ROSEMONT, Pennsylvania – Veronica Grover, SHCJ, who was a Sister of the Holy Child Jesus for 66 years, died of heart failure on Tuesday, April 11, 2017, at Holy Child Center in Rosemont, PA.
Born and raised in West Philadelphia, Sister Veronica was the daughter of Catherine (Reddy) and James Grover. Her mother was born in Donegal, Ireland, and came to America at the age of 17. Her father was the son of Irish immigrants and attended St. James School in Philadelphia where he was taught by Holy Child Sisters.
Sister Veronica helped to establish a justice and peace center named Pacem in Terris and served St. Luke Church in Mint Hill as director of education.
In 1940, the family faced considerable challenges when Sister Veronica’s father suffered a heart attack. She never forgot the love and devotion that her mother gave to her invalid husband. At her father’s wake two years later, Sister Veronica met the Holy Child Sisters for the first time. They were from West Catholic Girls’ High School. She was struck by their compassion as they listened to her mother share details of her husband’s suffering. Sister Veronica experienced this same humanity and compassion when she attended West Catholic. These qualities drew her to enter the Society of the Holy Child Jesus after high school graduation. She made her final vows in 1955 and became well known by her religious name Mother Mary Agnese.
Sister Veronica’s first nine years of teaching were spent in St. Mary School in Melrose, MA; St. James School in Philadelphia; Our Lady of Lourdes School in New York City; and St. Edward School in Philadelphia. After receiving an M.A. in History from Villanova University in 1959, she began teaching history at West Catholic. As an alumna, she was excited to be on the faculty which included 21 Holy Child Sisters. She enjoyed her 13 years teaching there during which she witnessed many changes – Vatican II, the civil rights movement, and the Vietnam War. Sister Veronica introduced African-American history into the school’s curriculum and attended workshops on race relations. Her strong commitment to social justice and peace stemmed from these years. She also organized a committee to educate the Holy Child Sisters in justice and peace issues.
In 1971, Sister Veronica started teaching at John W. Hallahan Girls’ Catholic High School where she introduced an alternative program promoting race relations. 1976
marked a decisive point in her ministry as she began to work for the National Catholic Education Association as director of the newly-established Office for Justice and Peace Education. With Brother Edward van Merrienboer, O.P., she developed the first curriculum for justice and peace education titled Seeking A Just Society. Her ministry included extensive travel to present workshops. During a memorable visit to Bogota, Colombia, for a meeting of the International Organization of Catholic Educators, she delivered the official paper for the United States.
Having received an invitation from Father Les Schmidt, a Glenmary priest, to educate the people in the South about the social teachings of the Catholic Church, Sister Veronica was missioned to Charlotte.
In 1982, she helped to establish a justice and peace center named Pacem in Terris. She traveled throughout North and South Carolina, Alabama, and Mississippi giving workshops and providing resources to schools and parishes. She authored Achieving Social Justice, a textbook for high school students that was widely used in schools throughout the country.
As more Holy Child Sisters began to minister in the South, Sister Veronica was named area superior. She became a vital part of a small faith community called “The Friday Night Apostles.” In 1985, she was invited to attend the West African Provincial Chapter. She called those eight weeks in Nigeria a life-changing experience.
In 1987, St. Luke Catholic Church was established in Mint Hill with Father Joseph Mulligan as pastor. The nephew of Helen Mulligan, SHCJ, Father Joe invited Sister Veronica to join this exciting new project as director of education.
For seven years, in a storefront location, these two pioneers gradually built a community noted for its hospitality and outreach to the poor. This welcoming spirit prevailed when they moved to a large well-planned church/community center.
In 1990, Sister Veronica was commissioned by the Glenmary Research Center to write a case study Human Life in the Service of Profit. This was based on the experiences of women textile workers and detailed the injustices of the mill system as well as the silence of the larger civic and church communities. On the diocesan level, she taught two courses in the lay ministry training program and until 2004, chaired the Diocesan Justice and Peace Committee.
While at St. Luke’s, Sister Veronica gathered a large number of SHCJ Associates. Much of her time and energy centered on their formation; she was convinced that the voices of the laity needed to be heard. The Outreach Program there extends to the Holy Child ministries in the Dominican Republic where parishioners volunteer their time each year.
