Reflections on Sister Rose Ann Taylor for the Funeral Liturgy, September 14, 2006 Come to me, all who labor and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Learn from me for I am (meek) gentle and humble of heart. These are words of Jesus which our Sister Rose Ann – your sister and aunt Mary must have heard long, long ago, for she certain did learn from Jesus, and like him, she did indeed become gentle and humble of heart. Our Sister Rose Ann Taylor, Mary Margaret Taylor, was born just a few years after the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart were born. Her aunt, for whom she was named, was one of those who transferred to the newly formed Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart from the Canadian group. Her mother -- Rose Boyle came over from Ireland when she was about 25 – One account had it that she was supposed to come over on the Titanic, but to please her parents, she delayed a year. Providential for Richard Taylor, a young American – first mate on ships -- who fell in love with her. Providential for their nine children – Jim, Richard, William, Ann, Michael, Mary Margaret, Joseph, John, and Nora – and their children and their children's children -- and for all those whose lives Rose Ann has touched. At her golden jubilee, Rose Ann wrote: I remember in grateful prayer my mother and father. Through their life-giving love I was brought forth to be the voice and hands of God in ministry to youth and the aged as a Grey Nun of the Sacred Heart. A Valentine's Day gift from God, Mary Margaret grew up with her brothers and sisters and is remembered by them and by all of us who knew her as being a listener rather than a talker. With her family, she knew sadness early – as her father died when she was only 9. She learned early how to help others and how to think of others' needs. St. Paul wrote to the Philippians – just before the passage we read this morning – Always consider the other person before yourself. In your minds, be the same as Christ Jesus. -- Rose Ann really did seem to take those words into her soul – Everyone who shared a memory of her with us spoke of kindness, sensitivity, discretion, a lovely smile, a concern for the other. One sister wrote, "She always had a smile or something positive to say, always asked about my mother, always kind even when correcting us, a woman of dignity and quiet resolve." Sister Rose Ann graduated, as did all her siblings, from St. Mary's Academy. A sister from her band – Sister Paul Francis: Eileen Murray – wrote to me that after graduation, they had both agreed that they weren't too gung ho about going into nursing, though their parents and friends were, and that Mary said she had an aunt who was a top banana in the Grey Nuns and maybe she'd try that -- Sister Rose Ann wrote to her aunt, the Grey Nun Secretary General, Sister Mary Margaret Taylor, " I thought all along I was going to go over to Hepburn in the fall and train for nursing. But when the time came to really get ready to go there, I decided that I didn't want to go at all. I'm not positively sure yet that I want to enter . . . but . . . . I have decided to enter." What she probably did not realize was how hard it would be to leave home! According to Sister Eileen, Eileen's dad took them by train, and Sister Rose Ann cried all the way and most of her postulant year! She must have remembered the agony of separation and starting a new, uncertain life even after she discovered how happy she was to be a Grey Nun. One sister spoke of the calming effect she had on everyone when she returned to the Motherhouse after profession and how kind she was to the lowly postulants. She didn't have to do a thing – just be – and she was a great example to us. Another sister recalled Sister Rose Ann's constant and genuine kindness to her when she was a very young sister, how helpful and uplifting she was. She recalled that Sister carried her through some very difficult times, that she treated the young sisters with respect, real caring concern. Sister Rose Ann gave dedicated service as a educator in Buffalo, Mahanoy, Lowell, and Jackson Heights. She loved teaching and she loved her students. For the last thirty-eight years of her ministry, she was in the North Country – at Bishop Conroy, Ogdensburg Catholic Central, St. Mary's Potsdam, and St. Joseph's Home. In summers, she worked at the boys' camp, continued her studies, and served as an aide at St. Joseph's. She was professional, meticulously careful and organized, but also all heart. At the camp, she was preparing toasts for the boys breakfasts, generously loading up the butter on the toast. A little boy looked up at her tall self and said to her, "Sister Rose Ann, you make the bestest toasts of anyone!" Another Sister told me that everyone in Potsdam loved Rose Ann, that the student teachers and professors from SUNY Potsdam loved to come to St. Mary's because of her, and that an SSJ Supervisor said that she knew of "nowhere else where such fine