A glimpse of Sister Miriam Teresa`s journey to beatification. A

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www.SCNJ.org
A Publication of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth
A glimpse of
Sister Miriam
Teresa’s journey
to beatification.
NEW Dimensions is the quarterly
magazine of the Sisters of Charity
of Saint Elizabeth, a congregation
founded by Saint Elizabeth Ann
Seton, in the spirit of Saint Vincent
de Paul and Saint Louise de Marillac,
in Emmitsburg, Maryland in 1809. In
1859, Mother Mary Xavier Mehegan
founded the New Jersey community
known as the Sisters of Charity of
Saint Elizabeth. Today the Sisters
of Charity of Saint Elizabeth are
engaged in education, health care,
pastoral and social service ministries
in 19 dioceses within the United
States and El Salvador and Haiti. The
Congregation currently numbers 327
vowed members. The Seton Associate
relationship has 274 affiliated lay and
religious women and men.
NEW Dimensions Staff
Editor/Director of Communications
Donna Sartor
Graphic Design/Layout
Scott Garibaldi
Council Liaison
Sister Joan Repka
Advisory Board Members
Sister Kathleen Koerner
Tina Lesher
Sister Noreen Neary
Wendy Relation
Welcome
Dear Friends,
In these times of instant communication, rapidly
evolving technology, growing international awareness and
significant social change, another “new dimension” in our
lives will be realized when a Sister of Charity, born and raised
in a Slovak family and community in Bayonne, N.J., and a
graduate of the College of Saint Elizabeth, is recognized by the
universal Church for her holiness.
On Oct. 4, at 9:30 am in Sacred Heart Cathedral Basilica in Newark, N.J., Sister
Miriam Teresa Demjanovich will be “raised to the altar” or beatified, a major step toward
becoming a saint. She will be known as Blessed Miriam Teresa Demjanovich. This honor
touches all of us whose lives connect with hers as family, friends, religious community
and members of the Eastern (Ruthenian Rite) and Western Church. Sister Miriam Teresa
did not live and breathe in rarified air. She grew up and breathed in the fumes of the oil
refineries of Bayonne, and the fresh and fragrant country air of Convent Station, N.J. .
During her short life, she also breathed in God’s Spirit of joy and breathed out God’s Spirit
of love to those she met each day. She did the ordinary things of life with deep love and
faith and believed in the universal call from God to each of us to do the same.
These stories reflect some of the key events of her life – in many ways quite simple
and ordinary. She entered into these ordinary events with an openness to God who,
she felt, was always present to her. Whether in sports, academics, household tasks,
relationships or prayer, she found the strength to bring God’s Spirit of love to others.
God makes saints out of the simple events of life. Holiness is not beyond any one of us
in our daily, ordinary lives. Miriam Teresa made it clear that the grace of God is given to
each of us freely. Each day we are given the invitation and strength to live in union with
the Spirit of God found in each and every one we meet and in all creation. The articles
in this issue of NEW Dimensions provide opportunities to learn something about how
one young woman “did it .” Sister Miriam Teresa is one of us. This is a time of great joy and
hope for all of us!
Many blessings,
Sister Rosemary Moynihan - General Superior
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www.SCNJ.org
Letters to the editor, comments and
photos are welcome. The staff reserves
the right to edit for space and readability.
Make submissions to: Sisters of Charity
Communications Office, P.O. Box 476,
Convent Station, NJ 07961-0476. Phone:
973-290-5345. Fax: 973-290-5337. E-mail:
escharity@scnj.org. www.SCNJ.org
www.SCNJ.org
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A Publication of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth
On the cover:
Blessed Miriam Teresa Demjanovich, SC.
In the background, Holy Family Chapel,
Convent Station, N.J.
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Blessed MiriamTeresa
Demjanovich, SC
On October 4, 2014, New Jersey will have its first
woman to be proclaimed Blessed by the Roman
Catholic Church. In her short life, Sister Miriam
Teresa Demjanovich showed deep reverence for
God’s presence and action in her life. In response,
she led what the Church has called a life of heroic
virtue. Expressed in love of God and love of
neighbor, her life is a model for others, especially
today in our world torn apart by hatred, greed and
lust for power. This issue of NEW Dimensions will
allow you a glimpse of Blessed Miriam Teresa’s
journey to beatification.
Sisters of Charity in 1925 on the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.
As a novice she took the religious name Sister Miriam Teresa
in honor of the Blessed Mother and Saint Thérèse of the
Child Jesus.
Alexander and Johanna Demjanovich
by Sister Noreen Neary, SC
Born in 1901 in Bayonne, N.J., Teresa was the last of the seven
children of Alexander and Johanna Demjanovich, who had
emigrated from northeastern Slovakia. As an infant, she was
baptized and chrismated in the Byzantine-Ruthenian Rite
of the Catholic Church. Teresa attended the Bayonne public
schools and received two hours of religious instruction after
school each day. Following her graduation from high school,
she cared for her ailing mother and oversaw the household
before entering the College of Saint Elizabeth. In 1923 Teresa
graduated summa cum laude and was awarded a Bachelor of
Literature degree. She then taught English and Latin for one
year at the Academy of Saint Aloysius in Jersey City.
