Scripture scholar and teacher Sr. Mary Timothy McHatten, OP (Roman) 76, died July 25 in Maine after a short illness. Since 1989 she had been a Professor of Scripture at Mount Angel Seminary and had made her home in St. Benedict, Oregon.

She was born on October 20, 1931 in Castle Hill, Maine, the daughter of Herman and Verna (Sharp) McHatten..  Born and raised as a Methodist, at the age of 23 she became a member of the Catholic Church under the guidance of Fr. Paul Paré.  In 1956 she answered the call to become a Dominican Sister.  She did her Postulancy in Brookline, MA then spent two years in Mortefontaine, France where she continued her initial formation as a Novice and Temporary Professed.  She made her final vows in 1961 in Lewiston, Maine.

Before entering the Dominicans, Sr. Mary Timothy received her BS in Elementary Education from the University of Maine in Presque Isle.  Shortly after her final vows, she received her MA in Secondary Education from Boston College.  She went on to further her education receiving an MA in Biblical Studies from Providence College in Rhode Island, a PhD in Biblical Studies from the University of Ottawa, Canada and her Elève Titulaire from l’Ecole Biblique in Jerusalem, Israel.

Sr. Mary Timothy has been an educator all of her life.  In her early assignments she was a teacher at St. Dominic’s Institute in Brookline, Massachusetts and at St. Dominic’s High School in Lewiston, Maine.  In 1967 she was assigned to Phoenix where she was a teacher, school principal and a Scripture Instructor at Kino Institute which was the Diocesan Center for Adult Religious Education. 

Sr. Mary Timothy has also published articles for the Emmanuel Magazine and Bible Today.  She has given several conferences and retreats to a variety of groups through the years as well as direct and accompany several trips to the Holy Land.  She has served the province as a provincial councilor and provincial vicaress. 

Sr. Mary Timothy’s love for Scripture and teaching was an inspiration to all who came in contact with her.  She has touched many students’ lives and has instilled her love of God’s Word in their hearts.  On Sunday, July 20, 2008, Sr. Mary Timothy celebrated her 50th Jubilee Celebration as a Dominican Sister at Holy Cross Church in the presence of her Dominican Community and Associates, the Holy Cross church parishioners, her family, friends from the area as well as friends and colleagues from Oregon.

She is survived by her sister Vella Condon from Wade, Maine, several nieces and nephews and her Dominican Community.  She was predeceased by her parents and one sister, Marie.

Her funeral took place at Holy Cross Church in Lewiston, Maine on July 29th