Current Ministry Location: Maryknoll Sisters Center-Maryknoll, NY

Sister Rose Lauren hails from New Albany, Indiana and had studied Accounting at the University of Indiana before joining Maryknoll in 1950. Her first mission assignment was in 1953 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center where she worked in the Treasury Department and in the Sisters Mission Shipping Office.

In 1960, Sister Rose Lauren was assigned to Hawaii where she taught for four years in St. Anthony’s Elementary School in Kalihi, Oahu.  In 1964, Sister Rose Lauren was assigned to Majuro, Marshall Islands.  There she worked for 14 years as both teacher and principal in Assumption Elementary School.  The school was begun by Jesuit priests to meet the needs of many young people who had never been to school.  Many of the students were over 20 years old. When Sister Rose Lauren first arrived in Majuro, the school had only two rooms.  A classroom of 63 students only had five textbooks for the entire class.  Her first classroom was outside under coconut palm trees.  Many of the teachers hadn’t even finished high school.  Sister Rose Lauren started a teacher training program for the teachers.  She invited professors from the University of Hawaii to assist in the training.  Later graduates from the school became leaders in the government and Church.  In addition to teaching, Sister Rose Lauren attended a workshop on Natural Family Planning (NFP) at the Majuro Hospital in 1974.  At the end of this workshop, Dr. Hume, the presenter, put his hands on Sister Rose Lauren’s shoulders and commanded her to go out and teach NFP; this she did.

Returning to Hawaii in 1978 Sister Rose Lauren became the Diocesan Director of Natural Family Planning, and was also involved with Catholic Engaged Encounter and Marriage Preparation. She found this a vital ministry for anyone interested in family and women’s issues. She also participated in satellite communication with the Natural Family Planning counselors of the Pacific basin nations through the University of Hawaii.

From 1992 – 1997 once again Sister Rose Lauren was called back to Maryknoll to work as Assistant Treasurer.  After that, Sister Rose Lauren returned to Majuro and was administrator for the Prefect Apostolic of the Republic of the Marshall Islands for the next ten years.  In addition to general office duties, she also facilitated such things as chartering ships/boats or planes to transport supplies and personnel for this island nation.  She was responsible for agendas and logistical support for the projects of the Prefecture. This included yearly training programs for prayer leaders from outer islands, youth conventions, and construction of parish facilities. Sister Rose Lauren talked to other missioners via shortwave radio, the only communication to many islands.

In 2008, Sister Rose Lauren joined the Rogers Community at the Maryknoll Sisters Center where she continues her mission through her prayer ministry for all the peoples where she served.