Here are two of the five essays that were read aloud at a recognition ceremony Nov. 15, 2016 for the “Stories of Our St. Louis Sisters” Essay Contest sponsored by the Incarnate Word Foundation and supported by the Catholic Education Center.
Sr. Glavin: A Force to Be Reckoned With
by Matilda Glascock, Cor Jesu
In my life, I have been blessed to meet many wonderful people who have chosen to dedicate themselves to the religious life. Whether they were a nun, priest, or deacon, they have all touched my heart in some way, but none will ever compare to the mark Sr. Maureen Glavin, RSCJ, left on me.
My personal connection to Sr. Glavin begins over a decade ago, when I started preschool at the Academy of the Sacred Heart, where she is headmistress. At five years old, my understanding of a religious didn’t go far, but that didn’t stop me from immediately feeling drawn to Sr. Glavin’s fierce passion for education and friendly nature. She donated all her time to ensuring each and every child was receiving the best education possible, all while encouraging us to have fun and stay connected to our faith. Throughout the ten years I spent at her school, Sr. Glavin set a firm example for me of everything a child of the Sacred Heart should be: reverent, wise, faithful, and filled with the love of the Heart of Christ. The Society of the Sacred Heart has five goals—faith, education , service, community, and personal growth—and Sr. Glavin exemplifies them all. Every time we had a school liturgy, she told us to sing as loud and joyful as possible. “You made Jesus smile today!” she’d exclaim. She encouraged us in our studies, and was constantly presenting us with new opportunities to improve, whether it was mentally, physically, or spiritually.
I think the biggest impact Sr. Glavin has is hon her own community on the Academy campus. I spent many hours volunteering with Sr. Glavin, doing all sorts of service around the school. Together, and with the help of my classmates, we carried baskets of food for the poor, set up the gymnasium for liturgies, and cleaned up messy classrooms. If there was not a student willing to do something, Sr. Glavin would get up and do it instead. Even after the students went home, she would continue to give up her free time to improving the school so we could do our best there the next day.
After watching this extraordinary woman live out the goals of the Sacred Heart, I am inspired to follow in her footsteps and do the same. In particular, her love of children an education motivated my dream of becoming a teacher for the underprivileged and oppressed. I want to help the poor children in Africa, where millions o families are living below the poverty line. They cannot afford to send their children to school, so some countries have a literacy rate as low as 25%. If we can improve their education, we can improve the entire continent. Sr. Glavin taught me that one voice can make a big difference. One day, I hope to improve others’ lives through faith, love, and learning, just like she did mine.
Sr. Munch, RSCJ
by Jessica Skinker, Incarnate Word Academy
Everyone moaned as Sr. Munch told us today would be a writing day, everyone except me. I eagerly sat down in my desk and quickly got to writing. As I wrote, thoughts were popping up in my head left and right. When I finished, I took my notebook to the front table where Sr. Munch was sitting and asked if she would look over my story. She smiled and kindly offered me the seat next to her. As she went through the story there were lots of mistakes: misspelled words, incorrect grammar, and my story that had started as one thing completely turned into something else by the end making it very hard to follow. I could feel how red my face became. I was so proud of that story but was seeing how bad it was. However, she then looked at me and said, “This is great.” I was shocked! She then went on to tell me that she loved my creativity and how I loved writing so much that I was not afraid to make mistakes.
At the Academy of the Sacred Heart, my sixth grade English teacher, Sr. Munch, was a huge influence on my life. She always encouraged her students to share their thoughts and feelings creatively through writing and never judged it. She embodied her beloved St. Rose Philippine Duchesne in everything she did. She honored her every year by hosting the St. Rose Philippine Duchesne and St. Madeleine Sophie Barat plays and spends countless hours in prayer just as Philippine did. I was heartbroken when I heard Sr. Munch had retired, but even after over fifty years of teaching thousands of students, she still devotes her time to the St. Ferdinand Shrine by giving tours and to the Academy of the Sacred Heart by being the school’s sacristan.
Sr. Munch has left a lasting impression on my life. She has taught me to never hold back in my writing for fear of what people may think about it. Because she was always so willing to give her time to help me, she has inspired me to share my gifts and talents to others through tutoring underclassmen. I never thought that my tutoring would have stemmed from my sixth grade English teacher, but I am so thankful it did. Her example taught me to be patient and kind and always encouraging to the students I am working with. Her dedication to her work and students reminds me to always work hard and to love what I do. My life has forever been changed by the kindness and support of Sr. Munch and I thank her for everything she has done in making me the person I am today.