collaborative relationship between the State University and the diocesan school existed." A sister Rose Ann Scholarship Fund was established there at her farewell. Student after student praised her for the way she taught and for the way that she understood them. And she loved teaching! In a paper she wrote for a course she was taking in 1970, she quoted a writer who spoke of the teaching learning process as a delicate human transaction requiring skill and sensitivity in human relations, and she said that a teacher must be prepared to show genuine concern for all the needs of the student. A writer in the North Country Catholic in 1988 remembered Sister Rose Ann, "I remember this Grey Nun as a 7th grade math teacher with the sweetest of dispositions who somehow managed to keep a classroom full of junior high kids in line" Rose Ann always had time for everyone – students, teachers, family, friends, staff at St. Joseph, all the people of Ogdensburg, Associates, anyone who needed her. One of our Grey Nun Associates pointed out that until she was too ill to do so, she always went to Associate meetings. She was a marvelous correspondent, keeping up with so many loved ones. She was a reader and a pray-er. A sister who lived with her spoke of her long work days followed by evenings at prayer. Rose Ann was unassuming. But she was also strong and able to take charge. Sister Rose Ann was asked by one superior to be – and I quote – "Director of Moving Operations at Sacred Heart Convent" while she was teaching at OCCS. Here was a site whose history dated back to the 1860s when the Ottawa Grey Nuns first used the Old Ford Mansion. Faced with the letting go, she was in terrible anguish, and it took the heart out of her to be sorting and giving away and organizing the move, but she was also orderly, careful, sensitive, and a really key community person – who inspired others by her own strength to be brave and to remember the essence of who we are – disciples of Jesus. In ten more years, she had to move again from another convent we had to give up, but she did it with dignity and with love. On this mountain God will prepare a banquet . . . God will remove the mourning veil and the shroud of sadness . . . and wipe away the tears from every cheek. Your family had a foretaste of this wonderful banquet when you gathered for your mother's 90th birthday. We believe, and Sister Rose Ann believed with all her heart in a God of lavish generosity, of compassionate embrace and solace and comfort. She was a reflection of that God – strong and brave and true. We know that Jesus' words came to her on Monday, "Come to me all who are burdened, and I will give you rest." We also believe in a God who will remove the shroud of sadness one day and wipe the tears from every cheek when we are all reunited with Sister Rose Ann – she of the gentle and humble heart -- and all those we have loved.
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REFLECTIONS AT THE FUNERAL LITURGY
Heart of Christ, you embody all the wonder of God’s love. You tell of the tender mercies which come to us from our God above. Sister Florence Marie chose this song for her funeral liturgy. As a Grey Nun of the Sacred Heart, this devotion to the heart of Jesus was central to her life. And perhaps even before that time. When being interviewed recently by David Kelly, a D’Youville historian, Florence responded to the question of why she became a Grey Nun with the simple answer, “It was a love affair with God.” Florence Amelia Knab was born in Buffalo on February 4th, 1909, the youngest of several siblings – among them her beloved brother, Ray, a Redemptorist priest, her sisters Amelia and Agnes and her brother Francis, Albert, Joseph, Eugene and Anthony – and felt very spoiled by her parents, Joseph and Mary Knab. She was born into a family of undertakers. When she spoke recently with one of the sisters about death and dying, she commented, “I don’t have a fear of death as people dying was our family’s business…the Knab Funeral Homes of Buffalo.” Her early education was at St. Agnes School and the Academy of the Sacred Heart (perhaps this is where her devotion to the Sacred Heart was enkindled). She attended D’Youville College from 1925-1928, when despite completing only her junior year, she decided that God was calling her to religious life. She entered the Grey Nuns in 1928 just 7 years after our founding. Her first assignment – while just a postulant – was as 6th grade teacher at St. Canicus School in Mahanoy City where two of her outstanding pupils were Sisters Martina Nolan and Molly Maguire. She eventually completed her degree and subsequently earned a Master’s degree in mathematics from the Catholic University of America. She was a math teacher par excellence. Which is not to say that she did not strike fear into the hearts of some of her students. One of her nieces remembers her as a smart, careful teacher, with a quick mind and a no nonsense demeanor. Several of her former students from Ogdensburg, now Grey Nuns, indicate that Florence was their favorite teacher. And here today are two women who remained faithful to their teacher from Melrose days in the 50’s. She always wanted the best for her students – wanted them to be the best and thought that by being very demanding she could push them to succeed. And succeed she did very well – she was instrumental in attaining an appointment to West Point for a student and inspiring many to follow in her footsteps – Sister Marian Adrian for one! She was a woman with many facets:
