Sr. Mary Samuel Handwerker, O.P.

Sr. Mary Samuel Handwerker was born and raised in Memphis, TN She was the second oldest of ten children to Jim and Gerry Handwerker. She was another product of Memphis Catholic Schools, as she attended St. Thomas Catholic School. After high school, Sister attended Undergrad at Siena college, Master's in administration at the University of St Thomas and recived a master's in religious Education at Angelica in Rome through the Notre Dame Institute. Sister has 40 years of teaching and administration in Catholic schools. Sr. Mary Samuel took her experience and love of Catholic education to become the influential school leader for which St. Benedict at Auburndale was blessed to have. 

After the purchase of the Auburndale School in January of 1988, the Diocese reached out to The Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia in Nashville to come to SBA and enlighten it with a strong spiritual and religious presence. To head this new school, Bishop Buechlein, along with Mother Assumpta, O.P., appointed Sister Mary Samuel Handwerker, O.P., as the school’s founding principal. She immediately formed the school (then K-12) into an authentic Catholic School with the mission of bringing Christ into the lives of the students. With Sister Mary Samuel at the helm, enrollment increased every year during her time as Principal. She, along with the sisters on her staff, established many traditions of faith. Notable traditions are the pro-life trip to Washington, D.C. of which the school is known throughout the city, state and many areas of the country and the blessed Miraculous Medals presented to SBA athletes each season of each year. SBA is a legacy that lives on due to Sister’s  and faith. Sister served as principal until 1992. 

After her time at SBA, the Holy Spirit was calling Sister into another founding role. The Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist was founded in 1997 by Mother Assumpta Long, Sr. Joseph Andrew, Sr. John Dominic, and Sr. Mary Samuel. The Sisters all felt called by the Holy Spirit to found a new Dominican congregation that would be devoted in a special way to the Holy Eucharist and the Mother of God, through a life of religious consecration and mission of teaching in Catholic schools. 

As Dominicans, their apostolate is preaching and teaching, with prayer and contemplation at the very center of all they do. Starting each day with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and a renewal of their Marian consecration, they go forth to teach in classrooms from preschool through college all over the United States. In addition to teaching in 14 K-8 schools, 14 high schools and 3 universities, their sisters also serve as librarians at the Pontifical North American College in Rome and in the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter in Houston, Texas.  

Sister Mary Samuel has taken the power and impact of Catholic education to many places and faces. A former colleague said about Sister that “SBA became a Catholic school because of her vision and efforts and SBA.” We are proud and honored to have her back on campus and induct her into this inaugural Hall of Fame.