Together We Live in the Legacy that is the Daughters of the Divine Charity
“From dust you came and to dust you will return.”
We mark the beginning of Lent by focusing on how we will prepare for God’s ultimate gift of eternal life won by the sorrowful passion and glorious resurrection of Our Lord, Jesus Christ. Examine your attachment to the material things in life and how you can become more spiritual.
During Lent we identify a sacrifice we can make with the intention that in doing so, we will enhance our relationship with God.
Sr. M. Lawrence Churko F.D.C passed away peacefully at St. Joseph Hill Convent on Sunday January 9, 2022. Following the advice and encouragement of their countrymen, John Churko and Catherine Boda also became determined to try their good fortune in the Land of Plenty and the world of great possibilities. After experiencing various areas, they joined the Hungarian Colony in Toledo Ohio. It was a good move and soon Mr. Churko found satisfying work and Catherine was well accepted by the women who introduced her to profitable work. Because both were busy in their new settlement, they no longer were under any strain or anxiety. John and Catherine became friends and eventually married. Within time their fondest dream materialized and they were blest with fifteen children. Unfortunately, many of them died in early childhood. The good parents were very saddened by their loss but continued to love and nourish their remaining children The last child born was Mary Ann, born on August 13, 1928. She enjoyed the love of her dear mother, but her mother died when she was just three and a half years old. The Daughters of Divine Charity proposed that the bereaved father send his youngest child, to St. Elizabeth’s Orphanage in Detroit, an adjunct of Holy Cross Church. Mary Ann spent 10 years at the home, nurtured, guided and loved by the Sisters. It was here that she received her elementary education. Later she attended St. Joseph Hill Academy in Staten Island for several years. Her two sisters and a brother eventually established themselves very well and had Mary Ann join them, share their life, and attend the Central Catholic High School from which she graduated in 1948.
On September 12, 1948 she entered the familiar grounds of St. Joseph Hill Convent as a candidate. Here she continued the basic tenets of Community Life. Because of her sincere desire to become a Religious, she was invited to enter the Novitate on August 16, 1949, receiving the name of Sister M. Lawrence. This was a special time to deepen her prayer life and learn the sacredness of her Religious Vows. On August 15, 1951 she made her Simple Profession and on August 16, 1956 her Final profession.
By her kind nature and love for children, she was assigned to the teaching profession. For her preparation she attended various colleges and received her BA with a major in History and a minor in Education.
In the East she taught in Roebling, New Brunswick and Trenton New Jersey as well as in South Bend, Indiana. She spent 43 years in California, at St. Therese and St Charles in San Diego and in St. Joseph’s in Fontana.
Sister Lawrence was a concerned kind teacher, who loved and understood children. During these years she was the Superior, Principal, Sacristan and CCD teacher. She fullfilled each of these positions with distinction.
Sister loved all sports especially baseball and was very partial to the Los Angeles Angels. She was a good driver and willingly accompanied the Sisters to their destinations.
In 1999 she was assigned as Vice Principlal of St. Joseph Hill Academy. It was a responsible assignment but she knew with God’s help and the support of her Community, she would succeed to please God, the children and their parents.
Mr. Hansen, the current Elementary School Principal, spoke of Sister’s warm personality and her sense of humor. When she first met Mr. Hansen she asked him how he preferred to be called; Larry or Lawrence, he replied Larry. Sister said that’s good, I prefer Lawrence and I would not want people to confuse the two of us. Her remarked that her presence in the school was invaluable, how she so enjoyed being around the school children, helping prepare them for the Sacrements of Penance and Communion and .the joy she took in setting the Chapel up for Mass,
Visitation for Sister will be on Thursday January 13, 2022 in the Chapel at St. Jospeh Hill Academy from 2-4 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial wiil be offered at 4: 30. Sister will be laid to rest in St. Ignatius Cemetey in Orgeon Ohio on Janary 25, 2022.
Contributions to Sisters Memory can be made the the Daughters of Divine Charity
To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Sister Lawrence Churko please visit our Sympathy Store.
