Sister Ada McMahon, CSJ
 
Despite round-the-clock demands of managing a high-rise for the elderly, Sister Ada McMahon knows which tenant needs a ride to the doctor, or who enjoys a game of cards. Her compassion for each resident is matched only by her desire to provide each of the 95 tenants with safety, security and comfort.

Co-manager of Clairvaux Commons in Indiana, Pa., for 14 years, Sister Ada is a stickler for detail — a quality that the federal government recognized recently when it gave the HUD facility its top rating of 100%. She has found creative ways to respond to the challenges of the building as well as the needs of the "Clairvaux family," co-workers say.

Sister Ada, formerly Sister Paul, also served as a teacher or principal at six schools in the Pittsburgh and Greensburg diocese. Her longest education ministry took place at Holy Rosary in Perrine, Florida, where she served 14 years as co-principal. Her skills in leadership, listening and counseling extended far beyond the school and parish. She often conducted retreats in the Archdiocese of Miami and traveled throughout Florida as a Middle States evaluator.

---