'The Giant On The Second Floor' Truly Was A Spiritual Titan
The new school year started in 1958 at St. Joseph School in Evansville with news spreading that on the second floor a giant nun had taken up residence teaching the sixth graders! She was “tall, lean and mean!” Luckily, I was a “first floor” third-grader, so I knew I was safe from ever encountering this Benedictine “Goliathan” sister.
Difficulties enough had beset me in the first grade when I met my first real Benedictine sister, Sr. Mary Elmer (aka Sr. Jackie Kissel). Dressed in black with only her face protruding from yards of material, she scared me (although she wasn’t much taller than me!) – especially coming from Delaware School Kindergarten, where teachers had hair and dressed like normal women! I tried to play hooky the first week, but moms are so wise.
One day while lining up for recess, Sister stood next to me and put her arm around me. She asked, “Jimmy, are you afraid of me?” I shook my head up and down at least a 100 times!! I can’t remember if Sr. Mary Elmer said that I didn’t need to be, but from that day she won me over and playing hooky was history. (But now we had a real giant on the second floor!)
One day the “Giant” appeared! Boy was she tall! Her black 2-inch pumps and the white thing on her head supporting her veil made her look seven feet tall. She was thin and held herself straight as a beanpole. I could only see her face (reminding me of my sister’s china dolls) with her hands hidden under her scapular. Her demeanor and gait made her a classy lady; she was Benedictine Sister Mary Tasto. I learned Sisters were to be addressed as “Sisters” – not as “S’ters” like in “Good Morning, S’ters.” Sister Maria didn’t correct me; she just drew that respect out of me.
Two years later, before I made it to the second floor, Sister Maria was gone. I never had her for a teacher, but our paths crossed 20 years later.
One year after my ordination, I wanted to make an eight-day directed retreat, which was part of my formation while studying under the Jesuits in Austria during my last four years before ordination. This method of reading scripture, meditation, quiet prayer, contemplation, and meeting daily with a spiritual guide attracted me. A dear friend, Yvonne Etienne, with whom I was working in St. Simon Parish in Washington, recommended that I ask Sister Maria to direct my retreat.
Maria was still tall – but gracious, loving and welcoming. It was easy to share with her whatever God’s Spirit brought to my awareness. I knew she would not judge me. In this, she clearly revealed God’s acceptance and caring love for me. I was blessed to have had Sister Maria direct about five retreats. Each time she was the same gracious, kind, non-judgmental person I came to esteem, love, and respect.
Even when she was first diagnosed with cancer in the late 1970s, when it returned, and when she underwent heart surgery, she always had time to serve her fellow sisters, priests and lay people who came for spiritual direction and retreats. She was a phenomenal woman of God who drew strength daily from God, her community of sisters and friends. She cared deeply for each person who came to her. What a wonderful tribute it would be if all who knew Sister Maria could gather to record memories of how God touched us through her, and publish them.
On July 13, 2014, God called Sister Maria home to the glory of heaven. Having served her God and all who came to her, we can rest assured that Jesus addressed these words to her: “Come, good and faithful servant. Enter the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”
