of Jesus in the Eucharist
(Mary Szczepanek)
March 3, 1911 – November 14, 2002
Immaculate Conception Province
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
“It is unnecessary to search for unusual things or to do the unusual in order to be united with Jesus. We need only perform the daily duties which he has given us and to do them with love and joy, completely, humbly, together with him and for him.” (Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd – Love Conquers All)
Sister M. Alphonsa entered this world in Utica, New York, in 1911 on what must have seemed to many an ordinary March 3rd; but to Stanislaus Szczepanek and Helen Zurawski the day was truly an extraordinary one: they looked upon their first-born with eyes of wonder and hearts filled with deep joy. Stanislaus and Helen beheld a miracle of God in their brand new baby daughter.
Baptized “Mary” at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Utica, young Mary attended Holy Trinity Elementary School where the seed of her religious vocation was deeply planted within her spirit. Eager to follow Jesus in the consecrated life, Mary left home for Nazareth Academy High School, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the tender age of thirteen to embark upon what would later become a lovingly familiar and well-worn path to holiness, that of Nazareth apostolic religious life.
Happy to follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit, Mary was presented as a postulant on February 2, 1925. Her love for Jesus continued to grow and on July 14, 1926, Mary was received into the novitiate and was given the name Sister Alphonsa. Ever more certain of God’s love, Sister Alphonsa professed vows for the first time on July 14, 1928, in Albano, Italy. The blessed day of her final profession of chastity, poverty and obedience came on April 6, 1935, in the Albano chapel.
Sister Alphonsa had already seen more of Nazareth than most, but still more uncharted waters awaited her. In her first assignments, Sister was called to serve as homeroom teacher in schools in Wilno and then later, in Lwow, both in Poland. Returning to Albano where she had spent her formative years in Nazareth, Sister was assigned as sacristan and seamstress. Much later, Sister Alphonsa would recall her younger years in Europe, gratefully sharing in stories, retold time and again, the privilege of personally knowing several of our Martyred Sisters.
All in all, it was seven years later when Sister Alphonsa returned to the States. With some teaching experience to her credit, Sister was well on her way to becoming a teacher par excellence. In Philadelphia, she ministered at St. Adalbert, St. Hedwig and St. John Cantius Schools. Sister Alphonsa was called to serve in classrooms at St. Hedwig, in Cambridge and Holy Rosary in Springfield, both in Massachusetts; to St. Joseph, Norwich, Connecticut; and as far south as Sacred Heart of Mary School in Baltimore, Maryland. Sister also spent a short time at St. Theresa of the Child Jesus in Wading River, New York.
God’s precious little ones captivated her mind, and if truth be told, stole her heart. For sure, most significant among her fifty-seven years in the teaching profession were those spent with the children preparing to receive Jesus in the Eucharist, for it was this mystery that most profoundly touched and influenced Sister’s own faith-life.
As though these many years and graced experiences were not education enough, Sister Alphonsa received a Teacher Training Normal certificate in 1953 and a Bachelor of Art in Elementary Education in 1973 from Holy Family College.
Sister’s love for the teaching profession was only outweighed by her love for the bright and wide-eyed pupils whose minds she helped to mold and whose hearts became pliable in her able hands. One thing can certainly be said of each and every class: the children loved Sister Alphonsa and she loved them in return. How can one measure the endless number of volunteer hours in after-school tutoring or the many summers spent in the catechetical programs in which Sister Alphonsa participated in Swoyersville, Pennsylvania. There is but one measure, that of Sister’s love for the gracious God to whom she had promised her heart so many years before and to whom she offered the totality of her daily living.
Sister Alphonsa and the classroom seemed synonymous, especially at St. John Cantius School where Sister lived and lovingly served for eighteen years. In 1986, though, the time had come for her to leave that which had become so much apart of her life. Realizing that her spirit was still willing but that her flesh was weakening, Sister Alphonsa accepted a transfer to Mount Nazareth, Philadelphia.
Always a prayerful religious and a helper to more than can be numbered, Sister Alphonsa readily directed her energies to the Mount Nazareth community. There she celebrated her diamond jubilee just a few years ago in grand style, determined to participate not only in the province celebration but in the annual archdiocesan jubilee, as well. As persevering as Sister was in the classroom, so she was in all of life. Despite her growing frailty and continued deterioration in health, Sister Alphonsa always put forth the extra effort in order to share in local community gatherings; she enjoyed the sisters’ company and they, in turn, relished her dry wit.
On November 14, 2002, a steady stream of sisters visited and prayed by Sister Alphonsa’s bedside. While low for some time now, death seemed imminent. The time had come: Sister Alphonsa had prepared a lifetime for her entrance into eternity, vigilantly performing the ordinary, daily duties which Jesus had entrusted to her. In the same love and joy, just as completely and humbly, Sister Alphonsa entered the eternal banquet and has taken her place among God’s chosen ones. Live now, dear Sister, into the fullness of the Kingdom where Jesus reigns forever!
Digitized by S. Brendan O'Brien, CSFN
Instructor
School of Arts & Sciences
History Department
Holy Family University
9801 Frankford Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19114
215-637-7700 x3279
srbrendan@holyfamily.edu
http://web3.holyfamily.edu/srbrendan
Last updated: October 2006