When she spoke about retirement at the Motherhouse at a congregational meeting, she quoted the following from Thomas Merton. In the time of change we sometimes can become preoccupied with what is ending or too obsessed with what seems to be beginning. In either case, we lose touch with the present and with its …possibilities. What really matters is openness, readiness, attention and courage to face risks... we need to recognize the possibilities and challenges offered by the present moment and embrace them with courage, faith and hope…for courage is the authentic form taken by love.” Those of us who know and love Sister Florence know that these are not idle words. This is how she lived.
This courage to embrace these changes with courage, faith and hope were done in love – love for the congregation and most importantly love for her God, her Sacred Heart of Jesus. This acceptance comes only with prayer and she was a woman of prayer. You could almost set your watch by her on her afternoon visits to the chapel – in the later years, her cart was parked in the foyer and you knew she was there – making her visit, saying the stations – being with her God and surrounded by the Litany of the Sacred Heart. But then it was off to the community room to watch “Murder She Wrote”. She was a woman of fun. So many sisters commented to me about her renown as a card player – one remarked that she played with skill and demanded skill of others. If you complained that the card she led to you wasn’t the best, she would remark, “This is a card game, not a charity bazaar.” She was the winningest among the group. On the card table in her room, she worked jigsaw puzzles, read mystery novels, and prepared the transportation lists – taking care, sometimes in spite of complications we threw her way – to ensure that Sisters got to doctors' appointments and such on time – this latter she continued to do until just a few months ago. As for the jigsaw puzzles, she liked them hard – but as the years advanced, they had to be brighter in color and more defined. I would often bring her a puzzle; she would tell me it was too hard. I’d tell her to give it up. Not her – the stubborn German that she was had to keep going. I only knew her to give up on two puzzles. She loved her manhattans – and was an able bartender. In fact, when Sheila Stone was interviewing her about her retirement wishes – she stated she would like to be a bartender and go through the community giving parties. A sister commented that “one didn’t need to go back for a refill – the first drink was a whopper. I came to know Florence well when I was Administrator of the Motherhouse. She, at the age of 76, was my noble assistant in charge of maintenance. (She had said that she would not come to the Motherhouse unless she had something to do – and the administration took her at her word.) In this role, she won the love and respect of our staff. Bob Greim was a particular favorite – she had him wrapped around her little finger. Her word was his command. When the Woods sisters introduced a card game to the Motherhouse community – Sequence, Florence had Bob make a Sequence board large enough for all to see. The board on which she stored her puzzles was a Bob creation as was the slot to hold her cane on her motorized cart. She was a faithful friend: We all remember her concern and care for her dear friend, Sister Mary Gregory. Sister Mary Josephine shared life with her – visits to family. IN fact – her great nephew Bill who is here today vividly recalls those family visits of Florence and Josephine – We know of her special affection for Father Frank Hölscher – and I know of her love for me. Our personalities – both German – sometimes clashed (when we were working together) but despite all we ended up friends. She was brutally honest: You never had to guess what Florence Marie was thinking – and she had a temper. But she was a forgiving person and one who asked for forgiveness – not easily but often. She was a deeply grateful person: especially during her illness, she continually thanked the staff who cared for her, thanks Billy for visiting, - grateful for many kindnesses. I will tell you just one more thing about her: Sister Sheila Stone recalls that the last time she saw Florence, she kept saying, “Talk louder, I’m very deaf.” When Sheila leaned down and kissed her, she said, “I understand that!” and laughed. Not a sentimental person but one who loved deeply.
