June 21, 2013

Two Catholic schools say good-bye to retiring longtime teachers

 

REGIONAL

(Photo by Rebecca Drake)

By Peggy Weber and Rebecca Drake

As the academic year came to a close last week, two of the Springfield Diocese’s Catholic schools said good-bye to longtime teachers.

Sister Mary Clare Milewski, a Daughter of Mary of the Immaculate Conception, retired from St. Mary School in Ware after a 58-year career in education and a total of 36 years at St. Mary’s.

At St. Agnes Academy in Dalton, Sister of St. Joseph Linda Wilk completed 42 years of teaching at the school with a parish celebration and grand sendoff from the school as she begins a new ministry.

Off to Africa

                                                (Photo by Peggy Weber)

Sister Wilk, a fifth grade teacher at St. Agnes, will travel to Burkina Faso, Africa in late September to volunteer at the Sheltering Wings Orphanage for two years. She became involved with the orphanage initially through an “Operation Christmas Child” project at St. Agnes. She had an opportunity to go to Africa.

“The minute I walked into Sheltering Wings Orphanage something happened to me. My heart just jumped when I was there and something spoke to me very strongly,” she said. She stayed connected with the orphanage for eight years and visited it often. “Every time I went to Africa I left a little bit of my heart there.”

St. Agnes has sponsored students at Sheltering Wings and those at the school said they were not surprised that she is going there.

Jim Stankiewicz, headmaster of St. Agnes Academy, said he could see how attracted Sister Linda was to the orphanage. He added that the school is happy for her but will miss her.

“Sister Linda is, in many ways, the heart of St. Agnes Academy. She has such a quiet and commanding presence,” he said. He added that she “exudes holiness” and that “to have her here has had a calming influence on the school.”

Karen Blefari has taught with Sister Linda for 27 years. She said the school community would miss Sister Linda but all could see her love for Africa and the orphanage. She said Sister Linda was a “wonderful mentor and she helps anyone who needs her help – but not in a pushy way. She is there to guide, but never to push.”

Of course, the best praise came from those to whom she has devoted her entire adult life – her students.

(Photo by Peggy Weber)

Jack Perenick, who just completed grade five, said “I think it’s amazing because after teaching for 42 years she’s picking up some missionary work and going to Africa with the Sheltering Wings Orphanage, which we sponsor.” Jack’s mother also was a student of Sister Linda, who said she has taught generations in Dalton.

Jack added, “Sister Linda is a very good teacher. She always helps us when we need help with something and she doesn’t do something and leave us clueless and guessing. If we don’t know what’s happening, she will go over it for another day.”

Jack’s classmate Jessica Duma said that she wants to be a teacher and Sister Linda shows her how to be a good one.

“I like being in Sister Linda’s class because she makes the class feel lively and she helps any kid that needs help with anything,” Jessica said.

 

 
A surprise for Sister Clare
                                                    (Photo by Rebecca Drake)

Since St. Mary Parish in Ware had already hosted a special Mass and reception to mark the 60^th anniversary of Sister Milewski’s entrance in to religious life, she was not expecting another tribute.

But on June 7, after the usual Friday morning Mass, the St. Mary School community surprised the longtime religion teacher with a special program of songs and poems honoring her dedication and legacy to the school.

Prominently displayed behind the stage in the church hall was a large New York Yankees pennant, a tribute to Sister Clare’s undying devotion to the baseball team of her hometown, the Bronx, New York. The kindergarten students began the program by singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.”

First-grade students sang along with a recorded version of “What a Wonderful World,” and the preschool class recited an original poem that began with the words, “Sister Clare, Sister Clare, we will miss you, Sister Clare” and ended with a heartfelt, “We love you, Sister Clare!”

“And I love you,” Sister Milewski replied, as the youngest students finished their performance. The program continued with original poems and essays by the second-, third-, fifth- and sixth-graders; a rap song performed by two fifth-grade girls and a recitation of the “Irish Blessing” poem by the fourth-graders.   

Among the sentiments expressed by the students were “The thing we have to remember is to respect the New York Yankees”; “We will pray for you always”; and “Thank you for the smiles.”

The teachers and staff also got in on the act, performing “The ABCs According to Sister Clare,” with each letter beginning a sentence that described the qualities that Sister Milewski exemplified and the lessons she taught.

“Today was quite a surprise. I did not expect anything like this,” Sister Milewski said when asked what she thought of the special tributes from the students and staff. “And, of course, it was very emotional.

(Photo by Rebecca Drake)

“When you saw these little children, especially, singing and saying those words and meaning it from the heart, it just touched me,” she said.

St. Mary’s principal, Paula Moran, praised Sister Milewski for her gifts as a teacher and her deep faith and love for God.

“She sets high standards and the children rise right up to those high standards,” Moran said. “And she does this all with a great amount of faith, spirituality and love of our Lord.”

Asked what she thinks Sister Milewski’s legacy to the school will be, Moran said, “Her legacy is the way she has touched every child and adult’s life in this parish and school.”

Father Jeffrey A. Ballou, pastor of St. Mary Parish, said that Sister Milewski’s legacy as a teacher will endure in the lives of the countless students she has taught during her career.

“We’re so grateful to God for the gift of life in Sister Clare,” Father Ballou said. “I wish he would have made her a Red Sox fan,” he added, smiling, “but what are you going to do? She’s a Yankee fan.”

Commenting on the special program presented in her honor, Sister Milewski said, “As long as God gives me good health and a good memory, I will never forget this day, nor will I forget the celebration that the parish put on for me.”

A video segment on Sister Clare’s retirement tribute will be featured in the June 22 edition of the Springfield Diocese’s weekly newsmagazine, “Real to Reel,” which airs Saturday evenings at 7 on WWLP-22NEWS. And more on Sister Linda’s plans for missionary work in Africa will be featured on “Real to Reel” in the fall.