Sister Miriam Catherine Kroha
1919-2007
Sister Miriam Catherine’s autobiography, entitled “Difficult Beginnings, Grace-Filled Endings,” reveals a life that began in an unusual way. She was born to Rosella Hahn on March 18, 1919, at Providence Hospital in Detroit, and was baptized Josephine Mary.
Baby Josephine was taken to the Sarah Fisher Home, operated by the Sisters of Charity. In 1923, at the age of four, Josephine was adopted by James and Jenny Galvin, and her name was changed to Eugenia Marie. Within the next year, Jenny Galvin became very ill and died. The bereaved husband, unable to care for a small daughter, contacted his cousin, Katherine (Kitty) Kroha, and her husband Fred, and asked them to take the little girl.
Fred and Kitty (Galvin) Kroha were delighted. They had a seventeen-year-old son Larry, but had lost a second son a few months after his birth. Larry graduated from high school that year; and, before beginning college at the University of Notre Dame, he welcomed the five-year-old, now known as Jean Marie, as his little sister. In later life he became a medical doctor, well known for his dedication to his patients.
In her autobiography, Sister Miriam Catherine wrote that she was lovingly received into the Kroha family.
These were fun years, and I reveled in the warmth of their embrace. I felt secure in my new home for I had a mom, dad, and a brother whom I would come to cherish. In fact, I often referred to my new mom as “Dearest” because of the loving care that she gave me. I never had any ill feelings toward my birth parents or the Galvins. I’m sure they did their best for me.
The Kroha family belonged to Detroit’s St. Ambrose Parish. The parents were active members, well known for their involvement in the parish. Fred Kroha was an usher, a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Men’s Club, and the bowling league. Kitty Kroha belonged to the Altar Society, the Mother’s Club, the bowling league, and other parish organizations. Catholicism was a way of life for them, and they saw to it that the new member of their family soon became familiar with a loving God, the saints, prayer, and frequent attendance at Mass.
Jean began her education at St. Ambrose School with the Adrian Dominican Sisters. Her school days were “happy days,” and she made many friends. She admired her teachers for the care and concern shown their students, and the joy that she observed among them. As she reached the junior high years, she began to feel a desire to become one of them. The idea persisted through high school, through attendance at junior and senior proms, and through her brother’s wedding. It was on a “fun day” at Jefferson Park Beach, while swinging high in the sky on a Ferris wheel, that she was certain of her desire to live her life in God’s service.
She graduated from high school in June 1938. She spent the next year visiting relatives and friends with her family. When she made known her desire to become an Adrian Dominican, her parents were saddened but did not stand in her way. They accompanied her to Adrian on August 15, 1939, when she entered the postulate. After tearful goodbyes, she began her preparation to become a Dominican sister.
On August 7, 1940, she received the habit and her religious name. The novitiate year followed, and with her group she professed her first vows on August 12, 1941.
Within a very short time of profession, she was on the train for Chicago, where she taught third graders at Queen of Angels School for two years, then took on the kindergarten for two years. During summer 1945 she and her brother attended her beloved father’s funeral.
Most of her ministry after that was in Michigan. Brought back to Detroit in 1945, she again taught third graders at St. Scholastica School for seven years. In May 1950 she lost Dearest, the mother she treasured. During the summers of these years she studied, and in June 1949 she received a Bachelor’s Degree from Siena Heights College (now University) in Adrian with a major in history and minors in English and Spanish.
In 1952, she moved to St. Stephen, Saginaw, for four years with first graders, then with fifth graders. It was there that she and Sister Paula Connor, the superior and principal, became good friends.
In August 1956 the University of Detroit awarded Sister Miriam Catherine a Master’s Degree, with a major in education and minor in English. That same year she began her high school ministry at her home parish, St. Ambrose, where she taught science and religion. Five years later she was moved to St. Lawrence in Utica, as a teacher of religion, English, science, and history for two years. Then for the next seven years she taught biology and English at St. Edward High School in Elgin, Illinois
Once again in Michigan, she taught biology at Dominican High School in Detroit for three years. In 1973 she was moved to Bishop Gallagher High School in Harper Woods.
During the summers she had been studying for a Master’s Degree at Providence College in Rhode Island, and during the school year 1974-75 she taught part-time at Bishop Gallagher and worked on her thesis. In 1976 she received her second Master’s Degree, this time in religious studies. In her autobiography she wrote:
Over the years, through spiritual reading, prayer, retreats, and study, I became immersed in the Sacred Scriptures. They have been my delight and mainstay, and they are indeed “a lamp to my feet.” Through [them] I have come to know Jesus through His Word and pray that I may continue to grow in wisdom, age, and grace as He teaches me the secrets of His heart.
In 1975 she began her ministry in religious education at St. Kieran Parish in Shelby Township. There she spent twenty-one fruitful years. At first, she developed programs and recruited teachers for the high school program. In the June 1996 bulletin, her high school ministry was described.
She set up interesting mini-programs to give high school students a choice of subject matter. Each year she offered them the opportunity of a weekend retreat, and honored high school students at an annual graduation Mass. Sister organized recreational activities like picnics, hayrides, and dances on a regular basis.
Sister Paula joined her in 1984, and the two sisters began planning programs for the adults of the parish. These included a bible study program, an updating of the RCIA, programs for Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, and those who ministered to the homebound. Finally, with the encouragement of the pastor, they brought into being a Liturgy Committee that offered Communion Services outside of Mass and officiated at Wake services when a priest was not available.
