The University of St. Michael’s College is remembering Sr. Mechtilde O’Mara, CSJ, a long-standing and distinguished Classics professor at St. Michael’s and the University of Toronto, an inspiring presence at the St. Joseph’s College residence, and an honorary degree recipient of the university.
Sr. Mechtilde died Tuesday, July 8, 2025 in her 68th year of religious life.
“Sr. Mechtilde’s generosity with her time and her many talents continues to be cited on campus, both by alumni and by former colleagues,” says St. Michael’s President David Sylvester. “She was an extraordinary academic who gave constantly to St. Mike’s, whether in the classroom or by serving on Collegium, engaging in recruiting, and inspiring the students she encountered while living in the St. Joseph’s College residence.”
A 1956 graduate of St. Michael’s, Sr. Mechtilde was a dedicated teacher who was much loved by her students at both the secondary and post-secondary levels. She earned her doctorate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1971 and was appointed an assistant professor in the Classics Department at St. Michael’s/U of T that same year. She was granted tenure three years later.
The courses she offered over the years ranged from Virgil’s Aeneid and Greek Tragedy and Comedy to one titled Communication: Athens, Rome and Toronto.
Her contributions to the academic community also involved administrative work, including as Associate Chair (Undergraduate) Classics Department, four years as Vice-Chair of St. Michael’s Collegium, and positions on numerous committees. She was also a long-standing member of Father James McConica, CSB’s team editing the works of Erasmus for the renowned Erasmus Collection published by University of Toronto Press.
In 1991, she became the first Vice-President, Administration, of the University of St. Michael’s College, working to enhance the university’s research culture and the funding of faculty travel grants and bursaries. As chair of the recruitment committee, she opened new avenues of recruitment across Ontario and in 1994 she produced a recruitment film that won an award for excellence among Canadian universities.
As a member of the leadership team for St. Joseph’s College, she was a keen support to hundreds of residents over the years. One alumna described Sr. Mechtilde as “a generous and cheerful presence” who, thanks to her teaching experience, had a great appreciation for the stressors of student work and was always a supportive presence.
When the St. Joseph’s College residence closed, Sr. Mechtilde proposed to her congregation that they begin a ministry for young adults. The result was Faith Connections, a young adult network run by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto and Fontbonne Ministries, where Sr. Mechtilde served as ministry director for eight years while continuing to teach as professor emerita.
In 2007 she received U of T’s prestigious Arbor Award for her exceptional contributions to the university and in 2022 she was awarded a Doctor of Sacred Letters, honoris causa, from St. Michael’s.
“Sr. Mechtilde is a prime example of the extraordinary contributions women’s religious communities have made to St. Michael’s. We extend our condolences to her community, her family, and her friends,” Sylvester says.