Failing health in 2014 made it necessary for Sister Veronica to move to Holy Child Center in Rosemont, PA, where her family and friends visited her frequently. Despite
the distance, she remained well connected and loved by many parishioners, friends and the SHCJ Associates in Charlotte, NC.
She joins her parents and siblings in eternal life. She is survived by many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
A prayer service of remembrance was held on Wednesday, April 19 and to the Mass of Christian Burial on Thursday, April 20, at New Sharon Chapel, 1341 Montgomery Avenue, Rosemont, PA, 19010.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to Society of the Holy Child Jesus – American Province, 1341 Montgomery Avenue, Rosemont, PA 19010, or make a gift online at www.shcj.org/american/donate.
MOORESVILLE — Deacon Robert Michael Kratchman, 83, of Mooresville went home to the Lord after passing away peacefully on Thursday, April 6, 2017.
The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Monday, April 10, 2017, at St. Thérèse Church in Mooresville.
He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., and lived in Bergen County, N.J. He retired in 1985 as captain of the Mahwah, N.J., Police Department after serving 25 years.
He was ordained a deacon for the Archdiocese of Newark, N.J., on May 14, 1992, and in May would have celebrated 25 years of ministry. He was an active member at St. Elizabeth Parish in Wyckoff, N.J., and St. Theresa Parish in Little Egg Harbor, N.J.
After serving in the Newark area, he served in the dioceses of Trenton, N.J., and Venice, Fla. His ministry included hospice; leading a monthly food drive which distributed more than 800 meals per month; and was a staff manager.
Moving to North Carolina in 2011, Deacon Kratchman was assigned to St. Thérèse Church. His presence there was a sign for others of the importance he placed on his own belief in God and his love to serve those he encountered. In his four years at the Mooresville parish, he continued his people-oriented service in the outreach ministry, Knights of Columbus and Men of St. Thérèse. He made an impact on many in the parish with his deep spirituality and evangelical approach to the Gospel.
He enjoyed fishing, cooking, traveling and, most of all, spending time with his beautiful family.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Joan Sullivan Kratchman; their children, Robert (Susan) Kratchman, Kenneth (Yvonne) Kratchman, Loretta (James) Tuit, and Nancy (Randy) White; nine grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; sisters Jane Mackey and Mary Kratchman; and many loving cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, 3401 Civic Center Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19104, in honor of his great-grandchildren Abigail and Erin Delaney. Online condolences may be made at www.jamesfuneralhomelkn.com.
James Funeral Home of Huntersville was in charge of the arrangements.
SAINT MARY-OF-THE-WOODS, Ind. — Sister Rose Marita Riordan died March 19, 2017, in Lourdes Hall, on the campus of the Sisters of Providence in Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Ind. She was 95.
The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated March 24, 2017, by Father Daniel R. Hopcus. Burial was in the cemetery of the Sisters of Providence in Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.
Margaret Mary Riordan was born in Chicago on May 2, 1921, to Patrick V. and Kathryn Ryan Riordan.
She entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Providence on Jan. 5, 1939, and professed final vows on Aug. 15, 1947, taking the name Sister Rose Marita.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and a master’s degree in education from Indiana State University.
In her 78 years as a Sister of Providence, she ministered in education for 49 years in schools in Indiana, California, Washington, D.C., New Hampshire and North Carolina. She served as principal for 15 of those years, including principal at the former St. Joan of Arc School in Asheville from 1977-1980. She also served at Our Lady of Consolation School in Charlotte from 1980 to 1982.
In the early 1970s, she took a leave from teaching to serve for five years in administration at the Motherhouse Health Care. In 1991 she moved to the motherhouse and volunteered at the Woods Day Care/Pre-School for 15 years, where she present each day at 6:30 a.m.
Deemed by her sisters as “the energizer bunny,” she was active until just a few weeks before her death, giving service in a variety of areas, including receptionist at Providence Spirituality and Conference Center. In the last month of her life, she was still baking bread which was sold at Linden Leaf Gifts. All her service was rendered with a calm demeanor, a generous heart, and real concern for the needs of others.
She was preceded in death by two sisters, Rosaleen Gibbons and Bernadette Vicha, and two brothers, John and James Riordan.
