Remembering Sr. Cecile Baer
Wake Reflection – Sister Cecile Baer
d. November 21, 2021
Given by Sr. Susan Hutchens, Prioress
In the reading from Micah that we just heard, the prophet described the way in which we should all ultimately come before God – not with a bundle of gifts, nor with offerings that seem impossible, but with only three things: to do justice, to love goodness and to walk humbly with God throughout our lives.
Sister Cecile did all those things – her teaching and administering of schools and programs for children of exceptional gifts, both strong and weak, revealed her desire for justice. Each child, as she well knew, had a right to be taught at their level, whether at Fr. Sweeney school for the academically talented students, or for those more challenged whom she served through the SPEC program (Special People Encounter Christ). She loved nothing more than teaching those children about the God who loved them.
As for goodness – well we all experienced the goodness shown by Sr. Cecile to everyone. She was the epitome of hospitality, whether in the Development office at St. Mary’s Academy, or at the welcome desk of the monastery. Her welcome was for ALL.
In the Rule of Benedict, the longest chapter is on “Humility.” Perhaps Benedict knew the significance that Micah found in this virtue. Humility is recognizing that God comes first, knowing that God is present with us every moment. It is desiring to do God’s will rather than our own. It is obeying – following the needs of the community, of those we serve, of doing what is necessary for another. And it is doing it all for Christ.
Another way of looking at this is what the ancient Christian writers called “Simplicity” or Single-heartedness: focusing always on one thing, and letting one’s life revolve around and be directed by that one thing. In Sister Cecile’s case – that one thing was God. Sr. Cecile lived a life of simplicity or single-heartedness. Only what was necessary was required. She took things in stride, loved life and people, always focusing on seeking God.
Muriel Maxine Baer was born to Cecil and Florence Roach Baer on March 12, 1928, the second child of 5 siblings. She graduated from St. Boniface grade School, Peoria, and St. Mary’s Academy high school, Nauvoo, class of 1946. Her further education included a BA in education from St. Ambrose College in 1966, and an MA in Education from the University of Illinois in 1970. She would later complete a Certificate as a Learning Disabilities Teacher also at the University of Illinois, as well as a Certificate from the Theological Institute at St. Norbert College, in DePere, WI.
Maxine entered St. Mary Priory in 1946, along with two of her school friends: Sister Genna Hibser, and Sister Teresa Ann Harrington, and several other women, with whom she made some close friends, even though some of them eventually left the community. Her remaining classmate is Sister Andrea Giltner, another “South-Sider” from Peoria. Maxine was given the name Sister Cecile Marie upon Reception and chose to keep that name even when others returned to their baptismal names, though she eventually dropped the Marie. She made first and final Profession in 1948 and 1951 respectively and celebrated her 50th and 60th Jubiliees with those 3 “band-partners.” Only Sisters Cecile and Andrea were here to celebrate their 70th Jubilee in 2018.
Sister Cecile taught in Illinois at Ivesdale, Bradford, Monmouth, Clinton, Moline, Peoria at St. Boniface (later South Side Catholic), Holy Family, and Father Sweeney schools, and in Munster, IN. It was while she served at St. Mary’s, Moline that she established the SPEC program in this area. It is still going strong today. She became Development Director at St. Mary’s Academy in 1984 for several years before becoming Procurator at the Monastery.
Following that, Sister was appointed Assistant to the Treasurer and remained in that role throughout the move to Rock Island, until 2005. At that time, she took over as Director of Transportation and coordinator of the Pharmacy program for the sisters.
The last day of her life, she knew she was dying and said so. She also said – very truthfully – that she really didn’t want to die, and that it was hard to die, so very hard. Like the grain of wheat, she knew as do we, that all must die in order to be reborn anew. For the wheat, its destiny is to provide food for the world. For us, it is to be forever with God. But her life as remembered by us still lives on to provide us with goodness and love.
The dying process may have been difficult for her, but I am certain of one thing – when she took her last breath, peacefully and calmly, and saw God in all the glory of heaven, she no doubt went forward in joy – running into the arms of God, who was waiting for her with a smile to melt her heart.
In the words of the Gospel we just read, God will honor all who serve Christ, and Sister Cecile surely did – She is now home.