Having delayed her entrance to religious life due to her
father’s illness and subsequent death, Teresa entered the
As a postulant and novice, Sister Miriam Teresa taught
at the Academy of Saint Elizabeth in Convent Station and
wrote prolifically – two short plays, letters, meditations,
several poems and part of her autobiography. Aware of her
extraordinary spiritual gifts and confident that “one day she
would be ranked among the saints of God,” Reverend Benedict
Bradley, OSB, her spiritual director and confessor, requested
that she write the conferences for her fellow novices, which
he delivered as if they were his own.
In early 1927 Sister Miriam Teresa’s health failed and she
was hospitalized several times. In April she took perpetual
vows of poverty, chastity and obedience in Saint Elizabeth’s
Hospital in Elizabeth, N.J., where she died on May 8, 1927. Her
body was buried in Holy Family Cemetery in Convent Station
and, 52 years later, exhumed and interred in a crypt in the
Motherhouse chapel.
After her death Father Benedict posted a note on the Sisters’
bulletin board: “The conferences which I have been giving to
the Sisters were written by Sister Miriam Teresa.”
The conferences were published posthumously in 1928 as
3
Left: Miriam Teresa’s birth certificate, Center Top: St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, Elizabeth, N.J., Center Bottom: Teresa in front of her home in Bayonne, N.J. Right: Sister Marian Jose
Smith with His Eminence, Jan Chryzostom Cardinal Korec, S.J., the Bishop of Nitra, Slovakia on Feb. 25, 1992.
Greater Perfection: Being the Spiritual Conferences of Sister
Miriam Teresa and have served to spread her message that each
person is called to holiness and that prayer, contemplation
and union with God are compatible with an active daily life.
The Long Path to “Blessed”
The spiritual gifts of Sister Miriam Teresa were recognized
in her lifetime and, following her death,many of those who
knew her felt that her extraordinary holiness should be
recognized by the Church. Among them were her brother,
Msgr. Charles Demjanovich; her friends from the College of
Saint Elizabeth, Agnes Spinella and Margaret Conklin, and
her confessor in religious life, Father Benedict Bradley, OSB.
Another staunch believer was Sister Mary Zita Geis, SC, who
spent four decades working toward the beatification and
canonization of Sister Miriam Teresa. Conferences written by
Sister as a novice were published posthumously as Greater
Perfection; through this book she has promoted devotion
throughout the world to the presence of God in the lives of
all people.
The Cause for the Beatification and Canonization of Sister
Miriam Teresa Demjanovich was officially introduced in 1945,
18 years after her death. Most Reverend Thomas McLaughlin,
the first Bishop of Paterson, petitioned the Holy See to allow
the initiation of her Cause. The following year Mother Mary
Benita, SC, founded the Sister Miriam Teresa League of Prayer
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and appointed Sister Esther Maria, Sister Marie Dolores, Sister
Anne Lucille and Sister Mary Zita as its first officers.
In addition to a Postulator working for the Cause in Rome,
throughout the years there have been Vice Postulators here
in New Jersey who coordinated the efforts of the Cause at the
local level. Father Stephen Findlay, OSB, first held this post,
followed by Sister Rosemary Smith, SC, a canon lawyer and
Assistant General Superior. Sister Marian Jose Smith, who
served tirelessly as Vice Postulator for more than two decades,
succeeded Sister Rosemary. Today the role is filled by Sister
Mary Canavan, formerly the General Superior (1987-1995) of
the Sisters of Charity.
The first step in the process toward beatification is the
informative phase, which is conducted at the diocesan level.
The Diocese of Paterson gathered testimony about the life
and virtues of Sister Miriam Teresa, while her public and
private writings were collected and examined for orthodoxy.
It also needed to be demonstrated that no public veneration
of this Servant of God had taken place. The diocesan tribunal
judged that the Cause of Sister Miriam Teresa met these
requirements. In 1955 and 1977 Pope Pius XII and Pope Paul
VI, respectively, gave their blessings to the Cause.
In July 1978 an official decree was issued for the exhumation
of Sister Miriam Teresa’s remains from Holy Family Cemetery
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Top Left: (l to r) Sister Mary Ann Tierney, Mrs. Anne McLaughlin, sister of Sister Miriam Teresa and Sister Hildegarde Marie Mahoney at the exhumation. Top Right: Crypt
located in Holy Family Chapel, Convent Station, N.J., Bottom Left: Prayer service before placing coffin in crypt. (l to r) Sisters Mary Ann Tierney, Kathleen Timothy Cronin, M.