She is survived by a brother, Bill Riordan of LaGrange Park, Ill.; and two sisters, Eileen Quinn of Walpole, Mass., and Alice Jenkinson of Cary, Ill.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of Providence, 1 Sisters of Providence, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, IN 47876.
DeBaun Funeral Homes and Crematory in Terre Haute, Ind., was in charge of the arrangements.
— Catholic News Herald
BELMONT — Mercy Sister Mary Matthew Snow, 95, died Friday, March 31, 2017, at Marian Center, Sacred Heart Convent in Belmont.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 4, 2017, in the Cardinal Gibbons Chapel of Sacred Heart Convent, Belmont. Interment will be at Belmont Abbey Cemetery.
Sister Mary Matthew was born March 20, 1922, in Fort Fairfield, Maine, the daughter of Benjamin and Fern Churchill Snow. Her parents and beloved siblings, Marie McClintock and William, are deceased.
She attended public schools in Maine and received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Maine, a master’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a medical technology degree from Hunter Laboratory School of Medical Technology in Washington, D.C.
A Sister of Mercy for 62 years, she taught every grade except first. Included in her teaching career were Charlotte Catholic High School; Sacred Heart College, where she was dean of women; Belmont Abbey College; and the Catholic Orphanage of Nazareth in Raleigh.
She also ministered at St Joseph’s Hospital in Asheville and Mercy Hospital in Charlotte, where she was head of the School of Medical Technology.
On retirement from active ministry in health care, she volunteered teaching homeless children and adults to read.
As a Sister of Mercy, she chose for her motto simply “Jesus” and wrote that a turning point in her life was standing at the Sea of Galilee hearing Jesus ask her: “
Matt, do you love me?”
Sister Mary Matthew was a noted storyteller or known yarn spinner. She had a penchant for writing and her adventures were legendary, such as snowshoeing, snowmobiling, hot-air ballooning and hiking.
Her hobbies were numerous as well as artistic, and included woodcarving, weaving, gardening and playing the harmonica.
While known for her accomplishments, she is most remembered by and for her many loyal friends.
Memorial donations may be made to the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, Belmont.
McLean Funeral Home of Belmont was in charge of the arrangements.
— Catholic News Herald
BELMONT — Surrounded by a small group of Sisters, Mercy Sister Mary Bernarda Hoff died peacefully on Friday, Jan. 27, 2017, at Marian Center in Belmont after a lengthy illness. Sister Bernarda was a Sister of Mercy for 71 years and would have celebrated her 92nd birthday on Feb. 1.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017, at Cardinal Gibbons Chapel in Sacred Heart Convent, Belmont. Interment will follow at Belmont Abbey Cemetery.
Peggy Eva Hoff was born in Greensboro on Feb. 1, 1925, the daughter of Leon Calvin Hoff Sr., and Lucille Estell Garrett, also of Greensboro.
In 1942 she graduated from Greensboro High School and entered the nursing school at St. Leo’s Hospital, obtaining her R.N. degree in 1945. She later also earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Sacred Heart College in Belmont, but her lifelong ministry was in the healthcare profession.
On Sept. 1, 1946, she entered the Sisters of Mercy in Belmont, taking the name Sister Mary Bernarda a year later. She professed perpetual vows on Aug. 16, 1952, and began her ministry at St. Joseph’s Hospital (later Mission/St. Joseph) in Asheville, where she served until 2001 – nearly 50 years in service to the people of the Asheville area.
Sister Bernarda retired from the hospital to Sacred Heart Convent in Belmont in 2001 but continued volunteer work, particularly at Catherine’s House, a shelter for women in transition, until she could no longer serve in active ministry.
Sister Bernarda leaves behind wonderful memories of her complete commitment to mercy, and of her exceptional talent as a dancer – everything from ballet to ballroom dancing and clogging.
Long ago she chose “Domine, non sum dignus” ("Lord, I am not worthy") as the motto in her ring. On Jan. 27, God said, "You are indeed worthy. Come home." And she did!
Memorials to the Sisters of Mercy may be made in Sister Mary Bernarda's honor and sent to 101 Mercy Drive, Belmont, NC 28012.
McLean Funeral Directors of Gastonia was in charge of the arrangements.
— Catholic News Herald