Lest We Forget
Sister Eucharista Fitzmaurice, CSJP (1917-2009)
Good morning and welcome to the Liturgy celebrating the life of one extraordinary woman, Catherine Mary Bernadette Fitzmaurice, known to us as Sr. Eucharista. On behalf of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, I extend our sincere sympathy to Sr. Eucharista’s grandnephew, Kevin and his wife Lynn and other relatives.
I found in Sr. Eucharista’s file a fascinating 10 page autobiography simply called “My Life.” Most of what I will tell you comes from that paper.
Catherine was born in 1917 into a loving and happy family. Of her parents Denis and Helen, and her place of birth, New York City, she said, “There is no place on earth where I would rather have been born and there are no parents to whom I would rather have been born.”
As a young girl, Catherine had a few wishes: I quote “I always wanted to be a Sister. I also wanted to go on the stage: I’d like to have been a detective, too. Sister/Stage. Well the similarity ends with the “S,” but through the years along with regular lessons as a teacher, I had choirs, glee clubs, drama, band, dancing, etc. In a sense my wish was fulfilled over and over again. Before I entered I did have the chance for the stage, but I did not pursue it.”
Catherine entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace in 1935. Following her Novitiate, Sr. Eucharista served in several community sponsored ministries as teacher, principal, catechist, correspondent, volunteer. In 1956 she was assigned to the Philippines which became her “beloved home for 16 ½ years.” She loved everything about the Philippines, the school, church, the place, students, climate, sports, music. In addition to teaching English and Religion, she also had choir, glee club, drama. Of her students Eucharista wrote: “Their happiness was my happiness.”
From her beloved Philippines, Sr. Eucharista went to Kenya, East Africa. A new school had been built by the people themselves. She lived among people who “were gentle with the most beautiful small features and with a peaceful smiling expression.” She recalled, “From their dire poverty they would approach us and opening a small handkerchief or cloth would present us with a few tiny eggs . . . thereby repaying us for having given them a dress or shirt.” Teaching in kenya was a great challenge. Children came from many tribes. The elders did not get along and neither did the children. Physical fighting was a daily occurrence, but gradually under Sr. Eucharista’s guidance that stopped and “sorry” became a most beautiful and peaceful word.
After 16 ½ years in the Philippines and 5 ½ years in East Africa, the Holy Spirit was redirecting Eucharista back to the United States. She wrote “I believe I had finished what Christ wanted me to do.”
Back in New Jersey she became involved in correspondence Ministry. She said, “I answered letters from the sick, lonely, depressed, old, unemployed, fearful, pained, young, poor, etc. I have found this most rewarding. With God’s help I am able to console and to strengthen.”
Sr. Eucharista was a true Sister of St. Joseph of Peace. She exemplified our charism of peace and justice. She lived our constitutions by serving God’s poor and forgotten.
In a message received from another CSJP, who served with Eucharista in Africa, Sr. Catherine Ferguson wrote, “Eucharista, a valiant woman who so generously and bravely came to Kenya straight from the Philippines. In her time in Kenya she established a primary school par excellence, setting standards and traditions that are held faithfully to this day by the people of Western Kenya. She will never be forgotten.”
Eucharista ended her autobiography by telling what the children in Kenya said to each day, and now I say again “May God be with you while we are absent from each other.”