of the Compassionate Heart of Christ
(Janet Holad)
June 10, 1947 – August 6, 2006
Sacred Heart Province
Des Plaines, Illinois
“May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be your refuge, your shelter and your repose. May he be your model, our light and the object of your love so that the affections and dispositions of his heart would permeate you.” (Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd to Mother Raphael, June 3, 1902 – Journey with Her)
Sister Mark was born on June 10, 1947, the first of two daughters, to Walter and Ann Holad. She was baptized at St. Hedwig Church in Chicago. She graduated from St. Hyacinth Elementary School in 1961. She became an aspirant and attended the extension of Holy Family Academy in Des Plaines. Sister began her postulancy on September 8, 1963, was invested on August 11, 1964, and pronounced her first vows August 11, 1966. She made her final vows August 7, 1971, taking the Compassionate Heart of Christ as her mystery.
Sister Mark received her Bachelors degree in education from DeLourdes College in 1972 and a Masters Degree from DePaul University in 1985. She loved children and had a unique style in disciplining them and having them love her classes. Her love for teaching, accompanied by her sense of humor and dedication made her an outstanding educator. Whether she was teaching, relating to the faculty and parents as principal or with her fellow sisters she would find a way to bring humor to the situation.
She dedicated thirty-six years of her religious life to the ministry of education. She taught for twenty-two years, and was a principal for twelve in various elementary schools in the Archdiocese of Chicago. Sister Mark knew how to balance discipline with firmness, humor and love. She knew just how and when to draw the line, so that her students understood what was expected of them. Underlying all of her relationships was a deep respect for the individual, a compassionate heart accompanied by a sense of justice and humor. Her laughter and joyful disposition was contagious. Whether as teacher, principal or fellow sister, she knew how to brighten up a room and make a person feel at ease.
Sister Mark was a woman of many talents. She could master anything she put her mind to accomplish. This was especially true of her ability to play the trumpet. There was never a celebration or a liturgy that Sister Mark did not add to the solemnity by accompanying the organ and the choir with her trumpet. If there was a special occasion, you could count on her being there. She never was known to say “no” to any favor or request.
As a religious, she lived up to her model – Jesus’ Compassionate Heart. She accepted all of her responsibilities and ministries in the spirit of obedience and love. She found joy in serving others with a cheerful heart. If any sister had to be driven somewhere, no matter how inconvenient it may have been, she was at their service. As a local superior, sister was sensitive, caring and always available to the sisters.
In 2004, Sister Mark left the teaching ministry to accept the position of Administrative Assistant to the Sponsorship Board of Resurrection Health Care. Once again, she accepted the challenge and dedicated herself to learning a new ministry and performing it to the best of her ability. It was during this time that she began to feel weak and her health seemed to be declining. She attributed it to the flu, but when her condition worsened, she finally agreed to see a doctor. It was then that Sister was diagnosed with stage four cancer. Within ten months she had two major surgeries. She kept her spirit up, trusting that God would see her through this difficult time. She had set her heart on fulfilling her responsibility as a delegate to the Convocation for Leadership held in April of 2006 in Michigan. It was during the convocation that she once again became very weak and ill.
Within months the cancerous tumors returned and she had to face her second major surgery, from which she left the hospital for only one day. For 294 days, Sister Mark was in pain and suffered silently, never allowing a single complaint to pass her lips. Although she lost some of her sense of humor she never lost hope. There was a serene acceptance of God’s Will for her and she was at peace with all that he was asking of her.
Her life of love and compassion for others was reflected in the manner she suffered. Never complaining, always grateful for the service the sisters and doctors rendered to her. She truly live her mystery – close to the Heart of Christ – learning, imitating and spreading His compassionate love to those with whom she lived and ministered.
Hers was a short life of fifty-nine years – lived in simple joy and service to her family, sisters, students, and co-workers. God simply smiled on her and called his faithful servant home to enjoy the life He prepared for her. She had learned from Him to be meek and humble of heart.
Eternal rest be yours, Sister, and may you reap a hundredfold the joy and happiness you so loving shared with us these past forty-three years.
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