At 106 years old, Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt is excited about a new season of basketball at Loyola University in Chicago.

"Go Ramblers!" she wrote in a message to students on her birthday on Thursday, Aug. 21.

As chaplain for the men’s team for 30 years, she's famous as the “basketball nun" and a beloved figure on campus.

Known simply as Sister Jean, she's still giving advice, too: "Let your dreams become reality. Don’t let anybody stop you," she urged young people in her letter. "Yes, you have to be yourself."

Her birthday is usually celebrated with parties organized by the university, students and the assisted living community where she resides.

But in 2025, Sister Jean has had "a bad summer cold" and other health issues that prevented her from coming to campus. "That makes me ve

See Full Page