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BVM Jean Dolores Schmidt Cheers Her Ramblers to Victory!

The Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary are thrilled for Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt and the Loyola Ramblers men’s basketball team in their continued success in the NCAA tournament. Sister Jean is a positive role model and mentor for the young men who have worked extremely hard both academically and athletically, and for all the students on the Loyola campus as she encourages them to be their best selves.

From Ecuador to California, from Chicago to Dubuque, our sisters believe that “where one BVM sister is, we all are.” Along with Sister Jean, BVMs in Dubuque and across the country are praying and cheering for all the teams, but perhaps just a little more for the Ramblers!

With her newfound fame, Sister Jean brings a face to women religious across the country who dedicate their lives in ministry to God and helping others.

Born in San Francisco, Sister Jean has been a BVM since 1937. She taught in Los Angeles and North Hollywood. Since 1961, she ministered at Mundelein College as a teacher, dean, and administrator. Mundelein became part of Loyola University in 1991, and for the past 25 years, she has served as chaplain of the Loyola men’s basketball team.

Sister Jean shares, “Loyola athletes have taken to heart the slogan I have presented to them—our three W’s—Worship. Work. Win. All this we do as St. Ignatius has inspired us to do is for the greater glory of God.”

For more information, email:
Director of Communications
aconnolly@bvmcong.org 

The BVM Sisters have received many inquires about the purchase of Sister Jean’s Bobblehead and apparel. We do not sell or distribute merchandise related to Sister Jean. You may contact those organizations at the following links.  

Loyola University Bookstore
National Bobblehead Hall of Fame

 

New York Times: Sisters of Sister Jean Embrace Her Loyola Team and Marvel at Her Fame

New York Times: A Day in the Life of Sister Jean, Media Darling

(Earlier.)

From the NY Times to ESPN to a congratulatory tweet from Barack Obama, Sister Jean is the hottest news item of the week!

If you haven’t heard about Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt and the Loyola University Ramblers recently, you must be living in a bubble!

With their first trip to an NCAA tournament in 33 years, the #11 seed Ramblers came away with a last second win over #3 seed Miami on Thursday. And no one was happier than their biggest fan – Sister Jean!  “Thank God,” she said in an interview after the game. “Our team is so great, and they don’t care who makes the points, as long as we win the game. And I said, ‘We’re gonna get the big W up there,’ and we did.”

The tiny, 98-years-young Sister of Charity, BVM has been the Ramblers chaplain since 2001. She makes sure her spiritual guidance with prayer is backed up by her constructive suggestions for how each team member should play the game, and she always follows up with congratulatory hugs and emails.

For years the Ramblers have counted on her presence at the games and her presumed “in” with God to propel them on to victory. Prior to a hip operation in November 2017, Sister Jean had missed only two Loyola home games since 1994.

She has her own plaque in Loyola University Chicago’s hall of fame. She had her own “bobblehead” night in 2011. But maybe the quote from St. Ignatius of Loyola best describes Sister Jean: “Go forth and set the world on fire.”

New York Times:

USA Today:

Sports Illustrated:

This Post Has 6 Comments

  1. Congratulations, Jean Dolores! I’m sure your faith in the Ramblers made the difference! It must be fun at Loyola these days, and a great honor for the university! Way to go!!

  2. Congratulations to you and the Ramblers! I lived in Coffey Hall from 1969-1973. So great to see you on the news! Continued success to your team!! (and you also!)

  3. I grew up in Jesup, Iowa. I attended St. Athanasius Catholic School. After hearing Sister Delorse story, I was curious as to where she may have taught?

    1. Dear Shelly, Sr. Jean Dolores Schmidt taught in Chicago, Los Angeles and North Hollywood, but never in Jesup. We did have a Sister Dolores (Ann Dolores) Hahn who taught at St Athanasius from 1953-1958. She died on 11/23/2008.
      Blessing.

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