She then served as formation director for the community, as campus minister at the University of Houston, and as pastoral minister at Our Lady of St. John parish. In 1978, the congregation elected Sr. Jane prioress, and she served two terms. In 1987, she became Promoter of Justice and Peace and Care of Creation for the community and served in this capacity until 2010. Sr. Jane worked with immigrants and community leaders to fight against human trafficking and racism. She organized educational and experiential trips to Guatemala, made pilgrimage to El Salvador in memory of St. Oscar Romero and the four murdered church women, and accompanied refugees from El Salvador and Guatemala to find a home in Houston. Sr. Jane went to Iraq with the first delegation of Dominicans called Voices of Veritas and participated in a month of fasting, praying, and witnessing in Union Square in New York City for peace and non-violence in Iraq in 2002. A deep faith and prayer life sustained these many services as well as her great love for God and community.