So many sisters have shared their reminiscences with me – they are too numerous to include in this reflection. Each of us have those memories of Florence to treasure as she has left us a great legacy –
We can all say as one of her nieces-in-law did in a recent note: "I am so proud to be your niece (even if it is only by marriage)." We can each say, we are so proud to have known you, to have loved you, to have been sister with you in the congregation! Thank you, Florence, for all you have been and for the lessons that you have given us – In today’s Gospel, we heard the words of Jesus as told by John: And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise her on the last day.” You, Florence, don’t have to wait till the last day. The Father and Jesus have raised you – raised you above life here to spend eternity in the place we call heaven. “Go now in peace, faithful friend of God, as you take our love into paradise; God’s holy angels will lead you home to the wide, waiting arms of the Lord.” |
Reflections on the Life of Sister Joanna Kerwin, GNSH Sister Joanna Kerwin's knowledge of St. Marguerite's life was only surpassed by her enthusiasm for her spirit. Joanna put flesh and blood around statistics, dates, isolated events, and Marguerite's sketchy writings. She spoke of her as one would speak of a companion– a soul-mate. Listeners ate up her words, because she knew her so intimately. Therefore, today, the 16th anniversary of Marguerite's canonization, is a fitting day for Joanna's funeral Mass, this daughter of Marguerite who was so intoxicated with the mystery and inspiration of Mother d'Youville. Sister Joanna Kerwin – family and friends of her youth called her Mary Jo -- was an only child. She found hundreds of sisters when she entered the Grey Nuns in 1957, having completed her degree at D'Youville College and studied abroad on a Fulbright scholarship the previous year. She took the name Sister Joanna of the Cross – for John of the Cross, a spiritual writer who inspired her from college days. Like John, Joanna longed for intimacy with God. In the course of her 72 years, she no doubt experienced at times what John so eloquently described as the soul's "dark night" -- a place of deep revelation of God's own love. As a young sister, she taught at Cardinal Dougherty where, we're told, the girls were NOT easy on her, she being so young! Then, she went to D'Youville Academy in Atlanta – a school she loved and to whose students she dedicated herself completely. In the yearbook of the D'Youville Academy reunion this year, we read about Joanna, "She has given us a gift of herself of which we will gradually know the fullness – that of intellectual curiosity." A former student wrote: "I remember her very fondly from high school – her quick laugh and sharp mind. There are not many people who could awaken an interest in so many young girls to the classics in literature. She was able to engage that part of me." A true scholar, Sister Joanna won fellowships and grants toward her masters and doctoral degrees in foreign language at Case Western Reserve and abroad. She then taught at D'Youville College for several years – which is where I first encountered her in a class on French literature. In 1976, she translated Sister Estelle Mitchell's book on the spirituality of Marguerite, From the Fatherhood of God to the Brotherhood of Mankind – (that was before Joanna and all of us became sensitive to inclusive language!) After twenty years of her Grey Nun life immersed in teaching young people and in mostly French, Sister Joanna sought a ministry more closely connected to the quest for God that was at the center of her life. She began training and ministry in parish work, especially adult education. This took her to Albany, Newark, Ogdensburg, New York City, and to parishes and dioceses in New Jersey. In her parish and diocesan ministry as in her studies, she was driven and passionate. She loved working with adults and helping parishes, pastors and pastoral councils with renewal. Two years ago, she wrote to me about her work in the Metuchen diocese: "I'm over my head in working toward the process to restructure parishes. The pastoral council piece is going well. Apparently I'm in the right place." Joanna's further impact on our Grey Nun congregation cannot be fully documented but her work in 1987 at transcribing talks by Father Lowell Glendon, Sulpician friend, provided us with a constant re-discovery of the richness of our four Grey Nun devotions – to the cross, the Eternal Father, Divine Providence, and the Sacred Heart. In addition, especially in the late 80s and early 90s, Joanna served the congregation in Providence Center, in communications, liturgy preparation, and publicity related to the canonization and other communal celebrations. Who was Joanna to others and to herself? Here are some descriptive words and quotes shared by those who knew her:
I believe that much of what Joanna said about Marguerite at a Buffalo meeting in 1997 reflects Joanna's own desire and prayer for herself – and I quote -- To those of us who journeyed with her– these words about Marguerite, too, are so applicable to Joanna's own personality – …she had the gift of evoking the good in others; she gained their respect and confidence by affirming them and treating them with fairness and understanding. She valued their work.
