1912-2008

Reflection

by Cecilia Calva, SNJM

This evening many thoughts of Margaret go through our minds.

Each of us has special memories of her: first grade teacher, music teacher, school supervisor, Parish Minister, SNJM Associate mentor, Hospital Chaplin or helper in our care center. My recollection of first meeting Margaret, then Sister M. Clotida Rose, was as my own sister Rose’s first grade teacher in 1950 at St. Mary’s Boyle Heights. My sister remembers her as a very tall person. Margaret was at St. Mary’s for only one year. I, being a third grader, vaguely remember her there, but then, twenty years later we were both in Union City on the same pastoral team.

Margaret was born in 1912 in St. Paul Minnesota. Her family moved to Pasadena, California when she was two years old and later attended St. Andrew, both elementary and secondary schools. Margaret noted that her mother and aunt were important in her decision to enter religious life.

Of her family she wrote: “My wonderful family my mother and Aunt. My Mother died when I was ten and my darling Aunt (my mother’s sister and Uncle Fritz (my mother’s youngest brother) continued to make a home for me. My Father was not a Catholic and married again.”

Her 67 years of active ministry included: 23 years as a first grade teacher mostly in Southern Cal living in Santa Monica, she taught in various parishes: St. Anne, St. Elizabeth’s, St. Mary’s, Boyle Heights  All Souls and in St. Andrew at two different times.  Two years in Northern Cal. Sacred Heart and St. Mary in Oakland. She spent 4 years as a music teacher.

About her early teaching years she wrote:  St. Elizabeth’s in Altadena was one of my favorite missions. There I was for five years, there I met and helped my life long friend, Leland Boyer, then a seminarian. He loved the Sister of the Holy Names very much and had a special devotion to Mother Marie Rose. Later he became a Monsignor.”

Would you believe, that after 20 successful years as a first grade teacher, four years as a music teacher, and four years as Principal at St. Gregory’s, in 1955, she was named Diocesan Elementary School Supervisor in Los Angeles for four years. In her unique way she commented, “What a Shock”!

After that experience she was named to be an upper grade teacher in various schools: Our Lady of Lourdes, St. Ignatius, in Sacramento, named Principal at St. Gerard Majella Los Angeles, and from 1964-1967 was Principal at Holy Spirit in Fremont and became friends with Father Dan Danielson.

Margaret recalls… “the 60’s were changing rapidly. I asked S.William Marie, then Provincial, permission to study the new theology, etc. I was studying and working in an experimental parish in Frazer Michigan. AND (she would be pleased for me to continue her words):  “I was the first Sister in our Province to become a Parish Sister. I had many happy days and experience in Fraser Michigan where this type of ministry was on the agenda. On returning to California I thought there would be many opportunities to work in Parish ministry, but not so! For four years I went from place to place”

We can remember that first she was at St. Francis in Solano. Then, some of you remember those early days with Margaret and her dog Racal when she was parish minister St. Isabella in Terra Linda and lived at Marin Catholic. After that she spent a year in St. Francis de Sales, the Cathedral parish in Oakland, and got to know Bishop Cummings; then, on to Union City.

A quote from her:  “ and finally settled in Union City at Our Lady of the Rosary, there with Father George Crespin as Pastor and a wonderful team, MY DREAM CAME ALIVE!

I believe those words, as I was on that team and can assure you that they were the best years in pastoral ministry as we learned and grew together as a team in a parish context. It was in 1973 that Margaret arrived with Sister Celestine O’Brien. Margaret as Associate Pastor and Cel as Principal of the School! This was a perfect housing situation for Margaret and Cel, opening an intercommunity experience with Srs.Felicia SJO, Martha Amezcua,SHF. The Maryknoll Sisters came shortly after using the convent as their Western Headquarters for their Global Awareness Ministry. What an enriching experience for Margaret who remained friends with many of the Maryknoll Sisters.  

Betty Heffernan one of the four Associates that Margaret mentored, reminded me, “I always said to Margaret that I thought Union City was her Camelot! We were very blessed to have here there.”

In 1979 she left Our Lady of the Rosary and ministered in several hospitals doing pastoral care: Providence Hospital while living with the Maryknoll Srs in San Pablo, Mt Diablo Hospital Medical Care Center and Kaiser Permanente in Hayward.

When Margaret left Mt. Diablo Hospital Medical Center, Father Robert Arpin, Director of Pastoral Care, wrote in a letter: “Your contribution to the Pastoral Care Department has been unique, not only because you are the first Catholic sister to be officially designated a chaplain here, but because of the special joy and warmth that you have brought to patients and staff in your nine months with us. Everywhere you have ministered, the Good News has been proclaims and people have been touched by your gentleness and radiating peace.  I will personally miss your smile and sharp wit that often kept me honest.”

In closing I would like to use Margaret’s words; “The dear Lord blessed me for many years with good health and a happy Spirit. (maybe all didn’t agree) and I made many good friends along the way and helped many to love and serve the Lord and I am very grateful to Him and to all those who helped me to find serving Him such a joy in my life.”      

I am sure that we agree that Margaret is in heavenly rapture sharing with everyone her most precious moments of life. May she continue to radiate her smile and joy before our God. We thank God for her. And Margaret you will be missed!