Sister Geraldine Wieczerzak, MM

Born: July 31, 1932
Entered: September 9, 1961
Died: May 26, 2024

When dawn broke on Trinity Sunday, May 26, 2024, little did we know of the sorrow it was to bring with it.  Our much-loved Sister Geraldine Wieczerzak died in her sleep around 5:00 am that morning. After six months of ups and downs in her failing health, Ger had been alert, calm and cheerful with so many of us who were fortunate to have visited her just the day before. Two days after her passing, I discovered yet another surprise from her. She had left a letter prepared to be read at this service. An accompanying note said: please feel free to add opening and closing paragraphs, and anything else to this letter. I could hear her voice through the words as I read what she had left, and so I read her letter here as she wrote it.

“The following is a sketch of my journey on Mother Earth:

I was born in Philadelphia, PA on July 31, 1932 to Josephine Danielenko Wieczerzak and Valentine Wieczerzak. My sisters Joan Skowronski and Constance Wieczerzak and my brother John Wieczerzak have all predeceased me.

I attended St. Adalbert’s elementary school in Philadelphia, PA and in 1950 graduated from Little Flower High School, Philadelphia, PA. After graduation, I worked as a secretary/interviewer for an engineering firm in the personnel department (Human Resources). During these years, God kept hounding me and whispering to me to devote my life to the mission apostolate overseas.  I finally answered the call and on September 9, 1961, I joined the Maryknoll Sisters, Maryknoll, NY. The following June at my Reception, I received the name Sister Maria Valentine, which I kept until after Vatican II when I reverted to my given name. I made my First Vows in June 24, 1964 at Maryknoll, NY and my Final Vows in Guatemala on May 19, 1971.

My ministry during these years found me doing what I did for ten years before coming to Maryknoll, secretarial. I came to Maryknoll “To do something for God”, but never in my wildest dreams did I think I would spend much of my life doing secretarial work. It was a surprise to me to learn that the first women who came to Maryknoll were also secretaries. Consequently, I always felt a close connection to them.

For the first few years in Maryknoll, I did secretarial work not only for the Sisters but also for the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers Society. During this time, I earned a Certificate in Theology from Iona College, New Rochelle, NY. I then attended Mary Rogers College, Maryknoll, NY and in 1969, I received a BA in Community Development. Upon completion of my studies, I was assigned to Guatemala, the Land of Eternal Spring. 

From January to June in 1971, I attended language school in Cuernavaca, Mexico, after which I joined the Sisters in Guatemala City, Guatemala. There my secretarial skills were called upon for a temporary period of six months that lasted thirteen years working with the regional superiors of the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers Society. For several years, I was also the administrator of the Society’s center house. During these thirteen years in the evenings and weekends, I did pastoral work, and once a year I spent a month in Santa Ana, El Salvador assisting in a youth program. I also served a term on the regional governing board and for several years I managed the regional finances.

If I may, I would like to quote from a letter Father William Mullen, Regional Superior, wrote after I left the Region:

“Sister Geri was, besides being a secretary, a true Christian sister and advisor of confidence to the three regional superiors who were blessed with her help. Although Sister Geri spent most of the 13 years indoors and in an office, she considered her work as a direct support for evangelizing the people in our parishes. Indeed, her work was a constant help to all the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers and Lay Missioners, and also to many bishops and religious of Central America.”

After thirteen years in the Land of Eternal Spring, I returned to the Center in 1983 to give service in our Research and Planning Office. This lasted three years after which I began full time family ministry in Philadelphia taking care of my mother and younger sister Constance who had multiple sclerosis. This was a period of many graces and deepening of my relationship with God.

Eleven years later I returned to Maryknoll to help prepare for our 1997 Congregational Gathering. After the Gathering, I gave service in the Congregational Leadership Team (CLT) Secretariat. Also during this time for ten years I travelled to Pennsylvania every third weekend to share with my niece the care giving of my older sister Joan. In 2008, I transferred from the CLT Secretariat office to be the administrative assistant to our newly elected president, Sister Janice McLaughlin, as well as to the other members of the CLT.  

After eighteen years of ministering in the CLT Secretariat, in 2015 I transferred to the semi-retirement status working part-time in various offices particularly in the Chi Rho Community office. 

Musing over these years, the relationships with those I met along my journey have colored my life in ways I could never have imagined.  I discovered so much that it not only changed me as a person but also deepened my relationship with God immensely. Occasionally I ask myself, “What would my life be like if I had not entered Maryknoll?” There is no one answer, but my inner voice repeatedly tells me, “I don’t think it would have been so rich, so full, so vibrant with vivid colors of family, relationships, friendships, and love that my life’s canvas exhibits.” 

Continuing my ministry of service to others, I have donated my body to science to help further the education of future medical personnel. 

I deeply appreciate and love my family, my friends and my Maryknoll vocation, thanking God for these gifts, and thanking you for journeying with me. I close with a quote from Saint John Chrysostom:

They whom we love
And have gone to God
Are no longer
Where they were before
They are wherever we are.”

And so ends what Geraldine wrote. We have loved Geraldine and have much to thank her for, and do so today, along with her family and friends. The Memorial Mass and Liturgy was celebrated at 10:00 am on June 14th, 2024.