and again – This is precisely what Joanna did in her ministry and in the decisions she made each step of the way since July, when she learned of the cancer that was attacking her body. One last quote from that 1997 presentation about Marguerite links easily to Joanna -- She knew from experience that the Cross – the Paschal mystery – is God's secret way to bring about great good out of evil. . . . her life was a story of God's power at work – to transform her . . . a story of trust in God's faithfulness and love – love that never fails, love that unites and heals and calls forth love. One great good that God brought out of the evil of Joanna's cancer was this: she was tremendously uplifted and moved by the expressions of affection and prayerful support from friends, parishioners, Sisters of Mercy community in Watchung, and especially from her own Grey Nun sisters. In those, she recognized her ideal of community. Allow me to paraphrase a letter Joanna wrote for St. Helen's parish bulletin, when she left this much-loved ministry after 9 years. Perhaps it sums up what Joanna would want to say to us – friends, associates, Sisters: After all these years, I find I have accumulated lots of papers and books and wonderful memories . . So for many reasons, it is not easy to say 'goodbye'. I do want you to know how richly my heart and spirit have been nourished here . . . I am deeply grateful . . you have all inspired me with your desire to further the spiritual growth [of our world] and I am grateful for all you have given me. This year was to be a sabbatical time for Joanna and next year would have been her golden jubilee year. In her request for sabbatical time, she said she needed "time out to re-center personally and spiritually". Her time out – her Sabbath/Jubilee took a different turn in July, and re-centered her completely. Gradually she learned the truth of Paul's words to the Corinthians -- Love never fails. Prophecies cease, tongues will be silent, knowledge will pass away. We see now indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then we shall see face to face. (1 Cor. 13) Joanna -- friend, sister, teacher, daughter of Marguerite – may songs of the angels welcome you and guide you along your way. As darkness turns into day, may every fear be undone . . . May songs of the angels bring you home before the face of God! (adapted from Songs of the Angels. Bob Dufford, SJ) Sister Joanna Kerwin, G.N.S.H. (Written version of a talk at Joanna’s wake service, 8 December 2006) I was in the Grey Nun Band just after Joanna’s, so we shared much of our novitiate together. I also served with her at D’Youville Academy, Atlanta, and D’Youville College in Buffalo NY. Probably Joanna’s most serious crisis while in the novitiate was over apples! Joanna liked to just bite into them and eat to the core - but we were supposed to be ladies, and to slice them carefully eating one slice at a time. Once I found Joanna crying, and I was afraid she would leave over the apples! We had a “Mothers' Club” in Buffalo: Mrs. Kerwin, Mrs. Taylor, Mrs. Stone, Mrs. Cauley, Mrs. Clinton (Mary Ellen’s Mother) and Mrs. Bertell, met often for lunch. They discussed their daughters and what the Grey Nuns always or never did! Now our Mothers are all in heaven, and Joanna is the first to join them. She better be careful what she says!!!! Joanna took the name Joanna of the Cross, for St. John of the Cross, and this especially endeared her to me. Joanna was a contemplative who in life stripped herself of all attachments and pursued God singly and directly. Joanna had many talents! I thought of her as a butterfly - high strung and fluttery, beautiful, fragile but very strong. She might well have been a concert pianist. Sr. Grace of the Sacred Heart said Joanna’s playing was “delicious” - and that said it all. She would have been a welcomed professor at many universities with her degree in French and her Fullbright Scholarship at the Sorbonne. When I attended the reunion of D’Youville Academy in Atlanta last summer, one of the graduates told me that Joanna had taught her creative writing - and she was so