of Our Lady of Perpetual Help
(Mary Menzenska)
February 20, 1914 – January 2, 2006
Immaculate Conception Province
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
“Mary gave herself totally to God, accepted everything from Him, shared everything with Him, and lived for Him. My dear child, surrender yourself to Jesus so that with Him and for Him you will live, work and suffer” (Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd, Love Conquers All)
The sisters sat with Sister Jane for hours upon hours in recent days as ill health had taken its final toll. But it was not until the local community at Mount Nazareth gathered for daily Mass that Sister quietly passed into eternal life soon into the New Year. Nazareth at Eucharistic prayer seemed the most perfect and loving farewell for one whose heart was truly a Nazareth dwelling place.
Born to parents Alexander Menzenski and Julia Zarzecka Menzenska on February 20, 1914 in Worcester, Massachusetts, Mary Stanislas was baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit at the Church of St. Mary’s in Worcester just two days later on February 22. At the prompting of the Holy Spirit, young Mary heeded the call of a religious vocation and entered the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth on August 19, 1927 a few months shy of her fourteenth birthday. Two years hence, on August 17, 1929, Mary was received as a novice and spent the next two years in prayer and study at the Sacred Heart novitiate in Des Plaines, Illinois. Even at such a tender age, vowed life must have been quite appealing to now Sister Jane: in the whole of her life it was apparent that Sister’s center and reason for being was a growing and ever-deepening relationship with God. The vows of chastity, poverty and obedience first made on August 24, 1931 in Torresdale, Pennsylvania became the design and course by which Sister Jane navigated all of life in a spirit of love and fidelity to the One who had called her long before.
Lessons learned at the feet of her mentor Mary, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Sister lived love in gentleness and reverence of the other; she radiated fidelity marked by a willing spirit and steadfast dedication. Sister Jane made perpetual profession on August 15, 1937 in the same chapel in Torresdale.
By the time of her fmal profession, Sister Jane had already begun her teaching career in assignments at Holy Cross, Maspeth, New York and at St. Adalbert, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She had also begun studies in 1935 at Marywood College, Scranton where she earned her first degree.
Graduating from Marywood in 1938, Sister Jane was then assigned to Nazareth Academy and Little Flower High Schools in Philadelphia, as well as to St. Stanislaus, Brooklyn, New York. With the founding of Holy Family College, Sister Jane was called upon to serve as librarian in 1955. After sixteen years and a Master of Science in Library Science from Drexel Institute, Philadelphia, Sister continued studies at Columbia University, New York. Upon her return to Holy Family College from sabbatical leave, Sister Jane became engrossed in the world of archival materials. Always thought to be well-disciplined and methodical in orientation, Sister meticulously uncovered, sorted and organized materials in cataloguing the history of the College for posterity. History came alive under Sister’s watchful eye. The books and documents that passed through her able hands spoke volumes not of things past, but of milestones guiding and shaping the future. Sister’s respect for the world of library and archives reflected her respect for all those who by their efforts and gifts made that future possible.
It was in 1978 that Sister Jane was asked to venture to Rome to staff the archives at the Congregation’s generalate. Not one to shrink from her responsibility in living out the will of God for her, Sister Jane delved into her new work. For the next eighteen years, she worked intimately with the writings of Mother Foundress and congregational materials. In all sincerity, Sister Jane was humbly grateful for what she truly believed to be a particular honor.
Before her return to Philadelphia in 1996, it had become increasingly apparent that forgetfulness and confusion sometimes shrouded the corners of her otherwise keen mind. In a wise decision, Sister was transferred to Mount Nazareth in the Immaculate Conception Province where she now had the time to renew old acquaintances and settle into life this side of the Atlantic.
Peacefully persevering throughout a lifetime, long and full, Sister Jane gave of herself totally and completely for all that God desired of her for the good of the Congregation and the Church. Even now in recent years, Sister gave no less than all as the effects of Alzheimer’s disease slowly robbed her mind. And yet, Sister remained the same ladylike and grace-filled woman she had always been, a woman of integrity whose heart was ever set on the God who chose and led her by the hand on the road of life. In a receptive and generous spirit so characteristic of Sister Jane, she entered life in God’s everlasting kingdom on January 2nd, quietly and willingly surrendering all to the One who is All in All. Dearest Sister, accept the prayers and gratitude of your sisters near and far: with Mother Foundress, the Martyred Sisters and all God’s saints may you rest in eternal peace.
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: February 2006