In Loving Memory...

Sister Miriam Regina, CSC
(Mary Ann Brosnan)
Birth: October 8, 1926
Profession: August 15, 1947
Death: June 6, 2007

As we gather it is important that we look both forward and back at the wonderful life, earthly blessings and friendship we all enjoyed with Sister Miriam. Sister has been a member of the Sisters of the Holy Cross for more than 60 years. She served the Catholic Church in many parishes and also at St. Joseph’s Home for Boys.

I met Sister Miriam in 1984 when she was assigned as principal of Holy Cross Elementary School. She came to the rectory for lunch and the moment I met her I liked her. I was encouraged that she came at a time that was most important in the life of our school. She let me know that she would do her best for the school and that I would have to be a part in it, too. She told me that I would be expected to be seen and heard in the school on a regular basis, and she reminded me to not call the children “kids.” I was taught by sisters so I knew that whatever Sister Miriam said, I would do. And so she began, and it wasn’t long before I knew that our school was in good hands.

Her initial evaluation was that we needed a kindergarten. The enrollment in the school wasn’t too large at that time so we were able to make two classrooms out of one. When the enrollment increased, Sister Miriam had the foresight and the vision that enabled us to accommodate the growth. With the help of a school parent, a plan was implemented to make it possible to finance the construction. As the pastor I was skeptical about how the building would be paid for, but not to worry, it was all planned and it worked very well. It was such a success that before we knew it, the addition was built and paid for. Sister hired the best teachers, and we soon had one of the finest Catholic schools in the archdiocese. She was a great organizer, and school parents were eager to join in supporting her programs. She knew how to choose the most qualified people, and it was wonderful to see the results. She implemented programs for technology and accelerated math. Arrangements were made for some of our eighth graders to take courses at the academy and Georgetown prep. I was particularly impressed on one occasion when the school had a workshop for other parish schools on the art of integrating computer science in the classroom. It was a great success, and I could not have been more proud of Sister Miriam for bringing it about.

All schools need parental involvement, and Sister Miriam soon had all of those aspects in place, like partners in education, which added to the successful works of the school. She always listened to parents about their concerns and responded appropriately. She was wise enough to know that she couldn’t satisfy everyone, but she did listen. One of the questions she regularly asked the children was: “Who are you?” They soon came to know the answer: “I am a child of God.” She was always at Mass with the children and when there wasn’t a school Mass, she regularly attended our 6:45 morning Mass. Both of us would stand in front of the church before Sunday Masses so the parishioners soon came to know her as well as I did.

Another one of her dreams was a really large addition to the school. Her dreams were always happy ones and it wasn’t too long before this addition was planned, built and paid for.

When it was time for her to retire I knew the school would never be quite the same. I accepted her decision, but when the search committee was unable to find another principal we asked her if she would stay another year. She said she was willing and seemed pleased that we asked her. When she finally retired she went to work at Holy Cross Hospital, where she went every day to greet patients until just three months ago. She was happy living at Saint Angela Hall and regretted that she took so long to make that decision.

So today, as we look back at the wondrous life, earthly blessings and friendship we enjoyed with Sister Miriam, we also look forward—knowing what is in store for Sister Miriam, who is now “gone before us marked with the sign of faith.”

Lord, for your faithful people life is changed not ended. When the body of our earthly dwelling lies in death, we gain an everlasting dwelling place in heaven. Was Sister Miriam a saint? She wouldn’t want me to say so, and I won’t because that is up to God. She lived her vocation in the service of God and the church. She set the example of love of God above all things and her neighbor as herself.

Excerpted from the funeral Mass homily of Msgr. Vincent Gatto

Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of the Holy Cross Ministry With the Poor Fund, Saint Mary’s, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556.