impressed with writing that she has made it her career. She gave Joanna the credit for igniting her passion for writing. I thought it would be nice tonight to read Joanna own words, composed as a reflection on the Litany of the Eternal Father. She wrote this for the petition: “Father of eternal light, disperse the clouds of our ignorance”. As we pray this invocation, we ask the Father from whom every good gift comes to remove the clouds of ignorance, prejudice, biases that keep us - and all of those we hold in prayer - from loving all women and men as our human sisters and brothers. We recall, too, that all human beings inhabit one planet home and that we need to see clearly how to live wisely and prudently with one another and with all of creation. And we pray for freedom from our ignorance of our ignorance - our blindness to the deepest truths about ourselves, others and God - that keeps us from living fully the life of wisdom and loving compassion for which we are destined. Our prayer can be a longing for the fullness of light and truth so that we can be truly free and filled with the radiance of God’s light. Joanna had a global ecological spirituality and respect for all of life. I noticed also that the prayer card for Joanna is a picture of the Sacred Heart window dedicated to Jesus' heart, “wherein are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge”. How fitting! We love you Joanna and give you back to God who has long held the strings to your heart. Sr. Rosalie Bertell, G.N.S.H. |
REFLECTIONS ON SISTER MARY CATHERINE McGRATH, GNSH
Strong…sturdy…solid…was our Sister Mary Catherine in her love for God, Our Lady, and in living her religious life. And, I might add, she was just as strong, sturdy, solid when telling me what and what not to do for her. Advent…a time of waiting for a new life with our God…how appropriate for us to be celebrating Sister Mary Catherine’s funeral Mass today… having the Gospel reading of the Annunciation to Mary. We all know Sister Mary Catherine loved our Blessed Mother deeply…”and the Word became flesh.” Born in Ireland September 8, 1908, Mary Catherine McGrath entered the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart on October 17, 1930, just four years after immigrating to the United States, leaving her beloved brothers Francis, John, Thomas and Patrick and her sisters Alice and Ann. Sister always loved being with her U.S. cousins and today we have the McSherry and Pluncket family members with us. Her Rooney cousins visited her before they left for Ireland last Sunday, and the Spears are with us in spirit and prayer. For almost 60 years, Sister Mary Catherine, formerly Sister Mary James, served our sisters and students at Grey Nun Missions in Pennsylvania, New York and Massachusetts. When in Massachusetts, Sister Paula Marie was her Superior and, as late as this month, Sister Mary Catherine would always tell Sister Paula Marie that she was the nicest Superior she ever had…and would turn to me and say, “You know in my days we didn’t have many nice Superiors!!” Sister Paula Marie, in her ever gracious manner, would respond, “Thank you Sister but let’s not go there.” Sister Mary Catherine served in Blessed Sacrament Parish for 36 years. The McKeons were in grade school when Sister first came. My sister Anne and I were often asked to bring the Sisters’ habits to the Kent Cleaners. And when returning them, Sister Mary Catherine would always give us the best apple the Sisters had…or a delicious cookie she had just baked in appreciation of our doing errands for the Sisters. In her last years at the Parish, Sister was a Eucharistic Minister and visited the sick. In 1992, Sister retired to the Motherhouse. Faithful in commitment to her vow of obedience, Sister moved to St. Joseph’s Manor in 2002. There her ministry continued as she visited residents to encourage and support them and, of course, to share a tale or two about her beloved Ireland. On her 97th birthday, Father Harvey, in his homily at Mass, said that he did not think anyone who had ever come to St. Joseph’s Manor had celebrated God’s love more with the people