Sister Corda Connects Students With The Lord
Ask Benedictine Sister Corda Trouy, in her 56th year of teaching religion education, how long she intends to keep going and she chuckles, “Some people call me the Energizer Bunny. But we stay young here at the monastery, with God’s grace.”
She also credits the teaching itself with giving her much of the energy, along with the support of her fellow sisters. “I’m not the greatest teacher, but I love teaching,” she says. “I try to use the gifts the dear Lord gave me. I’m so grateful; may God be glorified.
“I love working with all the kids. They give me joy, and energy. I enjoy helping the kids learn more about God and making better choices, and learning to be happy with who they are, to encourage them to be the person God made them to be, and using their gifts. When they’re struggling, I see that side of me, too, because God’s not finished with me yet, either. That helps me be patient with them, because God isn’t finished with any of us.”
Sister Corda, a member of the Sisters of St. Benedict at Monastery Immaculate Conception in Ferdinand, has taught several grade school classes for St. Ferdinand Parish the past 19 years. This year she is teaching third, fifth, and seventh grades.
One of the gifts the Lord gave her is a knack for connecting with students. That much is readily apparent to Father Jack Durchholz and Mickie Paulin, the parish’s former director of religious education.
Father Durchholz points to her Benedictine life as helping spur that connection. “It’s a whole different spirituality. And it’s just who she is, too. She has a simple, powerful, child-like faith in God. Kids trust that. When you know you’re truly loved, that makes the difference. And she truly loves the children.
“She’s a real joy. We’re so fortunate to have her. She has such joy in her heart, a joy that transcends most people I know, and that reflects to the kids. She brings herself to their level. I see how the kids love her. They know she wants what’s best for them. She’s just a special lady.”
Paulin feels that Sister Corda “really is the face of Christ for these kids. She comes at everything from a prayerful angle. She has a way of making each child feel special, and loved. I just love how she approaches life with child-like fun.”
Sister Corda also has a definite approach to building students’ attention: “letting them know that you care about them, then you can teach them something.” Even for the ones that cause trouble. And if some never really listen, she prays for them anyway. And she particularly likes to reach out to the kids having a bad day.
“I affirm them when they do things well. You can always find something to say positive about them. It makes them feel good about themselves.”
If she hears the siren of a nearby ambulance or fire truck, she will ask the students to pray for the people who are working and who are affected by the emergency. Years later, some still remember those compassionate requests. Or her saying that if it’s raining on the outside, you can still have sunshine on the inside.
Noah Lindeman, upon his graduation from Forest Park High School last spring, sent Sister Corda a note thanking her “for guiding me spiritually.” He recalled her caring personality and how she always kept class fun. “She knew how to teach us in ways we could understand. She helped mold our young minds. She knew how to help kids grow spiritually and connect with the Lord.”
Sister Corda takes advantage of every teaching moment, even as children are walking out the door. At the end of a second-grade class last spring, after singing “I’ve got that joy, joy, joy, down in my heart,” she told the students who were leaving, “Boys and girls, have a wonderful week. Get ready for Pentecost.”
A small boy replied, “I am.”
Sister Corda smiled and whispered to him, “God bless you.”
Eckerle is communications director for the Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand.