Angelica Doris, Hildegarde Marie Mahoney, M. Zita Geis and official witnesses, Bottom Right: (l to r) Sister Francis Maria Cassidy and Sister Eileen Dolan
in Convent Station. In May 1979 the exhumation took place
over a 24-hour period and all pertinent materials found in the
grave were identified, labeled and placed reverently in a new
coffin that was sealed and placed in a crypt in Holy Family
Chapel, adjacent to the Motherhouse of the Sisters of Charity
of Saint Elizabeth, where it remains today.
When the authorities in Rome agreed that the Cause had
met the first two requirements, it was time for the writing
of the Positio Super Virtutibus. Sister Francis Maria Cassidy,
SC, and Sister Eileen Dolan, SC, spent nearly 10 years
preparing this document that showed that Sister Miriam
Teresa practiced the four cardinal virtues (prudence, justice,
temperance and fortitude) and the three theological virtues
(faith, hope and charity) in a heroic manner in her lifetime.
The Positio was submitted to the Congregation of the Saints
in 1999 and, because it was known that there was a possible
cure attributed to Sister Miriam Teresa, it was 120th in line for
consideration. After scrutinizing the document, theologians,
cardinals and bishops found the Servant of God to be of heroic
virtue. On May 20, 2012 Pope Benedict XVI declared Sister
Miriam Teresa Venerable.
The Positio Super Miro was sent to the Congregation of Saints
in July 2004. Largely the work of Mary Mazzarella, M.D., who
has served as the Medical Consultant for the Cause for 17years,
this document described the case of Michael Mencer, a young
boy living in New Jersey in the 1960s, whose juvenile macular
degeneration was cured miraculously through the intercession
of Sister Miriam Teresa…soon to be officially known throughout
the universal Church as Blessed Miriam Teresa!
Beatification Ceremony and Liturgy
The Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark
will be the site of the beatification of Sister Miriam Teresa
Demjanovich, SC, on Oct. 4. Angelo Cardinal Amato, SDB,
the Prefect of the Congregation of Causes of the Saints will
preside as the Papal Delegate at the ceremony in which Sister
Miriam Teresa will be declared “Blessed.” This extraordinary
event – the first beatification to take place in the United
States – will involve our Congregation and friends, the
Archdiocese of Newark (in which the miracle occurred), the
Diocese of Paterson (in which the Cause was initiated) and
the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic for the Ruthenians
(of which Sister Miriam Teresa remained a member all her
life). Archbishop John J. Myers (Newark), Bishop Arthur J.
Serratelli (Paterson) and Bishop Kurt R. Burnette (Eparchy of
Passaic) will concelebrate the liturgy with Cardinal Amato.
The Sisters of Charity will be joined by members of the League
of Prayer, the Seton Associates, our long-time friends and Dr.
Silvia Correale, Postulator of the Cause, on this joyful occasion
for which we have waited so long.
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In her sophomore year at CSE, Teresa had a room in Santa Rita Hall on the fourth floor, the third window from the right
Sister Miriam Teresa -
The Tale of Love
by Fr. Terrence J. Moran
James Martin, the popular Jesuit author of My Life With
the Saints, has written: “The lives of the saints, parts of which
seem confusing, bizarre and misguided, are - when you know
the whole story - really tales of love.”
As we celebrate the beatification of Sister Miriam Teresa
Demjanovich, it’s good for us to reflect a bit on her tale of love
– the influences and circumstances that made her the kind of
person that the Church wants to offer as a model to others.
Teresa Demjanovich’s earliest and deepest influence, as for
all of us, was her family. Her parents practiced the simple, solid
Christian life that was typical of early 20th century European
immigrants. From her parents’ daily practical devotion to their
faith and their family, Teresa learned the demands of a life of
Christian holiness. She had a special rapport with her brother,
Charles, who would later serve the Church as a priest. Even
as a Sister, she signed her letters to him with her childhood
nickname, “Shrimp.”
Teresa was marked by her friendships as well. She wrote
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a poem celebrating her childhood friendship with Elizabeth
Szabo, daughter of the parish priest. At the College of Saint
Elizabeth, Teresa met Margaret Conklin and Teresa Spinella,
who supported and encouraged her and who worked tirelessly
after her death to spread interest in her and her spirituality.
Raised in the narrow confines of an
immigrant neighborhood in Bayonne,
Teresa thrived on the intellectual and
cultural formation that she received at
the College of Saint Elizabeth.
The spirituality of the Eastern Church was profoundly
formative of Teresa. She spent time every day after school
in religious instruction in her Ruthenian parish, learning
the theologically rich texts of the Eastern liturgy. Sister
Miriam Teresa would later say that she preferred the liturgy
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of the Eastern Church because it allowed an active
participation of the laity that was not then possible in
the Western liturgy.
Raised in the narrow confines of an immigrant
neighborhood in Bayonne, Teresa thrived on the
intellectual and cultural formation that she received
at the College of Saint Elizabeth. She wrote papers on
Japanese theater, the social work of the Middle Ages,
and Irish political history. She learned Spanish well
enough to take a starring role in a Spanish play. Her
teachers encouraged her to develop her talents for
art, music and poetry. It’s important to remember that
it was only during Teresa’s first year at the College
of Saint Elizabeth that women were given the right
to vote. Long before women’s suffrage, the College
of Saint Elizabeth was a place where women were
encouraged to develop their talents to the fullest.
