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REFLECTIONS In Psalm 25, we read the words of the Psalmist, "Make me know your ways, Yahweh, teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation. In reflecting this afternoon on Cecile Marie Guichard’s path of life, we celebrate her 95 years of life which began on October 3, 1912, in Newman, California, when she was born to Reginald Guichard and Cecile O’Connell, the oldest of her sister, Victoria, who later on was called Marion, and her brother Reginald. Her father wanted to begin his family with life on a country ranch, away from the city, away from their families and friends. This was far more difficult than anticipated and they soon returned to Oakland. "One fact of which I have always been very proud", wrote Sister Cecilia of Mary in 1958, "is that I am the third generation in my family to be educated by the Holy Names Sisters. My grandmother, Cecile Coin, attended St. Mary School in Oakland; my mother and father both went to St. Francis de Sales School; and I graduated from Sacred Heart Elementary School and then from Convent of the Holy Names High School at the Lake in 1930". After living in St. Francis de Sales Parish where she had been baptized by Bishop Keane, her family moved to St. Leo’s Parish in 1915. There was no parochial school so she attended a public school until she was presumed to be old enough to walk to Sacred Heart School. She was delighted to be with the Holy Names Sisters – the Sisters about whom her mother and grandmother had spoken of for years—she knew all their names: Sisters Mary Hiltrude, Mary Bernardus, Mary Baptista, and now Sister Agnes Marie, Mary Lucilla, Fausta, Amelia Maria, and Ursulina. What a joy for her! When Sister Mary of Nazareth’s niece came as a postulant from Montreal to Oakland, Sister’s mother, who understood French, was her first music pupil. Later, when Sister Rose Alba received the holy habit as a Sister of the Holy Names, Mrs. Guichard was her candle bearer in the last of the congregation’s bridal ceremonies which preceded the reception of the habit. After graduation, Cecile became part of the student body at the University of California and she became very involved in all of its activities, academic, but more so in its social activities. Cecile was invited by Sister Teresa Maria, her senior homeroom teacher, to make a three day retreat at the Convent in1933. This was a time of very special grace. God’s call was clear; deep within her, a place were she found God and God had found her. She received the holy habit on August 5, 1935, and her religious name of Sister Cecilia of Mary. She began her teaching ministry at Saint Andrew High School in 1935 and for the next six years enjoyed her secondary level students. She made many life-long friends among those whom she taught those years in Pasadena. One of her past students sent the following note: "As a ninth grade student I was insecure and overwhelmed with high school. Sister Cecilia took me under her wing and gave me lots of support. She helped me in many ways to become the woman I am today. I am grateful to her for her loving care and concern over the years, plus her prayers." She pronounced her final vows in 1940. Four years later, she experienced one of the greatest trials of her religious life. She was diagnosed with tuberculosis and was separated from her Community for two years with complete bed rest and isolation in Santa Teresita Sanatorium in Duarte, California. This period grounded her in a deep and loving trust in her God. She returned to secondary education in 1946 enjoying her French and/or Spanish students at Ramona, Holy Names High School and Marin Catholic. She was Dean of Girls at Holy Names High School from 1954-55 and Dean of Girls and Vice Principal at Marin Catholic from 1955-1957. She always felt privileged to be assigned to teach a class in religion. A new direction in Sister Cecilia of Mary’s path of life occurred in 1957 when she was named to be the Novice Director for the Province of California and left for training at the Motherhouse in Outremont, Canada. She received her Master’s degree in Theology from Immaculate Heart College in Southern California. Her seven year term that followed was during the historical period of changes beginning in the Church and in religious congregations. Pope John XXIII had assembled the Vatican Council; his charism was an effort to move the Church from being just an institution to becoming more of a vehicle of the Gospel. Novices began their novitiate in groups of 30 and 40, some of whom belonged to the old "ME" generation and others to the emerging "OTHER" generation; some found theology very oppressive and others kept looking at life through rose-colored glasses. Mother Cecilia of Mary was holding on to defining religious life by cloister, dependence on the common life, and monastic practices. At times it was difficult for her to see the world as it was then, a world beginning to unravel at the seams. Criticism leveled against Mother Cecilia did not divert her from the path she wanted her novices to follow. There were some dark days for her and many very dark days for some of the novices. Life’s journey held its pains and heartaches. "Lord, give me the wisdom to make stepping stones out of stumbling blocks", must have been her frequent prayer. The rose and iris gardens on the convent grounds became show places as the novices not only learned about religious life but also how to plant and nurture them and even how to enter them for prizes in local garden shows. After a short time of renewal and a semester of teaching at Holy Names College, Sister Cecilia returned to Marin Catholic for a fall semester. Ill health brought her to the Los Gatos Care Center for recuperation in 1970. The highlight of her teaching ministry was then to spend a semester in Arequipa, Peru, teaching in the parish high school, Nuestra Senora del Pilar, staffed by the Holy Names Sisters. In the years following her retirement from teaching, Sister spent time at St. Monica Convent in Santa Monica, St. Anselm’s in San Anselmo, the Convent in Los Gatos and at Stella Kennedy Residence in Santa Clara utilizing both her gardening and culinary talents. She loved to shop and travel; enjoyed going out for lunch and/or dinner or a game of bridge; and above all, to engage in a good conversation! We all remember Sister Cecilia’s passion for refunding – cashing out coupons and labels - for the benefit of the retirement fund. Filled bags and boxes followed her around the Province and were stored and sorted in her bedroom in the Convent in Los Gatos or in any available space she could find. Her belief was that the end justifies the means (the retirement fund) in spite of being alerted to and cautioned about the legalities of some parts of the program! But, she continued, taking the risk on behalf of the retirement fund. Other women traded coupons with her to assist her cause. New and lasting friendships developed and Sister’s kindness and friendly words touched many lives. A phone call to our Convent the other day affirmed this: "I have counted on the prayers and support of Sister Cecilia for many years, especially when my husband was so ill. I will always remember her kind ways and her visits." Sister Cecilia of Mary was always deeply interested in people, coupled with a fantastic memory for names, family connections, and genealogies. When given an opportunity, she could give anyone detailed information which she had garnered over the years. Sister became an official member of the Care Center in 2005. She suffered from various illnesses without complaint—a damaged nerve in her neck affected her immobile hand which prevented her from doing many of life’s normal activities; cancer surgery preceded radiation treatments; the cancer returned and ravaged her body and distorted her appearance—never a complaint! God was with her on this last path of her journey. Easter Sunday was a day of preparation for her. And the words of Edward Hays’ Easter Psalm, taken from his book, "Prayers for a Planetary Pilgrim", had a deeper meaning: "I trust that I too will spring-like arise to a fullness of living and loving, to a life one with you, my God. Christ is risen, Alleluia! I soon will be next, Alleluia, Alleluia! ". One of Sister’s novices was with her immediately after she died and blessed her in the name of all of her novices who were praying with her and wished her peace on her final journey. On Monday afternoon, April 9, 2007, about 3:30 in the afternoon, Sister Cecilia of Mary’s loving God called her by name to meet Him in her new and eternal home. Sister Emily Marie McKernan
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