May Christ bring us all together to everlasting life! RB 72
Sister Mary Lou Dummer (Stephen), OSB
Born: September 21, 1938
Birthplace: Bird Island, MN
First Profession: July 11, 1958
Entered Eternal Life: February 6, 2025
Visitation/Vigil-February 16 4:00 pm – 6:30 pm
3:30 pm Reception of Cremains
5:00 pm Vigil with Sharing
Mass of Christian Burial-February 17
8:00 am Morning Prayer
10:30 am Mass of Christian Burial
Presider: Fr. Michael Joncas
Sister Mary Lou (Stephen), OSB
Sister Mary Lou Dummer, OSB entered peacefully into eternal life February 6, 2025 fulfilling her baptismal call. She was 86 years old, having lived her monastic profession for 66 years. She was born September 21, 1938 to Edward and Gertrude (Posl) Dummer. She was baptized and confirmed at the Church of Saint Mary in Bird’s Island, MN. She graduated from St. Mary’s High School in Bird’s Island, MN in 1956. She entered the novitiate at St. Paul’s Priory on June 10, 1957 and made her First Vows on July 11, 1958.
Sister Mary Lou graduated from St. Catherine University in St. Paul, MN in 1961 where she received her degree in Elementary Education. Honoring her deep and lifelong passion for the liturgy, Sister Mary Lou earned a master's degree in Liturgy and Theological Studies from the School of Theology and Seminary at Saint John’s University in 1986.
Sister Mary Lou was very active throughout her life and served many roles within the monastery and in ministries in the broader community. Sister Mary Lou taught primary grades at St. Bernard, St. Paul; St. Andrew, Fairfax; St. Phillip, Litchfield; Pastoral Ministry in St. Peter, MN.She also served as Coordinator of Social Concerns at Holy Redeemer, Marshall; Liturgy and RCIA Coordinator at St. Bridget, Minneapolis; Director of Liturgy and Music at St. Thomas the Apostle/Blessed Sacrament, St. Paul.
Sister Mary Lou served St. Paul’s Monastery as subprioress for three different prioresses: Sister Duane Moes (1980-1984), Sister Marie Fujan (1996-2000), and Sister Paula Hagen (2014-2019). Serving as Director of Oblates (2013-2023) was one of her greatest joys finding hope in her work with the Oblates seeing in them the future of St. Paul’s Monastery.
Sister Mary Lou is preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Gertrude (Posl) Dummer), and brothers Gerald, Donald, Richard, Edward, Douglas, and Robert.She is survived by her brothers Roger (Donna) and Elden (Lee), and her sister Janice (Gary) Abraham, sisters-in-law Elaine Dummer, Bev Dummer, Patti Dummer, and Chris Dummer, nieces and nephews, her Benedictine Sisters and Oblates of St. Paul’s Monastery.
Visitation 4:00-6:30pm, Sunday, February 16 at St. Paul’s Monastery, 2675 Benet Road, Maplewood, MN. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Paul’s Monastery will be held in-person and also livestreamed on the Monastery’s YouTube channel on Monday, February 17, 10:30am. Visitation one hour before the service. Interment at the Monastery Cemetery. Memorials preferred to St. Paul’s Monastery.
Sister Catherine Nehotte OSB, Prioress
Community of St. Paul’s Monastery
Sisters, Oblates, and Benedictine Associates
St. Paul, Minnesota
Monastic Congregation of St. Benedict
You are welcome to mail in cash or a check as well. Please send all checks payable to St. Paul's Monastery to:
Travis Salisbury
Director of Mission Advancement
St. Paul's Monastery
2675 Benet Road
Maplewood, MN 55109
St. Paul’s Monastery and The Benedictine Center at St. Paul’s Monastery is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization. All contributions are tax deductible as allowed by law under IRS tax code section 501 (c)(3). Tax ID #41-0724050
