Thursday, 15 September 2011 10:00

Sister Mary Gretchen Hoffman, a former parishioner of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Wichita, professed her perpetual vows as a Religious Sister of Mercy of Alma Michigan Aug. 16 at the Cathedral of Mary of the Assumption in Saginaw, Mich. With her are her parents Frank and Verla Hoffman.
Sr. Mary Gretchen attended St. Thomas Aquinas School and graduated from Kapaun Mount Carmel High School. She graduated from George Washington University Medical School in May of this year and is a medical resident at the University of Tennessee Medical Center.
The principal celebrant and homilist at her profession was the Most Rev. Joseph Cistone, bishop of Saginaw. Concelebrants at the Mass included Father Keith Weber, Sister Mary Gretchen’s uncle from St. Isidore’s Parish, Manhattan, Kan.
Sister Mary Gretchen is also an athlete and will be inducted into the University of Dallas’ Athletic Hall of Fame this October. Sister Hoffman played volleyball for UD where she holds several school season records including the record for aces, aces per game, and is the school career record-holder for games played.
She was selected the MVP of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association National Championship which the University of Dallas won in 2001. She was selected a USCAA “All American” in 2001 and 2002, and “Academic All-American” in 2000, 2001 and 2002.