Contemporary feminist theory gives an interesting
perspective with which to look at Sister Miriam
Teresa’s development. Feminism encourages us to
take seriously women’s experience of life and history
and not to identify male experience as normative.
Sister Miriam Teresa’s experience of the workings of
God in her life was the main source of her spirituality
rather than extensive study of scripture and theology.
She was fortunate to have a spiritual director, Father
Benedict Bradley, OSB, who recognized the validity
of her spiritual experiences and encouraged her to
take them seriously. By giving the conferences that
Sister Miriam Teresa had written, Father Benedict
was the rare man who was willing to become the
voice of a woman’s spiritual experience. In the early
20th century, spiritual books were written almost
exclusively by men. Retreats were given only by men;
there were no women spiritual directors. Yet Father
Benedict encouraged Sister Miriam Teresa to write
conferences based on her spiritual experience; they
were published after her death as Greater Perfection.
The book enjoyed a remarkable popularity at a time
when women spiritual writers were rare. It won first
prize from the Catholic Press Association in 1928 –
winning over two books by priests. Father Benedict
encouraged other sisters to consult Sister Miriam
Teresa about their spiritual lives, in effect, empowering
her to be a spiritual director.
Sister Miriam Teresa felt little natural inclination
to join the Sisters of Charity although she admired
them as educators and counted many of them as
friends. Her natural contemplative bent led her to
prefer the life of Carmel and she entered the Sisters
of Charity in obedience to what she perceived the
will of God. Nevertheless, she was deeply formed by
the apostolic spirituality of the Vincentian tradition
from which she learned that holiness consists not in prayer or in
mystical experiences but in the self- giving of love. As a college
student, she wrote a tribute to one of her deceased teachers, Sister
Louise Marie, which shows her grasp of the Charity charism of
loving service: “Love is the sun of our spiritual life… Growth in
spirituality is growth in love….The life of Sister Louise Marie may
be expressed in the single word, service – a love of service in regard
to her companions; a service of love toward the least members of
God’s creation.”
Sister Miriam Teresa’s way of holiness has little to do with
exceptional mystical experiences but rather with generous response
to God in the ordinary circumstances of life. She uses the beautiful
image of hospitality as a model for the spiritual life:
Used with permission by Most Reverend Kurt Burnette, Bishop of the Eparchy of Passaic. Part of the Heritage Museum and Library of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic.
“Progress in prayer or advancement in perfection simply means
that we learn more and more graciously to play the part of an
attentive and courteous host, who eliminates herself as far as
possible, in order that the beloved and honored guest may be at full
liberty to express himself freely with regard to the interests dearest
to his heart.”
May her life and words teach us to become what she was:
the gracious and receptive host to the God who longs to enjoy
our company.
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The Mencer
Letter
This letter, postmarked
December 8, 1971, was
addressed to Fr. Stephen
Findlay, O.S.B., at Delbarton
School in Morristown. Sr.
Augustine is Sister Mary
Augustine Flanagan (left),
who taught at Saint Anastasia
School in the 1960s and 1970s.
Mrs. Mencer enclosed a school
picture of her son (on right), on the back of which is
written “Mike 9 yrs. St. Anastasia School”. The letter
was transcribed by Sister Noreen Neary, archivist,
on February 11, 2013.
Dear Father Findlay,
The November 19th issue of the Trenton Diocese Monitor
contained an article which I read with great interest since I
had never known of Sister Miriam Theresa (sic) before 1964.
At that time my nine yr. old son was diagnosed to have
a condition medically termed macula pigmentation. This
involves the blood vessels and nerve endings in the area
of center vision. He had only peripheral vision and was
termed legally blind. This is a degenerative process and I
was told in six months the area would be totally blackened.
He was a third grade student at St. Anastasia School in
Teaneck, N.J. and Sr. Augustine sent me a prayer card with
a request for special favors. I had never heard of Sr. Miriam
Theresa and knew her only from her picture on the card.
Over the next five yrs. Dr. Vincent Carter, Cedar Lane
in Teaneck, examined him at 6 mo. to 1 yr. intervals.
Superimposed on this condition is his ability to have 20-20
vision.
I attribute the fact that my son now 16, in spite of the
circumstances of his birth, is a good student in public high
school and participates most effectively in all sports due to
the efficacy of prayer to Sr. Miriam Theresa. However, may I
add, I believe it to be only one of her many intercessions on
my behalf.
Sincerely,
Barbara P. Mencer
(Mrs. John Mencer)
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St. Anastasia School, Teaneck, N.J.
A Special Devotion to Sister Miriam Teresa
In addition to one of our Seton Associates and a former CSE
administrator, there is a long list of sisters who volunteer in
the Sister Miriam Teresa office in the Motherhouse in Convent
Station. You can call this office if you would like to ask for
prayers through the intercession of Sister Miriam Teresa,
to make an appointment to visit Holy Family Chapel and
the crypt of Sister Miriam Teresa, to order books and other
materials and for any information regarding the process for
beatification of Sister Miriam Teresa – (973) 290-5467.
