Meet Sister Rose Lima

𝐀 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞, 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐒. 𝐑𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐦𝐚 

As the golden morning light filters through her window, S. Rose Lima begins her day the way she always has—with prayer, reflection, and gratitude. For her, these quiet moments are more than habit. They are the heart of a life rooted in faith, family, and service. 

S. Rose Lima is the oldest of eight children, born into a loving but humble Cincinnati household where ten family members once shared a small attic room. Growing up, she naturally stepped into the role of caretaker, helping her mother tend to her younger siblings. Though her brothers and sisters sometimes tested her patience (and tried to get her in trouble!), those early years taught her what it meant to love sacrificially and to lead with compassion. That close-knit bond remains today. On weekends, she still gathers with her sister Betty over rounds of Scrabble, stories, and laughter. 

S. Rose’s roots run deep and wide. Her family history includes ties to Sumy, Russia (now in the Ukraine), Poland and Germany—her great-grandparents once moved in the same social circles as the Romanovs. When the Bolshevik Revolution erupted, her grandfather, then in Heidelburg, Germany, was warned not to come home. That decision shaped generations to come. 

Among her earliest memories is her grandfather’s room—filled wall to wall with musical instruments. As a little girl, she would peek inside, fascinated, especially by the accordion. That curiosity would blossom into a lifelong talent—S. Rose learned to play at the age of ten and still is a blessing to others with her music today. Her musical gifts were also shared with her Great- Great grandfather who led a choral ensemble in Russia. 

But her truest calling emerged early on: the gift of teaching and nurturing. From her first mission with the Sisters, she embraced each role with devotion and care. She was inspired by another Sister who created in her a desire to be a high school English teacher. She ended up starting teaching 5th grade and then every two years she would change to another mission. She taught in St Ann’s in Hamilton and one story she shared is of a young girl, Mary Ann, who once explored the corridors of Oldenburg and opened every door in the in the Motherhouse. S. Rose Lima thought for certain she would get into trouble for all those doors being opened. Years later, Mary Ann wrote a heartfelt note to S. Rose, reflecting on the joy and impact that had been made on her during S. Rose’s years of teaching. 

When she started teaching, she would throw in a little joke now and again to keep their attention and engage them. She loves sharing humor as a way to help others laugh, even when they are going through struggles in life. 

S. Rose also served at St. Vincent Orphanage in Vincennes, where her love for the children was powerful—though at the time, Sisters weren’t allowed to hug them. “But I couldn’t let them go to sleep without knowing they were loved,” she recalls. “Each night, I’d trace the sign of the cross on their foreheads and bless them.” It was her quiet way of embracing them with tenderness. 

She also spent time in Baden, continuing to live out her vocation through teaching and presence, always with humility and heart. S. Rose loves reading through messages she has received from former students and would love to hear from you if you’d love to share how she impacted you. 

In 1999, S. Rose’s life took a dramatic turn. She was in a serious car accident that left her legs shattered and her in recovery for eight months. Her doctor exclaimed that her recovery was miraculous. Sister Rose Lima stated, “You just pray your way through it.” 

Even now, after returning to the Motherhouse in 2023, her mission hasn’t stopped—it’s simply shifted. Today, she serves as the Advancement team’s Chief Pray-er, reaching out to donors with compassion and gratitude. She listens to their stories, prays with them, and offers encouragement and love. “These conversations are sacred,” she shares. “Being a light to others in their time of need—it’s one of the greatest gifts of my life.” 

When she’s not praying or connecting with others, S. Rose enjoys life’s simple pleasures: crocheting baby clothes, playing solitaire, and watching comedies like Everybody Loves Raymond. 

And through all of life’s ups and downs, her faith has only grown deeper. “I pray aloud more now,” she says. “And I know there have been so many moments where it wasn’t me—someone else was walking with me.” 

Her message to others is simple, but powerful: “Every day, write down one thing that blessed you. And on the hard days, read through that list. It will remind you of the good and help you keep going. Sometimes we forget—we stop paying attention to our blessings. But they’re always there.”