than Sister Mary Catherine. Even until last Saturday, people would always ask, “How is Sister doing?” and say that they “missed her.” Recently, when we were praying with Sister in her room, we sang a hymn to Our Lady. On that day, Sister Bernadette Marie was with me, and she suggested we sing “Our Lady of Knock.” Naturally, the five of us there did not know all the words. I was humming while trying to think of them. As only Sister could, she nodded to me with her finger. As I approached her, she said in her Irish whisper, “Blah, blah, blah! You don’t know the words!” Until the end she was delightfully full of her mirth and wit. How fitting that on the day of her death, Saturday, December 16, the Entrance Psalm at Mass was, “Come Lord from your Cherubim throne; Let us see your face and we shall be saved.” Today, as we bid you goodbye, we have the words of our Blessed Mother, “Be it done to me according to your word.” I feel certain that right now Sister is in her mansion of a thatched-roof cottage and that all in County Letrim are listening to her tales and adventures since she left the old sod so many years ago. We miss you on the third floor, Sister Mary Catherine, your presence…your strength…your ever positive acceptance of all God was asking of you…and, of course, your humor. In fact, recently, when I was with Sister, I noticed her making a hole in the quilt on her bed. I said, “What a lovely quilt this is, Sister Mary Catherine, and it matches your blue eyes!” She answered, “Sure you don’t know where it was, where it came from.” I said, “Sister Mary Catherine, they would never put anything on your bed that wasn’t clean and sanitary.” Says she to me, “Do you believe what you are saying, Pat”? “Yes, I do”, I replied. “Well good for you because I don’t!” Indeed, I will miss you much, Sister Mary Catherine, but we all rejoice that you are truly home for Christmas, joining the Christmas Star ever brightly shining on the many lives you have touched with God’s care, concern and service. God bless you, Sister Mary Catherine…rest in peace…and, yes, “Up Letrim!”
Sister Patricia McKeon Reflections on the life of Sister Mary Catherine McGrath Sister Mary Catherine was a woman of prayer and good common sense. She was devoted to Our Lady and the rosary. Sister had a keen mind and a great knowledge of history and literature. If she got your ear she would go on with long stories of people in Ireland making you feel as though you should have known them. Msgr. McGuirl said that Sister was the first social worker that he met after his ordination. She worked behind the scenes and was a very caring person - a true daughter of Marguerite D'Youville. When Spanish speaking people rang the convent door bell and wanted the rectory she would walk them to the rectory, since they would not be able to understand directions in English. She visited her dear friend, Margaret Hartigan, in her home near Fordhan University in the Bronx and later in the Frances Schriver Home. A parishioner in the Tekawitha Home, beyond Central Park, could count on her visits. She visited former parishioners in nursing homes in Flushing. On these visits she didn't want to impose on anyone so she would climb the steep elevated train steps taking public transportation even to her doctor at St. Vincent's in Lower Manhattan. When we found this out we drove her as often as we were available. Sister brought Holy Communion to parishioners in apartment houses. They looked for her coming. After going to St. Joseph's Manor she continued her apostolate of comforting the sick and touched the lives of many. sharing her stories of Ireland, too. In 1987 Sister Michael Marie and I visited her in Leitrim. We visited with some of her family and she directed our niece, Jennifer, to follow her niece's car to the beach, into Donegal, and she had us step into Northern Ireland, so that we could say we'd been there. Dear friend of almost forty years you have now gone to receive your reward as a good and faithful servant. May you rest in peace with the Lord you loved and served so well.
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