We lived on Kings Court, a cul de sac with 12 houses. Diagonally
across the street lived the Mencer family. Recently, Barbara Mencer
and Michael recalled the fond memories they had of their time living
on the court, the kids playing ball in front of the Culhane house, the
time spent playing Hide and Seek in the hedges at the local church,
Central Park with the swings and wheel of fun, and Mr. Culhane
giving them the Daily News each night. They remembered so much
about my brother, my parents, and me.
Sister Mary Culhane is one of the sisters who volunteer in
this office. Like many other volunteers, Sister Mary does so
because she has a special devotion to Sister Miriam Teresa.
This is her story:
Is it any wonder that when Michael told me his story I realized my
mother was praying for him all these years? I need to help in any way
I can, continuing the devotion to Miriam, answering the phone, and
telling all the story of Sister Miriam Teresa. Indeed the example my
mother set for me had a profound and lasting effect.
“The influence of a mother upon the lives of her children cannot be
measured. They know and absorb her example and attitudes…” Reverend
Billy Graham.
Mae Culhane (my mother) was a close friend of Sister Mary Augustine
Flanagan, a teacher at Saint Anastasia School who frequently visited my
home in Teaneck. It was Sister Mary Augustine in 1955 who introduced
my mother to the League of Prayer which at that time was the name given
to the cause for the canonization of Miriam Teresa Demjanovich. My
mother crocheted the mementoes, read the prayers, and sent donations to
the League. We often heard the phrase, “Please put five or ten dollars in an
envelope and send it to the League, and don’t ever forget to do this as we
are blessed with many favors and we need to thank Sister Miriam Teresa.”
My mother prayed frequently to Sister Miriam Teresa and had asked,
“Please don’t disturb me when I am praying.” I observed this practice and
realized the intensity of the devotion my mother had to Sister Miriam
Teresa.
Sister Mary Culhane sets up appointments for tours of
Sister Miriam Teresa’s crypt in Holy Family Chapel.
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Things you may
not know about
Sister Miriam Teresa. . .
• Among the famous people who read and admired Greater
Perfection are Dorothy Day, founder of the Catholic
Worker movement, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, and
Fr. Virgil Michel, OSB, leader of the pre-Vatican II liturgical
movement.
• Her closest friend as a child was Elizabeth Szabo (later
spelled Sabow), daughter of a Ruthenian priest. Miriam
Teresa wrote in a poem that Elizabeth was “dearest of
youthful friends…that felt my every subtle mood and
understood.” Elizabeth was deeply moved to read the poem
from her childhood friend and wrote her appreciation to
Sister Miriam Teresa’s brother, Fr. Charles. Elizabeth moved
to Cleveland and was the secretary at the Royal Hungarian
Consulate there. She died in 1983.
• Even as a Sister, she signed her letters to her brother with
his nickname for her, “Shrimp.”
• Sister Miriam Teresa said that as a child she liked boys’
games the most and was particularly good at baseball.
She was also a cheerleader.
• She spoke Spanish so well that she acted in a Spanish play
and for a short time substituted as a Spanish teacher in a
Jersey City high school.
• She went to her Senior Prom with a young man from
Fordham and wore a green velvet dress with a Greek key
design around the neck.
• She anticipated the movement for better education for
sisters and wrote, “It would be better to close ten missions
than to send a sister out unprepared to teach.”
• She took a course on “The Political History of Ireland,” and
got an A+ on a term paper “The Irish Free State.”
• The crucifix that she held when she died belonged to
a famous priest, Fr. Harold Purcell, who had been a
Passionist, but left and became a diocesan priest in order to
devote himself to the founding of a social service center for
African-Americans in Montgomery, Alabama – the City of
St. Jude – for which he raised 5 million dollars.
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Rev. Peter VB. Wells officiates at a Mass in Holy Family Chapel. To his right is Rev. Martin Rooney. Both are Seton Associates
Q and A
with Seton Associate Rev. Peter Wells,
Pastor of Saint Clare’s Church in Clifton, NJ
by Rosemary Lalevée Carroll
Q. How did you first become acquainted with Sister Miriam
Teresa Demjanovich?
the difficult periods of her life, particularly while in religious
community, that made an impression on me.
A. While I was a student at Bayley-Ellard High School in
Madison, our librarian was Sister Anne Lucille, SC. She was
very involved in the Miriam Teresa League. She made sure
every student knew about and learned about Sister Miriam
Teresa.
Q. What significance or impact will Sister Miriam Teresa
have on our faith? The Church?