“On the Solemnity of Christ, the King of the Universe,Novemeber 21, on the very day of the anniversary of thebirth of our Congregation, the celebration of the much awaited and demanding closure of the aforementionedprocess is scheduled. The ceremony will take place in the”Mother Thrice Admirable” church and will be followed by Vespers. “
This ceremony marked the end of the diocesan process andthat Sister Lucyna Mroczek, who is the postulator, will bringthe material of the Cause to the Dicastery for the Causes ofSaints in the Vatican.
So, we lift up our prayers to God in gratitude for the life ofour Foundress who founded the Daughters of Divine Charity in 1868 and we her daughter wish to continue tospread her charism of “making God’s Love visible” to thepeople of God and beg her to intercede for us in praying for new vocations to carry on our mission of serving theelderly, women and youth, by living “All for God, for thePoor and for our Congregation.”
Who would have ever imagined that 100 years ago that the baby girl born on August 29th 1921, to Steven and Barbara Evanchec, who named her Teresa Anne would reach the distinguished, remarkable and unbelievable age of 100.
August 2021 represents many important events in the life of Sister Bernadete Evanchec, F.D.C. August 29, 2021 marks her incredible milestone, her 100th birthday and on August 28th, the Feast of St. Augustine, our Spiritual Father, Sister Bernadette with faith, love, joy, and dedication serving the people of God also celebrates 81 years of religious profession.
On Tuesday, August 17th Sister Bernadette was able to join the Sisters at Leonora Hall Convent and the Residents of Francesca, for a Mass of Thanksgiving at 11:00 concelebrated by Father Kraker and Father McCafferty.
Father Kraker gave a very simple yet beautiful message in light of the 100 precious years of Sr. Bernadette’s life and her loving witnesses as a Daughter of Divine Charity wherever she served as organist, principal, teacher, catechist, and as eucharistic minister, as she visited the sick and the elderly bringing Jesus into their hearts and feeding their souls with conversation and the assurance that Jesus is always with them. Father Kraker concluded his remarks by stating that we are all called to serve Jesus and give witness by our lives no matter how long or short our time on earth for we are promised eternity.
Before the final blessing, Mrs. Mary Tosenberger, a resident of Francesca gave a brief reflection on having Sr. Bernadette in her life. Mary has known Sister Bernadette for 70 plus years growing up in the Croatian Parish of Christ the King in Akron, Ohio. She recalled the many parish activities that Sr. Bernadette helped to organize and to reach and involve the youth and the members of the parish especially through creative musical programs. Music was a great way to bring young and old together and very often singing in Croatian especially their favorite hymns for the celebration of the Eucharist thus touching their hearts, while at the same time deepening and strengthening their faith. Mary gave an example of raising money to assist the parish in acquiring a new organ. Mary conveyed the joy, enthusiasm that Sr. Bernadette exemplified while being so very active in the parish ministry and teaching of religion and social functions. These years have gone by all to quickly but we take this moment to recall and thank Sister Bernadette for being a part of our lives. God Bless you on your 100th birthday.
Following the Eucharist Sister Bernadette enjoyed a delicious meal and the singing of Happy Birthday in which Sister Bernadette harmonized with joy and delight as she then blew out the candles with a smile. Sister Imelda Marinovich 99 shared a special card that she made for her novice mate, reminding her of her favorite saying that everyone was familiar with: “It’s a great life, if you don’t weaken.” In other words, she wanted to share her life with others, God’s unconditional LOVE with JOY, as our Foundress instructed her daughters, by “doing good, to give joy, to make happy and lead all to Heaven.”
The centennial celebration ended all to quickly at 2:15, as Sister Bernadette was scheduled to be picked up by special transport returning her to St. Edward’s Nursing Home. Sister Bernadette and the Sisters enjoyed their time together remembering the past and grateful for this opportunity to be together as a community acknowledging the life of Sister Bernadette who with her sisters has lived our motto “All for God, for the Poor and For our Congregation.”
Submitted by Sr. Martin Green, F.D.C.
