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A Tribute by Helen Rose Yee Sang, OSF
On behalf of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, I would like to share with you excerpts from the life and faith journey of Sister Maureen Clare…affectionately known in our community as Maureen and Sismo; to her family, she was Clare or Auntie Clare; and her students gave her the nickname, Mona. (Catherine, I would just like to say to you that when your children Becky and Jess were little, it was such a delight to hear them calling “Auntie Clare, Auntie Clare” when they were looking for her.) They had a special place in her heart!
Sister Maureen Clare entered this world on January 11, 1935. She was a graduate of Immaculate Conception High School (ICHS), did undergraduate studies at LaValle University in Quebec and Catholic University in Washington and completed her Masters in Education at St. Bonaventure University, New York. She was gifted with a very good mind and an equally good heart. She had a beautiful singing voice and loved to sing…so much so that as a young teenager, she wanted to become a professional cabaret singer. She thought she would be doing what she loved while earning fame and fortune. Later in religious life when she shared this with her sisters, she used the word cabaret. (I guess a cabaret singer sounds better than a night club singer.) However, God had other plans for the gifts God had so generously given her and called her to choose another path. Her Franciscan community is very grateful that she answered that call. In 1952, she joined the Allegany Franciscan Sisters and embraced community life and a life of service.
She used her gifts well in the field of education at her Alma Mater, first as a teacher and then as principal for 28 years. During those years, she worked tirelessly to instill Christian values while raising the academic standards of the school. Under her leadership, the ICHS family grew significantly.
She initiated and fostered the development of the ICHS Alumnae Association which began in Jamaica and has now spread to Toronto, New York and Florida. In spite of her busy schedule, she made time to travel and visit the various Alumnae Chapters to encourage the support of their Alma Mater. She truly loved her students and applauded when they continued to achieve. She was elated especially when they gave unselfishly to others and were guided by Christian values.
Sister Maureen Clare served as chair of the board of St. Francis Primary and Infant School, was vice chair of the boards of St. Joseph’s Teachers’ College and Alvernia Prep School. She also served on the boards of Immaculate Conception High School and Immaculate Conception Prep School. The list is not finished - Sister Maureen was a part of the teaching staff in the deaconate program at St. Michael’s Seminary and collaborated with the production of the Hymnal which is used in the Catholic churches throughout Jamaica. She was also the contact person for the Franciscan Mission Service volunteers who assist in spreading the Franciscan charism while working in our Franciscan Ministries.
The late Donna Haynes shared with us an incident with her graduating class. Inflation had skyrocketed and many parents were struggling to make ends meet. The price of a graduation ring that was made of gold became exorbitant so sister explained to the graduating class that the rings would be made of silver which was much more affordable, and they were to focus on what a graduation ring symbolizes and not what material it is made of. However, some students organized a fund-raising event outside the school so that they could subsidize the cost of the gold rings. When Sister Maureen Clare met with them, she said to them, “I understand that a fund-raising event was held to enable everyone to have a gold ring – now, perish the thought! You will instead donate the money to help rebuild the Kingston College library which had burned down.” They did learn values the hard way: to live within their means and to focus on what really matters. Would you believe members of that graduating class now repeat this story as part of their fond memories!
Sometimes a teacher was absent and the girls, instead of doing the assigned work, would decide that since the cat is away the mice will play. When their look-out sounded the alarm, “Mona a come, Mona a come,” it was too late since Mona’s hearing was good and her pace was swift. She would appear at the door saying: “Mona has come and since you decided not to do the assigned work now, you will do it after school.” This drew a lot of flak from some parents who felt that they were being punished since they had to wait for their children to complete the detention. However, her strategy worked. Parents who had to wait for their children began to help to ensure that this did not reoccur and so she got the needed help with maintaining discipline.
Sister Maureen Clare was a person of deep prayer and she tried to live the Franciscan Peace Prayer:
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
She loved her community unconditionally and spent many years serving on our Congregational Leadership Team and as Regional and Local Minister. She was a true servant leader and her natural leadership abilities were indeed an asset to our Congregation. She took every difficult decision and challenge to God and tried to be open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. She developed a Franciscan humility and allowed God to mold her.
When she retired from school, she began to serve the elderly poor by providing them once each month with food and helping them with their prescriptions, blood tests, x-rays etc. She could not meet all their needs and would tell them that she is not minister of housing, she is Minister of food and medication. They were dear to her heart, and she saw the face of the suffering Christ in them. When she celebrated her 50th anniversary, her back-door guests (as she called them) were all invited to the mass and refreshments. The song, I have carried you on Eagle’s Wings, which she sang at her Golden Jubilee Mass, sums up her relationship with God. I am not going to sing it. You will be hearing a beautiful rendition of this song by representatives from St. Joseph’s Teachers’ College. However, I will share with you some words from that song:
– You are my God, my father, my friend. You have fashioned me and filled my whole being. You want me to be your own beloved one. For all the things you gave me, for all that you will give me, for all that ever will be I say YES.
The day before she died, we held a communion service in her room, and she was surrounded by her entire community and friends. About a half hour later, Father Kingsley anointed her and Archbishop Donald Reece joined us. She was alert and asked if everyone was present and asked us to go and call Sisters Grace, Gwen and Lorraine who were on their way. She even asked Archbishop Reece, when he arrived, what took him so long. She wanted everyone to be present, especially her sisters. Then in her weak voice, she thanked us all for everything we had done for her and told us that she loved us.
Maureen, your Franciscan Community truly thank you for choosing to say yes to God. We are grateful that we had you as a companion on our journey, breaking bread and sharing life. We love you. Do enjoy fullness of life with God.
Sister Helen Rose Yee Sang, OSF
May 17, 202
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