Born to August and Catherine Revering in Dent, Minnesota, Irene Pauline was the second oldest in a family of five boys and five girls. ‘‘When I was six we moved to Sacramento. There was always plenty to do caring for the young ones of the family. We were never too poor, but poor. Mother was an excellent seamstress and taught me how to sew, embroider, and crochet. I was a basketball and baseball player in school. In the summer Dad took us all to a bean field where we would string out in a row and bend to pick up the bean pods dropped from the thresher. We gathered three hundred pounds, which served as our protein, since we did not have meat except Sundays. ”

“When I was in fifth grade I remember telling myself that I intended to be a Spouse of Christ. I really thought I would be a Sister of Mercy, but during the last year of high school I had the strange feeling that I should not go there. Instead, my thoughts turned to Clyde, which I learned about through the magazine, ‘Tabernacle and Purgatory.’  (My grandfather had placed lifetime subscriptions for all thirteen of his children.) I felt that God was taking me by the hair and showing me clearly where He wanted me. Another girl was already scheduled to enter from Oakland in October, so I told Dad I’d like to go to Clyde. He readily said, ‘I’ll pay you way.’ It cost $40.00.” 

Irene worked in the sewing room; then was sent to the printery where she set type. "I also spent a month in kitchen and surprised Sr. Marcellina with my being able, as a novice, to clean a chicken so well. When Sr. Alphonsa had a heart attack 1 was asked to replace her at the chicken house. ” Upon Profession, Irene Pauline received the name Sr. Mary Apollonia (which she kept until 1968 when she took her baptismal name).

“Later, I helped with buildings, learning to paint. We built a men’s house for forty, and there were three hundred doors which I sanded three times and stained. I was versatile and had many job changes. ” In Mundelein Irene learned altar bread work and nursing. Due to health reasons she went to Tucson where she worked in the altar bread department, helped in the infirmary, and made drapes for a home furnishing company, earning $.50 an hour, part of the community’s means of support at the time.” Next she went to Kansas City where she did nursing and altar bread work by day, and at night she stained shelves for the newly built convent.

After another stint in Tucson for health reasons, she went back to Clyde and helped found a craft shop. "To learn ceramics we made several trips to Boy’s Town in Nebraska. Our main project was making statues of Our Lady of Fatima for Conception Abbey to sell. When bronchial trouble returned I went back to Tucson, setting up their art department, making cards, and helping in the infirmary. I also helped with the dates, pollinating, thinning, and picking. The trees grew so tall that we needed to use scaffolding. Eventually it became a real industry (7000 pounds a year!). We sold plain fresh dates, date confections, date butter, and brandied and pickled dates. When the trees grew too tall to cultivate without danger, we processed only enough for the community’s needs.”

From there, Irene went back to Kansas City, then to Clyde, then to Tucson, and back to Clyde - where she again worked in the altar bread department, which she loved. "I feel there is no more precious occupation for an Adorer than the altar bread work. I love uniting with communicants who are to receive these hosts, and bless God for having Jesus become our Bread of Life. ” From Clyde, Irene went to our health care facilities in St. Louis and Clyde.

Sr. Irene was grateful for all her hours of adoration, "whereby I could help people that I never would meet otherwise. It is such a consolation to be able to reach so many. Also, all the while I am crocheting I count the stitches by aspirations instead of numbers. I enjoy our life and admire how God has helped me make the necessary changes. ”

Sister died on July 12, 2005.