Meet Sister Eileen Tomlinson

Although Sister Eileen was grieving at the loss of her mother, she took it as a sign that God accepted her. She then pursued religious life and her talents in art.

My first inclination to be a Sister came as a young girl in the fifth grade preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Over half of our class chose the name, Theresa, as our Confirmation name. St. Therese of the Child Jesus was a very popular saint at that time. She was young and pretty, and her autobiography read to us by our teacher inspired me.

After completing high school, I took a course at the YMCU Business College in downtown Cincinnati. I used to visit the public library during my lunch hour. One day to my delight I found a copy of the Autobiography of the Little Flower. That work inspired me so much I couldn't get it out of my mind. The lengths she took to be accepted in an order, cloistered too, at the age of 15!

At that time I was taking instructions in the faith at Regina High School, Norwood, OH. I wanted to make up for what I missed in my high school education. The Sisters of the Precious Blood taught there. In my mind, I accepted the challenge of becoming a Sister, pending the fact that my sickly mother would not need me.

What could be better than giving yourself to God as a life work and at the same time being so happy and enthusiastic doing it? After all it was high time I did something with my life, for I was already all of 19 years of age. So I confided my desire to my mentor. She was surprised that I wanted to enter the convent and thought that it was just a spurt of fervor.

Not long after that my dear mother died at the age of 38. As grieved as I was, I took it as a sign that God accepted me. So two months later on Jan. 31, 1937, I entered the Convent at Salem Heights where the Sisters of the Precious Blood had their Central House in Dayton, OH. I felt immediately at home there and enjoyed the routine and courses of study in the college department. I took first vows two-and-one-half years later.

My professors soon noticed that I was especially talented in art. Art teaching was to be my life work after art training at the University of Dayton and the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. I became an art professor at the Teacher's College in Cincinnati, OH. During those nine years I also taught at Regina High School.

I then spent 15 years at Salem Heights where I was "artist in residence." I taught the novices and postulants on the University of Dayton Extension program. At the same time I worked in the Ecclesiastical Art Department, making designs for our liturgical vestments. We custom-designed and sewed vestments for quite a few churches and seminaries and even two or three Cathedrals.

After the changes in the Church during the '60s I went to Southern California in 1968 to teach art at San Luis Rey Academy. Nine years later when the Academy closed, I continued at San Luis Rey Parish Center. I had a large studio to accommodate adult classes in art.

During this time I also became involved in the parish as Eucharistic minister. I worked on the liturgical committee and made vestments and helped with the art environment. I was always busy and enjoyed the creative work. It was something like "all the way to heaven is heaven because Jesus said 'I am the way'." (St. Catherine of Siena).

At present I am at the Central House enjoying a more relaxed life with the Sisters but still busy with many things related to my life work. It is especially good to have more time for prayer together, more time to read and reflect. What we all want out of life is to be happy. Religious life is a time of becoming, and as we do this day by day -- becoming more than we have been -- this brings joy. There is joy in sharing and serving God and God's people.

For a story about my current efforts follow this link describing my latest  Labor of Love.

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