In mid-October, a group of Carroll faculty and staff gathered quietly on campus to dedicate a new tree in honor of Sister Dr. Annette Moran, CSJ, Ph.D. The small ceremony included readings of her poetry and prose, reflections from those who knew her, and the placement of one of her poems on the tree by longtime colleague Patrick Harris. Though Sister Annette passed away in July 2007, her spirit continues to illuminate the Carroll community through her words, example, and enduring legacy.
Sister Annette first came to Carroll College in 1995 after earning her Ph.D. that same year. During her time at Carroll, she served as a professor of Theology and later as department chair, shaping the academic and spiritual heart of the college. Known for her brilliance, humor, and profound authenticity, she brought the mission of Catholic higher education to life in her teaching and mentorship. Even after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 1996, she continued to teach full-time and lead the department, modeling courage and grace throughout her illness.
Her colleagues recalled that Sister Annette was not only a theologian and poet but a guide for the soul, a mentor who met people where they were and encouraged them to live with depth and joy. “She had an uncanny way of engaging each of us where we were on life’s path and encouraged us to celebrate and deepen our journey,” wrote Dr. Charlotte Jones and Dr. John Ries in remembrance. “Her talents and endeavors, her reflections and stories, her questions and engagement, her smile and her sighs, were always ways of letting God’s light shine through our oft-tattered world.”
Following her passing, Carroll established the Annette Moran Scholarship, the Annette Moran Lecture Series, and the Center for Faculty Dialogue in her honor, each an embodiment of her belief in thoughtful conversation and lifelong learning.
The original memorial tree planted in her memory many years ago did not survive, but thanks to Director of Grounds John Juntanen, a new American Linden (Tilia americana) now grows in its place. Beneath its branches, a new plaque and one of Sister Annette’s poems remind all who pass of her faith, creativity, and light:
To My Students
For this short time
we have you here.
What is to be our gift?
Truth (what is that?)
Or how to handle pain?
Love?
And all the things
that we are not?
Our failures present
before you every day,
like tattered scraps of life
we forgot to hide away.
I would give you
a red kite in a blue sky,
a dawn-colored rose
and all the blue bonnets
a field could hold.
But no, all I have is this:
loneliness embraced,
an opening to grace,
a letting go of you,
too dear to be possessed.
Though nearly two decades have passed since her death, Sister Annette’s courage, wisdom, and warmth continue to ripple through the lives of her students, colleagues, and friends – a living testament, like the tree now rooted in her honor, to her lasting influence at Carroll College.
The Fall 2007 Carroll Magazine featured a story on Sister Annette that can be found here.