Former Religious Name: Sister Louis Martin
Home Parish: St. Andrew, Erie, PA

Sister Marie Timmons, SSJ, formerly known as Sister Louis Martin, has devoted her life to education, religious formation, and preserving the history of the Sisters of St. Joseph. Born in Erie, Pennsylvania, she attended St. Andrew School and Villa Maria Academy before earning a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Villa Maria College. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph on August 28, 1957, from her home parish of St. Andrew in Erie, and professed her final vows on August 15, 1965.

Sister Marie first felt the call to religious life during second grade, inspired by her teacher, Sister Marie Rene. Although Sister Marie Rene was ill during that school year, her patience and kindness left a lasting impression. Other Sisters who taught her at St. Andrew School also influenced her through their example of the virtues and charism of the congregation. Sister Marie credits her parents with nurturing that early calling at home through their daily prayers, attendance at Mass, and emphasis on placing God first. Her uncle, Monsignor Louis Kelly, was another important spiritual influence in her life.

Throughout the early years of her ministry, Sister Marie dedicated herself to education and catechesis. She taught at numerous schools throughout the Erie area, including St. Patrick, Villa Maria Elementary, Blessed Sacrament, St. Ann, St. Andrew, St. John the Baptist, St. Peter Cathedral, St. Mark, and Our Lady’s Christian. Her ministry also took her beyond Erie to schools and parishes in Ridgway, Johnsonburg, and Wilcox, Pennsylvania. In addition to classroom teaching, she served in religious education, prepared children for First Reconciliation, coordinated the Rainbows program, and contributed to mission activities and fundraising efforts. She also served as a counselor at Camp Notre Dame and helped with the summer learning program at Our Lady’s Christian School.

Sister Marie’s dedication to education earned her recognition throughout the Erie Diocese. In 2006, she received an award honoring her 28 years of teaching at St. Andrew School when the school closed. Her years in education reflect her commitment to helping children learn, grow in faith, and develop a deeper understanding of their relationship with God and others.

In 2006, Sister Marie began a new chapter of service when she became assistant archivist for the Sisters of St. Joseph. Two years later, she assumed full responsibility for the congregation’s archives, a ministry she continues to assist current SSJ archivist Pat Marshall with today.

The words of Jesus in Matthew 22:37–39 serve as a continuing source of inspiration for Sister Marie: to love God above all things and to love one’s neighbor as oneself. She sees these commandments as central to the mission of the Sisters of St. Joseph and believes that the gift of charity enables her to love God and others as brothers and sisters. Prayer, attendance at Mass, and other spiritual practices remain essential to her vocation. Reflecting on the example of Sisters who came before her, she recognizes the strength they demonstrated through difficult times and believes their perseverance was sustained by prayer and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Sister Marie continues to approach her ministry with faith and trust in God’s direction, expressing her desire to remain in the archives ministry while leaving the future in God’s hands. Through her many years in education, religious formation, and congregational archives, she has lived out the commandment to love God and neighbor. Her life reflects a lasting commitment to serving others while preserving the rich history and enduring mission of the Sisters of St. Joseph.