Who is Sister Jean? Jean Dolores Schmidt BVM, popularly known as Sister Jean is a 101-year-old nun who is obsessed with basketball. Known for her lively spirit, Sister Jean became a global sensation overnight in 2018.
Sister Jean is a chaplain for the Loyola Ramblers men's basketball team of Loyola University Chicago. She is also a sister of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Born in Chicago in the year 1919, Sister Jean became a nun when she was in the third grade. Even in her early life, Sister Jean used to play basketball in her school.
Sister Jean gained overnight publicity after the Ramblers' upset of Miami in the 2018 NCAA Tournament. Her fame continued to grow after the team upset Tennessee in the round of 32. She became a star in the tournament and was honored with a bobblehead doll that was inspired by her.
The sister again appeared in the limelight when Loyola appeared in the 2021 tournament. It is believed that her prayers made the win possible and is responsible for the prosperity of the team.
#SisterJean loving the Ramblers start 👏@RamblersMBB | #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/eHSl41HMA6
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) March 21, 2021
Sister Jean's prayer called for Loyola to hold Illinois under 30% from 3-pt range and you better believe it happened. pic.twitter.com/0Zyimv1Olk
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 21, 2021
Sister Jean said, "As we play the Fighting Illini, we ask for special help to overcome this team and get a great win. We hope to score early and make our opponents nervous. We have a great opportunity to convert rebounds as this team makes about 50% of layups and 30% of its three points. Our defense can take care of that."
Apart from her lively spirit and nunship, Sister Jean is also respected for her strong and brave attitude. She is an inspiration for the entire generation and living proof of the fact that age is just a number.
Sister believes in being truthful and real. In the context of being yourself, Sister says, “That's being a person for others by just being yourself, That's the way I am. I have to be myself. " Jean tells her students, "you'll see people that you admire, you can do some of the things they do, but you have to be yourself."
Jean believes, "God made you the person who you are."