Catherine Cummins was born at Burlington Junction, Mo., Nov. 16, 1886, of Irish parentage. She entered the convent on Feb. 22, 1909, was invested Aug. 28th of the same year and made profession as Sister M. Blandina on Aug. 28, 1910. Perpetual vows were made on Aug. 28, 1915. An older sister, Sister M. Patricia, and a younger sister, Sister M. Anna Hanora, both members of our Congregation, preceded her in death by many years. She was also a sister of Fathers Patrick and Damien, monks of Conception Abbey—the former a renowned educator and scripture scholar.

For several years after her entrance Sister worked in the Correspondence Department, then served as Postulant Mistress and in 1918 went to help at the orphanage. In June, 1928 she became one of the pioneers at our Mundelein convent, where she served as Subprioress and then as Prioress from 1944 to 1951. She was then appointed Prioress in Tucson and served as such until 1956.

Sister was tall and slender and as her health declined she became exceedingly frail. After her return to Clyde she lived in the infirmary and helped look over altar breads in the place provided there, and also participated faithfully in the activities of the Craft Shop. 

All who lived with Sister during her many years of religious life were aware of her love for and fidelity to adoration, and her conscientious fulfillment of all her duties. One who worked with her as Prioress said of her: "She was a woman of deep faith and very good judgment. We can't say enough about her... she was so good, and it surely showed in her declining years." A serious attack of illness in Dec.1970 necessitated her being hospitalized in Maryville, where she hovered between life and death for many days until the feast of the Holy Innocents, Dec. 28, when she went peacefully to God at the age of eighty- four years.