After a decade of service to Immaculate Conception Parish, Sr. Ruth Hamel, O.P., will retire from pastoral ministry.
“I’ll miss sharing the faith with people. I’m grateful for all the conversations, their love, care and concern for sticking with me in ministry,” Sr. Ruth said. “I’ll continue to pray for them and keep them in my heart.”
Sr. Ruth has been a Dominican for 28 years, starting her ministry at the Dominican Sisters (Oxford, Mich.), as an associate and then as an apostolic sister. In 2009, the Dominican Sisters of Oxford formed a new Union and is now known as Dominican Sisters of Peace (a new congregation derived from seven different Dominican congregations in several states). The following year another Dominican congregation (Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine DeRicci) merged into the new union to become known as Dominican Sisters of Peace.
Her journey toward pastoral life began at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Royal Oak, Mich., where she served as Eucharistic minister, lector and catechist and other ministries at the parish. While serving on St. Mary’s liturgical committee, she began the process of pursuing a pastoral life.
“I’ve always had a sense of prayer and wanting to be close to God,” said Sr. Ruth, a passion that was developed with the aid of her mother. My mother “was a Southern Baptist who converted to Catholicism. She really loved the church and found a home.”
Sr. Ruth moved to Columbus in 2007 after serving in retreat ministry in Oxford, Mich. She later completed her degree in theology from Ohio Dominican University.
Soon after, she began her tenure with Immaculate Conception, serving under Msgr. Stephan Moloney and Fr. Matt Hoover. As the pastoral minister, Sr. Ruth coordinated adult faith formation, baptisms and funerals. Sr. Ruth said she will miss being a part of each parishioner’s paschal journey with Jesus Christ.
In retirement, Sr. Ruth will continue to dedicate her life to spiritual study.
“God gives us all kinds of gifts when we need them,” Sr. Ruth said. “I just hope to use mine to please God and do what God desires.”
Please send cards to Sr. Ruth, addressed to the Parish Office.