Q. What is it about her or her writings that inspired you?
A. I actually did not read her writings until I was in seminary. I
used her writings while taking a seminar on stress as the basis
for a final paper in the course. It was the way she dealt with
A. She was a strong woman of faith who responded to the
voice of God in her life, first as a teacher, then in her desire
to be a contemplative, and then responding to God calling
her to be a Sister of Charity of Saint Elizabeth. God speaks
to each of us in different ways and at different times in our
Faith journey. If we are patient and wait, God will direct us
as to our life’s calling, whatever it is.
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Sr. Miriam Teresa’s watercolor painting
The beauties of the natural world were especially nourishing
of the spiritual life of Sister Miriam Teresa. Growing up in
an industrial section of Bayonne, NJ, she was deeply moved
by the splendor of the rural campus of the College of Saint
Elizabeth and the motherhouse of the Sisters of Charity. Many of her poems celebrate the glory of God present in
nature. In her Ode to Nature, she writes:
What miracles are wrought before our eyes!
What mysteries of nature do we see
In each unfolding tree!
And hour by hour
A smiling, living earth…invokes the Divinity.
She once surprised her friend Sister M. Dolores Martínez by
exclaiming during a walk in Nazareth Park, “God is in the
trees!” As a novice, she painted a delicate watercolor of the
first violets of spring for an Easter card for her friend Margaret
Conklin. As a college student she was chosen to give a speech
on the occasion of the planting of two mulberry trees in
tribute to the deceased College of Saint Elizabeth professor
Sister Louise Marie Lemée. She highlighted her professor’s
love of nature in her tribute, “ Sister Louise Marie found time
for enjoying, and for making others delight in, the beauties
of nature…Witness her love for God’s feathered creation a
love that excludes none; that was so thoughtfully kind in
feeding the birds of the air…And so in this springtime, the
first after her death, we wish to perpetuate her memory by
planting two mulberry trees, that the birds she loved so well,
may find shelter and food in their branches…She shall dwell
forever amid the beauties of Eternal Spring!” Sister Miriam
Teresa now enjoys the beauties of Eternal Spring; she invites
us, as she did, to take time to marvel at God’s presence in the
world of nature and to expend our efforts to protect and
preserve it.
Nazareth Park
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Like us on
Facebook
Beginning September 1, 2014, a FaceBook page
specifically dedicated to Sister Miriam Teresa was
launched. You can find it by typing Sister Miriam
Teresa League of Prayer in the search bar. This is
the only authentic page sponsored by the Sisters
of Charity of Saint Elizabeth. Please visit the page
and feel free to leave comments. Most of all, please
remember to LIKE us!
Blessed Sister Miriam Teresa
League of Prayer
P.O. Box 476, Convent Station, NJ 07961
Prayers • Visits • Books/Pamphlets • Information
In Memoriam
Please visit “Remember Our Deceased
Sisters in Your Prayers” at www.SCNJ.org
for reflections on the Sisters of Charity of
Saint Elizabeth who died between March 1,
2014 and September 1, 2014. May our Sisters
enjoy the fruits of their labor as well as
peace with their God.
Sister Teresa Marie Mahon
April 1
Sister Alice Lubin
Call 973-290-5467 for the following
•
To ask for prayers through the intercession of Sister
Miriam Teresa
•
To make appointments to visit Holy Family Chapel and
the crypt of Sister Miriam Teresa
•
To order books or other materials
•
For information regarding the process for beatification of
Sister Miriam Teresa
CALL 973-290-5467
or visit www.SCNJ.org
June 5
Sister Thérèse Martin Hanily
June 12
Sister Mary Alicia Mullins
June 15
Sister Mary Celeste Conti
July 14
Sister Ann Michele Texido
July 23
Sister Alice Elenita Barry
July 28
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Awards & Announcements
Sister Regina Martin Keane
Sister Jacquelyn Balasia
Sister Theo Furniss
Mother Seton Regional High School, Clark, NJ, honored six women at the Gala Evening of Celebration. Three of these
women were Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth: Sister Regina Martin Keane (In Memoriam), Sister Jacquelyn Balasia,
and Sister Theo Furniss. The school paid tribute to these Sisters for “nurturing our school and our souls.”
Sister Rosemary Smith traveled to Lusaka, Zambia in August to present to the major superiors of the ACWECA
(Association of Consecrated Women in East and Central Africa) who were gathered at their triennial Assembly. The
countries from which participants hail were Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, Sudan, South Sudan, Tanzania
and Zambia. The topic was canon law and how it effects/impacts religious. Sister Rosemary was given several areas
of focus which the participants had identified as particularly problematic/of interest. She worked with a woman civil
attorney from Kenya.
In recognition of Sister Regina Martin Keane’s significant contributions to the advancement and support of education,
the College of Saint Elizabeth posthumously awarded her the Doctor of Humane Letters Degree, Honoris Causa at the
2014 commencement ceremony. Sister Regina Martin entered into eternal rest on December 25, 2013. She was a Sister
of Charity for 57 years.
Sister Eileen Clifford, SC, MD, was the recipient of the 2014 Distinguished Health Care Service Award, Passaic County,
presented by the Northern New Jersey Council, Boy Scouts of America, at the Service Awards Dinner on June 3, 2014.
