Philomena Bigge was born in Morrison Bluff, Arkansas on July 26, 1894, and was baptized two days later. Both parents were immigrants from Germany. Having lost her mother when only seventeen months old, Philomena was cared for by an aunt, who lived with her mother and uncles. Her father, a farmer and later a tailor, remarried, but Philomena did not live with her new mother, who treated her unkindly. Her two half-brothers and sister kept in touch with her through the years and outlived her.

At the age of eleven Philomena received her First Holy Communion. Her preparation for this seems to have ended any formal education, as she was asked to care for her aging grandmother, doing the housework and cooking. One of her aunts taught her how to bake—an accomplishment that served our communities well in later years. She worked in Fort Smith some four or five years before entering the convent at Clyde in May, 1914, the same day as Bertha Siebenmorgen (Sister M. Hedwig).

Philomena entered the Novitiate on Jan. 30, 1915, and a year later was professed as Sister Ambrosia. Her final commitment of Perpetual Vows was made Feb. 10, 1923. She enjoyed the privilege of Consecration of Virgins, and celebrated both her Golden and Diamond Jubilee of profession.

Sister had a beautiful alto voice, and loved to sing the Divine praises in choir and professions, as well as at other community celebrations. She had a deep love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and was a fervent and faithful adorer, especially at the sacrificial night hours, as long as her physical condition permitted throughout her long years in the religious life, Sister served the community in hard physical labor. At the Orphanage at Conception, Missouri (then staffed by our Sisters) she served as cook and baker during the winter months, and gardener during the summer. These were her assignments at both Clyde and Mundelein for many years.

Outside work in the fresh air was her delight, and her gift of growing beautiful flowers was amazing. Sister pioneered at San Benito, California, and after this experimental Aspirancy was closed, spent about a year at our San Diego Priory. She was at our Tucson Priory from 1957 until declining health necessitated her transfer to St. Benedict’s Health Care Center in St. Louis in 1978. The years that followed were difficult for Sister, and her tears flowed freely many times. Her tender devotion to the Passion of our Lord was a sustaining power. Her rosary, with its large Crucifix, rarely left her hands. As her once robust health gradually declined, and she was confined to a wheel chair, she would often beg Jesus to come and take her home.

Sister had great devotion to her holy patron, St. Ambrose. Significantly it was on the eve of his feast that she responded to God's final call. For almost five days she had lingered between life and death, with different Sisters keeping vigil at her bedside. The final moment came just after the Community had finished singing Vespers on Saturday, December 6, 1980, as the Sisters moved in procession from chapel to the refectory singing the Advent hymn, "Come, 0 Come, Emmanuel!" 

After the celebration of the Mass of Christian Burial on the 9th of December, her remains were taken to our beloved Clyde where she now rests with our dear ones who have 'gone before us with the sign of faith and sleep the sleep of peace.'