These notes are an endeavor of love, to keep alive the great Charism that was God’s gift to our foundress and adapt its rich message to a world that has changed dramatically. She came from a time when there was the Church founded by Christ and its enemies. Catholics were the good people, anyone who did not accept the moral code expressed in Catholism, was lost if not evil. When the sisters arrived in the United States they found themselves in an experiment in ethnic and religious pluralism. The beginnings were rocky and Catholic immigrants were the object of sometimes severe and violent discrimination. They were the first to accept the separation of Church and State because it gave them liberty to practice their faith and to educate their own children and serve the poor and sick of all races and creeds for the love of Christ. The Catholic Church in America has been the envy of Bishops in countries that were just beginning the struggle with democracy and pluralism. What would Mother Franziska tell us today? I think she would say: “Love the Church, cultivate compassion and forgiveness to the members who carry all the faults and weaknesses common to our humanity.” She would tell us to pray daily for the Holy Father and Bishops who are faced daily with difficult decisions and dilemmas. There is often no road map. In many ways we are on new ground with a wide variety of moral convictions and practices and technology that spreads these various ideas in rapid succession, allowing almost no time for reflection or dialogue. She would counsel her sisters to cling to Christ, to allow ample time for meditation and intimate prayer to the Holy Spirit. She would ask all those in her charge to be devoted to Sacred Scripture and to good sources of information. In her time she had “Sunday Schools” for the housemaids working for wealthy families because she understood that even a maid or kitchen worker who loved Christ would be a blessing to the entire family of their employer. The secret of Mother Franziska and all saints lies in prayer, especially quiet prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.
Rest In Peace, Sr. Raimonde
Born and raised Rosalie Elizabeth Bartus in Roebling, N.J., she entered the religious order in 1942, took her first vow in 1944, and final vows in 1951.
Sister Raimonde earned an associate degree in business from Rider University in New Jersey, and a bachelor’s summa cum laude in education, and a master’s and Ph.D. in history, from Fordham University.
Assigned to education ministry in Connecticut, Ohio, New Jersey, and New York, she served on the faculty of St. Joseph Hill Academy High School from 1956 to 1984, and chaired the social studies department.
She worked as an archivist for her religious order from 1984 to 1985 in Vienna, Austria, and taught at Xaverian High School in Brooklyn from 1985 to 1986.
Sister Raimonde returned to St. Joseph Hill in 1986, teaching history, sociology, and speech, until her retirement three years ago. She was moderator and producer-director for the school’s drama club for 25 years, and forensic coach for two decades. She also initiated the Advanced Placement program at Hill, and was instrumental in developing the St. John’s University Extension Program at the school.
Her long career included posts as adjunct professor at Seton Hall University, from 1968 to 1971, and lecturer at Wagner College from 1969 to 1973. She also served part-time in the Office of the Archdiocesan Superintendent, and the Office of the Secretary of Education for the Archdiocese of New York, and was liaison for Catholic schools in the Archdiocese for the Bicentennial Scholars.
Sister Raimonde “had a great love for our Order, and was devoted to the charism of our foundress, Mother Franziska Lechner,” said Sister Denise Martin, the superior at St. Joseph Hill convent.
“She was a brilliant woman who could answer any questions you could ask her,” added Sister Josita DiVita, a friend for almost 60 years. “She was a delight to be with, and a very good friend.”
“Most of all, she really loved God,” said Mary Jane Truckenbrodt, a colleague at St. Joseph Hill since 1974. “She was a very honest person, and anything she said, you knew was true. She was a professional historian, very accurate and precise, and always saw things from an historical point of view.
“She would get things out of her students that they never knew they had,” she added. “She coached Stephanie Seminara, who was the first girl to win the National Forensic League and Catholic Forensic League championships in competition with boys.”
Sister Raimonde was an avid reader, favoring mysteries and historical literature, and enjoyed crossword puzzles, including the challenge of those in the New York Times Sunday magazine. She also traveled to the Light Opera of Manhattan every Friday evening, where she served as an usher, colleagues said.
She was cited as Outstanding Teacher of the Year by the National Catholic Educational Association, and was inducted into the National Forensic League and New York Catholic Forensic League halls of fame. She received the Patrick Daly Award from the then borough president Guy Molinari for her work as an educator.
Sisters from Akron Visit the Site
Today Thomas Tirro, Sal’s son, showed the Sisters from Akron what is going on. Sister William also talked to them about the plans. The forms are ready to accept the concrete which will be poured from a giant crane – like structure.
The Foundation
Most of the ground has been prepared and now the men are constructing the forms for the concrete foundation. The amount of rebar is astonishing and all I can think of is that they look like men in cages! I am sure that some Alumnae are thinking that if this was around when I was principal, I would think that it would make a great place for detention!!!!
Outlining the Building
Sal and his crew have been busy and he still has time to explain what is going on to me! The string marks the outline of the new building and now we all have to don hard hats when we visit the site. Even Father Dennis visiting from California was given a hard hat.
The Demolition Continues
Well the demolition continues. I am glad that I am an early riser since work on the site begins at 7:00am. Part of the Academy building must be demolished so that there is space to work between the new building and the old.