Dr. Eileen Clifford was saluted for her outstanding commitment and efforts on behalf of the communities of Passaic
County. William McDonald, President and CEO at St. Joseph’s Healthcare System said, “Dr. Clifford is an exemplary
physician and an inspirational leader.”
If you know of a sister or an associate who was honored or recognized in any way, please pass it on to
Donna Sartor at dsartor@scnj.org or 973-290-5345. Thank you.
14
FALL 2014
An Interview with Russell Burns
by Wendy Relation
Russ went on to graduate from Seton Hall Prep and the
University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. He enjoys a
successful career in investment banking on Wall Street. A
few years ago, he renewed his ties with the Sisters of Charity
when he contributed to the renovations at Saint Anne Villa.
His financial gift reconnected him with the sisters, who
recognized Russell’s many talents and quickly put them to
good use.
Russell Burns
As a supporter of the Sisters of Charity, Russell Burns can
be described as “all in.” Russ says, “The Sisters of Charity
have always been there to provide a helping hand. It is
now important for us to assist them whether our support is
financial or through the use of our time and talent. I would
like to think that I am trying to do both.”
Russ first encountered the Sisters of Charity when he
attended St. Vincent Martyr School in Madison, N.J. From
kindergarten through eighth grade, many of Russell’s
teachers were Sisters of Charity. He stated that he will be
eternally grateful for the positive influence the sisters had on
his life.
“There were many difficult lessons along the way, but good
lessons nonetheless. The disciplines you establish early in life
serve as a foundation for your future.”
Two of his teachers particularly stand out: Sister Grace
Gonzaga, who was always a calm, steadying, and encouraging
presence, and Sister Regina Bernard, who had a knack for
finding and celebrating each student’s special gift.
The Sisters of Charity were Russell’s teachers as well as
members of his parish and neighbors in the community.
During his high school years and summers when he was home
from college, Russ worked on the facilities and grounds of the
parish, including the convent that served as the residence for
the sisters. He recalled an instance when he was painting the
ceiling of the third-floor level of the convent’s grand staircase.
His ladder gave way, and paint cans (and Russ) went flying.
The incident did not seem to faze the Sisters, “who just cleaned
up in their very nice, caring way.”
“When I can use my skills
to assist the sisters in
navigating complex financial
and business issues it is
especially gratifying.”
Russ now serves on the Development Advisory Board and
on other committees where his financial acumen, extensive
business experiences and passion for the Sisters of Charity
combine to make him an invaluable partner and friend. He
derives great satisfaction from working with and for the sisters.
“When I can use my skills to assist the sisters in navigating
complex financial and business issues it is especially
gratifying.”
Each time that he attends a meeting or talks with sisters,
Russ learns something new about their diverse programs.
“The sisters are not inclined to promote themselves,” he
says, “so it is critical for lay people to educate others on the
mission of the sisters and how they serve important needs of
the community.”
Russ appreciates the need to provide high quality care for
the sisters in Saint Anne Villa. He will always be grateful for
the loving care that his grandmother received in a nursing
home operated by Carmelite nuns in Florida. The experience
with his grandmother makes Russ determined to support the
sisters who now receive care at Saint Anne Villa.
Russ says that “it is very easy to lose sight of what is truly
important in life given the complexity of today’s world.” He
is thankful to have re-established his relationship with the
Sisters of Charity and to have the opportunity to partner with
them in their mission of charity, which he believes is needed
more today than ever before.
15
Spring Lake
Luncheon
Friends of the Sisters of Charity enjoyed a
lovely afternoon on June 9 at the annual Spring
Lake Luncheon. The luncheon is a wonderful
opportunity for guests to renew acquaintances
and reconnect with the Sisters of Charity. We
were delighted to welcome many first-time
luncheon guests who joined us to hear this year’s
speaker, Fr. Leo Patalinghug. Fr. Leo, who is the
host and creator of Grace Before Meals, shared a
message about bringing people together through
food. Guests also picked up some great cooking
tips from Fr. Leo as he prepared a delicious dish
from his book, Spicing Up Married Life.
Fr. Leo Patalinghug
(l to r) Sister Elizabeth Holler, Claire Mullen, Lois Monahan
and Jackie Higgins
Armando and Cecelia Giuliano
16
FALL 2014
(l to r) Ellen V. Kelly, Sister Rosemary Moynihan and Vince Gilligan
Golf Outing
(standing) John Richel and Vic Richel (seated) John D’Angelo, Sister Thomas Mary
Salerno and Marilyn Ryan
Sal Davino
On Monday, June 16, over 100 golfers enjoyed
a glorious day at Echo Lake Country Club as
they participated in the Sisters of Charity
Seventh Annual Golf Outing. The weather was
picture perfect for a day on the links, followed
by cocktails on the patio and a delicious buffet
dinner. The evening was capped-off by the
awarding of prizes and a live auction. Thanks to
the many friends who sponsored and attended
this great event. A very special thank-you goes
out to golf co-chairs, Ellen Kelly and Vince
Gilligan, who once again went “above and
beyond” to make the Golf Outing such a success!
