Sister remembered as 'woman of mercy'

Submitted by Sister Deborah Kennedy, RSM
For The Catholic Week
MOBILE — Sister Mary Robert Ching, a Sister of Mercy for 80 years, died on Sept. 22 at the age of 98 at Convent of Mercy in Mobile. 
Sister Mary Robert was a native of Mobile, a graduate of St. Mary Elementary School, and Convent of Mercy High School. She joined the Sisters of Mercy in Baltimore on Sept. 8, 1942.
Sister Mary Robert received her undergraduate degree in chemistry from Mount St. Agnes College, Baltimore and her master's degree in education from Loyola College, Baltimore. Sister ministered in the field of education for 33 years. She gave 59 of her 80 years as a Sister of Mercy serving God’s people in Mobile and Daphne. Sister also ministered in Washington, D.C., Columbus, Ga., and Savannah, Ga. She was pleased to tell you that one of her most famous  students was Rear Admiral Jeremiah Denton, Vietnam War POW and later U.S. Senator from Alabama. But there were scores of other young women and men whose lives she deeply influenced.
In addition to the years Sister Mary Robert spent teaching and/or serving as principal at Mercy High School and McGill-Toolen, she ministered at Mercy Medical, Daphne in Patient Services and at St. Ignatius Parish as a pastoral assistant. 
After retiring from her active ministries, Sister Mary Robert became an active volunteer in many projects. Sister started the Mercy High School Alumnae Association at the request of the students and was the coordinator for many years. 
She participated in a phone outreach ministry to home health and hospice patients for Mercy Medical. As long as she was able she attended the funerals of relatives of alumnae and of the Sisters. And for her Sisters at Convent of Mercy she wrote all the notes of gratitude and condolences. 
But Sister Mary Robert often said that her most important ministry throughout her 80 years was that of intercessory prayer. Sister prayed for our benefactors, her students, their families, the intentions of those who called and for peace and justice in the world. 
One alumnae member, hearing of the death of Sister Mary Robert remarked, “Sister was a scientist by profession; how right and fitting that she would gift her body to science after her death.” 
This woman of mercy and woman of God lives on in the lives and hearts of many.
A memorial service will be celebrated for Sister Mary Robert at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 22 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Mobile. A reception will follow in the Sisters of Mercy Building. 
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sisters of Mercy Mission Fund c/o Convent of Mercy, 101 Wimbledon Drive W, Mobile, AL 36608 or to a St. Vincent de Paul Conference, which was a special charity of Sister Mary Robert and one which she herself supported. 
— Editor's note: Sister Deborah Kennedy, RSM is a former student of Sister Mary Robert Ching, RSM.