By Rita McInerney

Sister Carolyn Lattinville, RSM, the golden jubilarian in the archdiocese this year, knew she wanted to become a sister before her fifth birthday.

Her inspiration was her sister’s first grade teacher. About 15 years later, one year after high school, she entered the novitiate of the Sisters of Mercy in her hometown of Rochester, N.Y. She stayed at home with her ailing mother for one year to give her only sister, Evelyn, the chance to finish nurses’ training.

She came to Atlanta in 1980 after 40 years of following her vocation in grammar school, high school and business college education. There were also 15 years as business manager of St. James Mercy Hospital in Hornell, N.Y.

She is described by Sister Lorraine Mascucci, her friend and Mercy Rochester “family here, as “extremely efficient” and a “business whiz.” Her job resume verifies this: program coordinator, chairperson of the secretarial science department.

During her 15 years at the hospital she served as a member of the board of directors and treasurer, trained office personnel and was responsible for office procedures.

There was no period of adjustment when she switched from teaching in a Catholic high school to the Rochester Business Institute, a two-year degree granting facility. “It was a wonderful nine years. I still hear from those people,” she recalled. She left the school because she wanted to get into service work.

Arrived in Atlanta, she worked as center manager for the Rockdale Senior Citizens program in Conyers and for a supply firm in Norcross before finding her niche at Ignatius House, the Jesuit retreat house on Riverside Drive in Atlanta.

Looking back over a half century as a Sister of Mercy she views the Second Vatican Council as “the best thing that ever happened.” The subsequent decision of the order not to require wearing the habit made her aware that “you have to be able to witness through yourself and not be respected just for the habit.”

“People at the retreat house say ‘You’re a sister’ to me without being told,” she added.

“Before Vatican II, because of the rules and regulations of the community you were never allowed to make a decision. Therefore you never grew up, became an adult,” she confessed. “Our order was both active and contemplative. Visiting hours were very restricted. Nothing ever happened after 6 p.m.,” Sister Carolyn remembered. “You are more responsible for your actions now.”

She has been secretary at Ignatius House since September, 1985. Her domain is a roomy basement office in the Jesuit residence. Here she uses her deft skills at the computer with as much enjoyment as she knew instructing young people in now outmoded office skills.

“I take care of the retreat work; reservations, room assignments, mailings to 4,200 names. The Jesuits here are great to work for.”

She will celebrate 50 years in the order on Sept. 24 at the motherhouse in Rochester with six other golden jubilarians. Just before that she will travel to Medjugorje, a trip also made by her sister Evelyn shortly before she learned she had cancer.

“I have to go to see if I can discover what she found,” Sister Carolyn admitted. After her sister returned, she went around giving talks and showing her slides of the pilgrimage.

“Her death was beautiful,” Sister Carolyn said. When close to death her sister invited all the people who attended early morning Mass with her to a home Mass. “She wanted me there,” her sister said.

Her dying sister thanked each friend for taking her to the doctors and for all of the other kindnesses during her illness. She said goodbye to each personally as they came and sat at her bedside. “Within a couple of days she died,” Sister Carolyn said softly. That was in June, 1988.

The golden jubilarian said now her prayer life is no longer according to a rigid schedule followed in the pre-Vatican II convent. “Now it is your responsibility. Since it is your responsibility you make every effort. It is no longer the idea (of praying) out of fear. It is now love that is the whole emphasis,” she said.

Very often, she said, she goes to a favorite quiet place along the lake at Stone Mountain. “I take my books and pray there.”