Sister Theresa Sarich, OSU, is on mission to deliver an oasis of hope
This month, Catholic Extension recognizes Sister Theresa Sarich as a "Hidden Hero," an example of the dedicated people who care for others, with grace, humor, and modesty. She joins other missionaries who have been named "Hidden Heroes" by Catholic Extension since the nonprofit agency launched the Hidden Heroes campaign in June of 2004.
Sister Theresa made known her wish to become a nun on the day of her first communion, when she prayed, "Jesus, make me a sister." The daughter of Croatian immigrants, Sister Theresa grew up during the depression in a the ethnic neighborhoods of Columbus, Ohio, where the melting pot roiled with Hungarians, Italians, Irish, Lithuanians, and African Americans.
Although her family was not wealthy by any means, she didn't seem to miss the things she couldn't have - like new clothes, for example. "We grew up with hand-me-downs," she recalls, "But we were so happy it didn't matter."
She entered the convent at age 18 to become an Ursuline, and spent the next fifty years teaching and serving as Principal in Catholic schools, heading up religious programs.
In high school, Sister took Spanish classes and dreamed of one day working in a Hispanic mission. Her prayers were answered two years ago when she took over for Sister Mary Walden at El Cenizo, a cluster of boxy, modest homes in the desert.
Here, with the help of devoted parishioners, Sister Theresa took on some major renovation projects such as the furnace with its missing parts, broken linoleum floors, and scattershot records. She organized and tends to a filing system for baptismal and marriage records, and she recruited bilingual high school students to teach children catechism. She regularly makes home visits to the sick and discouraged, and offers guidance whenever and wherever the need arises. And in the past year, under Sister's tutelage, nearly 100 children received the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist this past season.
Although her means are modest, her brown eyes sparkle with hope, and she knows that she is exactly where the Lord needs her to be right now.
Catholic Extension's Hidden Heroes series highlights the work of a different inspiring missionary each month. "It motivates us to remember the selfless and unsung work of these 'Hidden Heroes' and so many others who work so quietly and diligently behind the scenes," said Bishop Houck.
For 100 years, the Chicago-based Catholic Church Extension Society has supported Catholic missions in the United States by funding church construction, religious education and seminary formation, outreach ministries, evangelization, salaries and operating expenses in needy parishes and missions. Catholic Extension is the leading supporter of Catholic missions in the U.S. and has distributed over $400 million since it began in 1905. To learn more about Catholic Extension, call 1-800-842-7804 or visit www.catholicextension.org.