Sister Margaret Sehlstedt, MM
Born: March 21, 1926
Entered: September 6, 1944
Died: April 14, 2024
2024 is the year of our Sister Peg Sehlstedt’s 80th Anniversary as a Maryknoll Sister. Preparations were in process for a Jubilee Celebration in the main chapel here at Maryknoll, New York. Due to being bedridden, we did not expect Peg to attend in person. However, on Sunday morning of April 14th, Peg’s Beloved sent angels to gather her up to be present among us in the new way of life beyond death.
Margaret Sehlstedt was born in Baltimore, Maryland on March 21, 1926, the daughter of Albert and Elizabeth Renehan Sehlstedt. She had a brother, also named Albert, and two sisters: Betty Fairbanks, the mother of 14 children, and Nancy Field of Baltimore. Peg’s family have all predeceased her.
Wasting no time after graduating from Mt. de Sales Academy High School in Baltimore in 1944, Peg entered Maryknoll in September of that same year, here at Maryknoll, New York. In her application letter to Postulancy, she answered the question of why she chose Maryknoll, by answering, “I want to help give people who don’t know God a chance to know God.”
In preparation for her mission, Peg studied at Maryknoll Teachers College, receiving a Bachelor’s of Education degree upon graduation. She then studied Japanese Language for one year at the Yale Institute of Far Eastern Studies in 1950 before departing by ship for her mission in Japan. There she continued language study with Japanese teachers for her second year of language learning, while teaching English part time in Kyoto.
At her profession of vows, Sister Peg received the name of Maria Pastores, an apt name for the years of Pastoral Ministry that followed during the decade from 1954 to 1964. She ministered in several parishes: Saiin, Tsu, Nagahama and Saiin again, before moving to the northernmost Province of Hokkaido at Muroran—where she and Sister Mary Nagashima didn’t appear at Mass one morning having been overcome by gas fumes from the stove, but found in time by the priest. Her ministry involved her especially with the women in these parishes.
Changes were occurring in the late 1960’s. In 1971, Peg moved to Tokyo and taught English, as the other Maryknoll Sisters did at Sophia, the Jesuit University, for a year before returning to New York to promote mission education in schools and churches for the next three years. By 1975, Peg was back in Japan offering English Language courses, religious work at the parish and diocesan level, and volunteering at Kibo No Ie (Hope House) for the homeless.
A new turn on her path came after a course in Clinical Pastoral Education at Central Islip, N.Y., completing her training for a certificate in 1982. Another three years of service at the Maryknoll Center followed with Peg helping at the nursing home. Her assigned Region changed from the Japan to the Center, and eventually to the Eastern U.S. Region in 1988. Opportunity arose for her to join a team of sisters from other Congregations in Cincinnati, Ohio as chaplains at the Providence Hospital where she served from 1997 to the year 2000.
After retiring from full time employment, Peg continued to offer volunteer services in Cincinnati, Ohio. It seems she was called upon to engage in family ministry during the decade or so that followed. Her sister Betty’s 14 children included one special needs child calling for Peg’s assistance and moral support.
In 2012, we find Peg assigned to Maryknoll Center’s Eden Community. Several bone fractures at this period of her life left her bedridden. Nevertheless, Peg remained cheerful and welcoming towards her visitors. Always a lover of reading, from theology to current events, Peg impressed us with her interest in life until reaching the age of 98. Back in 1969, Peg had filled out a form to be on the waiting list for an assignment to the Cloister at Maryknoll. She wrote, “Prayer is the thing I do best. I am very much interested in mission cloisters. The Japan Region has a very serious personnel shortage now, so I can’t think of leaving now…” Her friends could recognize her contemplative side and this kept her active until the very end of her life.
We welcome Father Joe LaMar, MM who will celebrate our liturgy of remembrance and gratitude.