Doug Harris
17
SISTERS OF CHARITY
WINDOWS
REPLACEMENT
PROJECT
Thank you to our many friends who have
completed their pledges. We still need additional
help to reach our Windows goal.
Thanks for your support!
Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth
Development Office, P.O. Box 476,
Convent Station, N.J. 07961-0476.
973-290-5409/5454
Remember the Sisters
of Charity in Your Will
With a gift through your will, you can support the Sisters
of Charity and ensure that the mission of boundless charity
will continue into the future. Your gift may be truly
transformational, enabling the sisters to bring the word of God
and the compassion of Jesus Christ to a world so in need.
Here is an example of bequest wording to remember the Sisters
of Charity in your will:
I give, devise, and bequeath to the Sisters of Charity of Saint
Elizabeth, a not-for-profit organization located in Convent
Station, New Jersey, Federal Tax ID #22- 1487343, the sum of
$_______________(or _______________ percent of the rest, residue and remainder
of my estate) for the unrestricted use and general purposes of the
Sisters of Charity.
Remembering the Sisters of Charity or other charities in your
will allows you to use the gifts God has given you to make a
difference far beyond your lifetime. It is a good idea to let your
heirs know the charities that are most important to you. Many
people suggest donations to the Sisters of Charity
or other charities in lieu of flowers.
If you have already included the Sisters of Charity in your
will and would like to inform us, or if you would like more
information about giving to the Sisters of Charity in your will,
please contact:
Wendy Relation
Director of Development
(973)290-5480
wrelation@scnj.org
18
Letters
r
o
t
i
d
E
e
h
t
to
We just received the NEW Dimensions
magazine. Please forward my best
wishes to Sister Jane Brady for her
55 years of service. I have very fond
memories of serving with her many
years ago on the 100 member Board
of the Bergen-Passaic Health Systems
Agency when she was heading St.
Joseph’s Hospital in Paterson , NJ. She
was smart, dedicated, and tough when
she needed to be, especially when
health care topics concerned serving
the poor and Hispanics in Paterson .
The women of the Church are its
strength!
~ Anita Siegenthaler, Bergen County, NJ
Just wanted to say that the NEW
Dimensions magazine is beautiful! The
layouts, the many pictures and the
information are attractive and well
done. Kudos!
~ Sister Mary Culhane, SC
Thank you for the copy of
NEW Dimensions. Love it!
~ Rosemary Goulet, IHM, Scranton , PA
FALL 2014
If you would like to renew your membership to or join the Sister Miriam Teresa League of Prayer
and receive a year’s subscription to the quarterly Bulletin, please fill out this membership form,
include a check for $15.00 and return to the address provided.
The Sister Miriam League of Prayer
Please check one of the following
I wish to begin/continue (circle one) my membership in the league for July 2014 to June 2015.
I wish my name removed from the membership list.
Please Print
Name
Address
City & State
Zip Code
Offering
A minimum offering of fifteen dollars entitles a member to a year’s subscription to the quarterly Bulletin.
Please include this form with your donation:
Sister Miriam Teresa League of Prayer
P.O. Box 476, Convent Station, N.J. 07961-0476
We invite you to partner with us in
any of the following ways:
Consider becoming a Sister of Charity
Contact our Vocations Office
vocations@scnj.org • 973-290-5331
Consider becoming a Seton Associate
These are our lay affiliates who live a life of charity in ministry to others.
setonassociates@scnj.org • 973-290-5336
Participate with financial support
Gifts may be designated for Ministry/General Support, Retired/Infirm Sisters or for specific ministries. For
more information, please contact the Development Office at 973-290-5409/5454 or srcharity@scnj.org.
Online donations may be made through www.SCNJ.org.
Request prayer support
Send a request online by selecting Prayer Requests from our website home page menu.
Learn more about the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth at www.SCNJ.org.
19
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
Paid
Permit #1278
Caldwell, N.J.
Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth
P.O. Box 476
Convent Station, N.J. 07961-0476
www.SCNJ.org
Upcoming Events
For all up
coming e
vents
please co
ntact:
The
Sisters of
zabeth D Charity of
evelopm
P.O. Box
ent Offic
476, Con
e
Saint Eli
Harvest Festival
Madison Hotel
Thursday, October 23, 2014
Honorees include:
Caritas Award – Mary Mazzarella DeMayo, M.D.
Mehegan Award – Tim Mc Loone
Fall 50/50 Raffle
Drawing takes place on
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
There will be 1st, 2nd & 3rd place winners!
Cathedral Sounds
Annual Christmas Concert
Holy Family Chapel
Sunday, December 7, 2014
Featuring The Masterworks Chorus
Under the Direction of Andrew Megill
vent Stati
on, N.J. 0
7961-047
454/540
6
9 • srcha
rity@scn
j.
o
r
g
www.SC
NJ.org
973-290-5