Sister Agnes Louise (Anna) Aulie
M. St. Anna
June 27, 1942 - July 18, 2026
On July 18, 2026, following a brief illness, Agnes Louise (Anna) Aulie “slipped the surly bonds of Earth” to “dance the skies on laughter-silvered wings.”1
Early Life
Anna was the eighth, and youngest child in her family. She grew up on their family farm near Ryerson, Saskatchewan. After secondary school, Anna began exploring religious life, a question that had occupied her for about five years. Initially drawn by a desire to care for children, especially “starving babies in Africa,” she responded to a “Christ needs you” invitation in an RNDM vocation brochure. Not yet having met any Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions in person, Anna travelled to Regina with her Mother and two older sisters in the Spring of 1961, on an exploratory venture that saw her become an RNDM postulant in Regina in September 1961. She was subsequently received as a Novice on July 25 1962, at which time she took the religious name Sister Mary St. Anna, (her Mother’s name), a name that Agnes carried with pride for the rest of her life. Anna made Final Vows in Fairlight, SK, on the feast of St. Anne on July 26, 1970.
A Vibrant Relationship with God and Ministry
Anna’s life was animated by a vibrant relationship with God and a conviction that life was meant to be a happy, helpful adventure. She recalled learning from her family that God was loving and creative, wanting people to support one another and find happiness together. This understanding shaped her relationships and her generous use of her many gifts.
Following teacher training, Anna began teaching in Regina. She later served as a Religious Education Consultant in Regina, principal of St. Edward’s School in Winnipeg, and Director of Programming at Queen’s House of Retreats in Saskatoon. Her ministry also included parish work, retreats, and Scripture classes. She earned a Master’s degree in Theology from St. John’s College in Collegeville, Minnesota, in 1987, and pursued further studies in Jerusalem, Rome, and Chicago.
Love of Scripture
Anna particularly loved Scripture, especially the Gospels. Although she had a thorough understanding of biblical scholarship, her greatest delight was helping someone discover a fresh insight into their own life through the Word of God.
Bangladesh and the Philippines
Her service extended beyond Canada. In 1994, she spent several months in Bangladesh offering Scripture classes and retreats to RNDM Sisters. She later taught in the Philippines, including serving in a formation programme in Davao in 2009. These experiences allowed her to share her knowledge while learning from the cultures and communities in which she lived. She also contributed to the Congregation’s international gatherings and served in leadership in Canada, both locally and nationally.
Creativity as Commitment
Anna’s creativity was as evident as her commitment to ministry. She could sing, play guitar, compose songs, sew, knit, cook, bake, and entertain. She often found practical ways to use these abilities to make life more pleasant for others. Some will remember her prayer shawls; others, her music and her much-loved song to St. Augustine.
She also enjoyed organizing and directing activities. Within the community, she helped plan jubilee celebrations and entertainment, earning the affectionate title of Jubilee Queen. And then there were the bus trips! Whatever the occasion, her trips were thoughtfully planned and thoroughly enjoyed.
Helping Young RNDM Sisters
In later years, Anna took a special interest in the young Vietnamese RNDM Sisters who came to Regina to learn English. She helped them with their language, introduced them to Canadian places and customs, and organized excursions, including trips to the Rocky Mountains. These outings built vocabulary, friendships, and memories. Anna played guitar and energetically taught songs, even as her health declined, and her memory faded. Until her death, she continued to give generously
A Resilient Spirit
Anna’s final three years brought the challenges of dementia. We witnessed her losses, but also her resilient spirit and continuing desire to be with the community. Her life reminds us that a person’s gifts reach far beyond professional accomplishments; they live on in the relationships, discoveries, laughter, and kindness shared with others.
How do we capture a well-educated, confident, creative, and multifaceted woman who was truly one of a kind, yet so unmistakably one of us? Go in peace, Anna, trusting in the unfailing kindness and faithfulness of God. And rest assured: your welcome among the saints and angels will have been very carefully organized, to your great pleasure!
1 “High Flight,” by Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee Jr. (1922–1941), a 19-year-old Spitfire pilot who volunteered for the RCAF during World War II.
Links of Interest
Archdiocese of Regina: Remembering Sr. Anna Aulie
Anna’s Obituary at Paragon Funeral Home, Regina
RNDM Learning Symposium 2024: Presentation on St. Augustine by Sr. Anna Aulie
RNDM Work Legacies: Anna writes about Parish Ministry
RNDM Recipes by Anna:
Maple Rutabaga with Cranberries
Quick Chick
Skor Bar Trifle
Skor Cake (with Sr. Jo Gelowitz)