Sister Miriam Catherine wrote of the vacations and travel that she and Sister Paula enjoyed. At various times, friends offered them accommodations in Florida, where they enjoyed peace and relaxation. In the 1980s their travels included the British Isles, Hawaii, and Jerusalem. She wrote, “To walk in the path of the Lord Jesus was the ultimate gift.”
Sisters Miriam Catherine and Paula retired in 1996, continued living in Shelby Township, and volunteered their services to St. Kieran Parish. Nancy Clancy, who worked with them, wrote a tribute that was put in the church bulletin. She wrote in part:
I feel so graced to have had the opportunity to work with these two religious women. I remember when I arrived. How warm was their greeting, how sincere was their encouragement. My first year was not an easy one, but I knew I could always walk down that hall and find a welcoming, encouraging faith embrace. I watched with awe as they worked with ageless enthusiasm, a spirit of compassion, a wisdom that came with their years of ministry. And I feel that the Lord led me here to learn from them. I truly never think of them without thanking my God!
On each Jubilee occasion, both Golden and Diamond, Sister Miriam Catherine was featured in the parish bulletin. In the bulletin of April 30, 2000, when she celebrated her Diamond Jubilee, she wrote in part:
You are my parish family and I thank God in His goodness for allowing me to work among you. We have shared spiritual growth and prayer life, joys and sorrows, weddings and funerals, parties and fun times. Truly, we have shared life together.
Both sisters moved to Adrian in February 2007, where Sister Paula died on April 28. Sister Miriam Catherine remained longer, and became a familiar sight in her wheelchair with her oxygen paraphernalia. God took her to eternity during the 2007 Christmas season, on December 28, exactly eight months after the death of her friend.
Sister Miriam Catherine’s wake on January 2 was the first celebrated in the new year of 2008. Sister Margaret (Peg) O’Flynn, Prioress of Great Lakes Mission Chapter, opened the service and welcomed those present: Sister’s nephew Larry; nieces Kristine, Sharon and husband Mike; great nieces Karen and Kristi. She then summarized Sister Miriam Catherine’s life and ministry.
Sister Marie Damian Schoenlein shared the reflection that Sister Miriam Catherine had given at one of the Sophia Mission Group meetings.
The depth and power of the five Great Lakes symbolize the women of our Mission Group. Lakes mirror our strength and flexibility, their lifegiving waters restore us. We believe that we are winning the struggle of growth in wisdom, age, and grace before God and God’s people … The ebb and flow of the Great Lakes balances the strengths and weaknesses in our lives.
We proclaim Prayer, Community, and Ministry as the most important elements in our lives. Although our style of prayer has changed and broadened, we are comfortable in our relationship with God. Since there is less structure in our lives, there is more time for scriptural reading and study. We value deeply our membership in the Adrian Dominican Congregation, for through community we realize our deep love for one another, and enjoy a peaceful sense of belonging. We spend our gifts willingly, and our trust and acceptance are deepened by the bonding in our Mission Group. Whether active or retired, we are fruitful ministers.
Sister Carleen Maly was also a member of the Sophia Mission Group.
It wasn’t uncommon for Sister Miriam Catherine to memorize whatever she read. She memorized her homilies and she memorized the readings. She proclaimed the readings without looking at the printed word. She proclaimed the Word of God.
When our three chapters joined together, we chose the name Sophia, which means wisdom, and Sisters Paula and Miriam Catherine offered to do a day of reflection on wisdom so we would know Sophia well. That day gave us all knowledge and love for Sophia.
Kristi Schena, Sister Miriam Catherine’s greatniece, spoke of her greataunt’s compassion, sense of humor, love of family, and her “priceless advice.” Her favorite description of Sister was that she never ended a phone call or visit without saying, “God bless you.” She thanked the Congregation and the people of St. Kieran Parish for their goodness to her greataunt.
Sister’s nephew, Larry Kroha, said, “I remember the big headdress you used to wear, big and starched. When I saw her I would kiss her and say, ‘Hi, Starchtop, how are you?’ She loved that.” He shared a memory from a time when he was around nine or ten years old. He was playing catch with some of the boys. Sister Miriam Catherine and a companion came along, and started to play catch with them. When one of the boys asked him who that was, he said proudly, “That’s my aunt. She’s a nun.” Of course, at that time, everyone could see that.
Tim Mulligan, a greatnephew, remembered Sister Miriam Catherine as one who was playful but always a fruitful religious.
She was strong and could have been a good football coach. But she always said that the best thing is to be grateful and to be joyful. She had a smile, a strong word, a loving touch. She gave a wonderful example, and always told us to do the same. We need to take this to heart. We may be the only gospel that people hear. She loved her vocation, her mission, and saw herself as a preacher. I’m grateful for the vocation that she lived out.
Rev. Roland Calvert, OSFS, was the presider and homilist at Sister Miriam Catherine’s funeral celebration on January 3, 2008. Rev. Thomas Johnson, Vicar of the North Macomb area of the Detroit Archdiocese, concelebrated. Also serving was Deacon James Cron. In his homily, Father Calvert said in part:
One of the great loves, a passion really, of Sister Miriam was Sacred Scripture. The first time I had an extended conversation with her several months ago was when she was preparing a homily. She spoke in a very animated way about the readings and gave a beautiful homily on the Blessed Mother.
Sister Miriam Catherine entered eternity from a life that began in a difficult way and ended filled with grace. As Father Roland said, “We rejoice with her.”