Winter 2011: Letter from Mother Mary Christina, SJW

Our Co - Founder, Bishop Richard Ackerman

During this coming year, the Sisters of St. Joseph the Worker will celebrate a year of spirituality. During this time we wish to enrich our understanding and explore the history of our community.  Because of this coming year of spirituality, I thought that I would introduce you to our beloved co-founder, Bishop Richard H. Ackerman.

This year is the 19th anniversary of the death of Bishop Richard H. Ackerman.  He was born in Pittsburgh, PA on August 30th, 1903. In his early years he wanted to be a priest and graduated at the top of his high school class in 1920.  He earned his bachelor’s degree from Duquesne School of Drama and briefly contemplated a career as an actor. But he heeded God’s call and decided to follow his earlier dream of the priesthood. He was ordained a priest of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit  in 1926.

During his life he served his community and the Church in many different capacities. He served as the assistant novice master, editor of the magazine The Paraclete, philosophy teacher, and National Director of the Holy Childhood Association.

In 1953 he was named auxiliary bishop of San Diego, CA. He became the Bishop of the Diocese of Covington, KY in 1960. Along with Mother Ellen Curran, he founded the Sisters of St. Joseph the Worker in 1974.  Amidst all his many and varied duties as a Bishop, he was always interested in the Sisters and helped the community in many ways.

God blessed him with a keen intellect and a willingness to do whatever he was called to do by his community and by the Church.  In his later years, he was asked how he would summarize his life. He commented that he would like his tombstone to summarize his life by these simple words: “He loved the Church.”

Those words do indeed sum up his life.  He used all his God-given talents to build up the body of Christ.  He is a wonderful example to all of us.  His life reminds us that our gifts are not to be rendered sterile but are to be used to help the least among us.

May God grant each of you a blessed holiday season and may you be given the grace to enrich the lives of others with your God-given gifts.

Yours in Christ,

Mother Mary Christina

Mother Mary Christina was elected the third Superior General of the Sisters of St. Joseph the Worker at our 7th General Chapter in July of 2011. She is a registered nurse and was administrator of our nursing home, Taylor Manor, for twenty-one years.

Pictured at left:  Mother Mary Christina, surrounded by her council. From left to right: Sr. Therese Marie, Sr. Mary Catherine, Sr. Patricia Jean, and Sr. Celeste Marie.