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The Village of St. Edward Spiritual Care Coordinator
Ambrosic, a Barberton native, came full circle in September when she was appointed to the position following the unexpected death of Sister Beatrice Fitzgerald, who served The Village for 27 years.
After making her first profession in 1964, Ambrosic served The Village as she and others from her Sisters of St. Dominic profession class from Our Lady of the Elms in West Akron arrived at St. Edward to make the beds and ready the new retirement home for its residents, she said.
Later, while serving an appointment as a second-grade teacher at St. Hilary Parish School in Fairlawn, Ambrosic said she often would visit on Sundays with residents of St. Edward, especially those who did not often have visitors.
Subsequent appointments took her away from the area to serve as teacher, vocation director, campus minister and religious education consultant. Ambrosic also has served as a social services minister and worked with the elderly in the Cleveland and Youngstown dioceses and oversaw a hot meal and emergency food pantry program in Ravenna. She earned a bachelor of science degree in education from St. John College in Cleveland and a master’s of education and counseling from the University of Dayton.
Ambrosic’s most recent assignment was assistant director of the Center for Dominican Studies at Ohio Dominican University in Columbus. Ambrosic said she thought it was divine providence that brought her back to St. Edward in her Golden Jubilee year. With her working hours trimmed at the university, Ambrosic, one of the younger, healthier sisters in the congregation, was encouraged to seek a full-time appointment, she said. The prioress gave permission for a job search and Ambrosic soon learned of the opening at St. Edward, whose leadership was happy to fill the position with a Dominican Sister, especially one who entered her profession at Our Lady of the Elms, Ambrosic said.
Ambrosic once again is living in the Elms convent, but renovations to the living quarters have made them more comfortable than they were in 1964. The rooms are a bit bigger, she said, and instead of the large community bathroom at the end of the hall, one bathroom is shared by two residents.
Her role at St. Edward is to respond to the spiritual needs of the residents while speaking up for their concerns. She oversees the spiritual activities already established, including a daily Mass, a weekly prayer group and scripture study, she said. While the St. Edward chaplain is recovering from an injury, Ambrosic offers communion service on Thursdays in the chapel. Every other Tuesday, Ambrosic hosts “Potpourri with Sister Marilyn,” where St. Edward residents can discuss a variety of topics.
“I’m trying to get to know the residents, especially the fragile ones,” Ambrosic said. She also spends time with residents and their families at the end of life, she added.
“It has been a joy for me to meet the residents and to learn their life stories,” she said. “They have so much richness to share and are willing to give of themselves in many ways. I do feel I’m gaining much more than I’m actually giving.”