News and Events: Sister Mary Thecla

I would like to introduce you to another of the sisters who joined Mother Ellen in founding the Sisters of St. Joseph the Worker.  Sister Mary Thecla was the second of ten children and she was born in Oklahoma.  When she was a year old, the family moved to Kentucky.

Life as one of the oldest daughter in a family of ten children had it's challenges.  She and her sister Ruth had to help their mother with the new babies in the family.  They took turns staying home helping out with the family.  When she decided to enter religious life, she was required to provide her baptism record.  She found out that the church she was baptised in was burned down and all the records were lost.  Fortunately her God parents were still living and were able to provide proof of the Sacrament.

She entered religious life in 1932 and after completing her novitiate she was assigned to cook in various convents of the community.  She joined Mother Ellen in founding the Sisters of St. Joseph the Worker in 1973 and moved to Northern Kentucky.  Soon afterwards Sr. M. Thecla became seriously ill. When she could, she helped in the kitchen. Her first major surgery was February 1974. Then, in June 1977, she was operated on again. In 1978, she was given two years to live. by the grace of God she survived another 9 years. In 1982, after working several years in Walton, she was missioned to Taylor Manor to help care for the retired Sisters. Unfortunately, her illness gradually grew worse and she died on August 30, 1987 at the age of 76.

After her death, this prayer was found in her room written in her own handwriting: My Jesus it is good for me to suffer from time to time. At such times I find myself realizing how weak I am, and how little I can depend on the people and things on which I relied. In such trials teach me to lean on You, to look to Your plan for me, and to consider the beauty of all earthly satisfactions. You deserve my loyalty, because of what you have done for me. Let me often consider that the night is quickly forgotten when morning comes. With my eyes on You, My risen King of Glory, let me go through the darkness of earth as one looks beyond it."