Sister Jean Turns 105 Years Old! Legendary Basketball Nun Reveals the Secret to Longevity

Happy Birthday, Sister Jean! 🎉

Sister Jean Dolores-Schmidt of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary became the Loyola Ramblers men's basketball team chaplain at Loyola University Chicago in 1996. She turned 105 years old on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. 

According to a timeline on Loyola University Chicago's website, the sister became an international celebrity "due to her constant presence on the sidelines during Loyola’s historic NCAA Tournament run that culminated in an unlikely spot in the Final Four" in 2018.

After every game, Sister Jean sends the players emails with encouragement and pointers for the next game. She scouts out their upcoming opponents and advises them on what to look out for.

But most of all, she prays with the team before every game.

In 2021, the Loyola-Chicago Ramblers defeated the Illinois Fighting Illini 71-58 during the March 23, 2021 game, with Sister Jean attending and offering the pre-game prayer.

The Lord granted Sister Jean’s prayer!

CBS Sports reported that the “prayer called for Loyola to hold Illinois under 30 percent from the three-point range and you better believe it happened.”

Now, three years later, Sister Jean celebrates her 105th birthday.

Here's the NCAA's post about Sister Jean's 105th birthday below:

NCAA March Madness' post about Sister Jean generated over 11,000 likes and more than 600,000 views.

Many X (Formerly Twitter) users wished Sister Jean a "Happy Birthday" and said she inspires them:

One user said, "When she said she gave up losing for lent. Well, that's an all-timer! Happy Birthday to you Sister Jean."

"Happy birthday, Sister Jean," someone added. "A life well lived to still be around at 105."

"Sister Jean, you lift all of us upward!" another user said.

"Happy birthday Sister Jean, thank you for your decades of service!" another X user commented. "You are an inspiration!

Sister Jean Reveals Her Secret to Longevity

Ahead of her 105th birthday, Sister Jean spoke to the Chicago Sun-Times about multiple topics, including the "secret to a long life."

"The secrets to a long life, she said, are loving others and God, taking care of your mind and body, and interacting with young people," the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

“You have to be considerate of other people and you have to keep talking to the youth wherever you’re working because their energy transfers easily to you," Sister Jean told the news outlet.

Say a prayer for Sister Jean! 🙏