Wake Reflection – Sister Mary Core

Given  March 29, 2022 by S. Susan Hutchens, OSB

All of the Readings which Sister Mary chose for her funeral liturgies have to do with gaining eternal life with God.  In Romans we hear that “if we die in Christ, we shall also live with Christ.”  The Gospel from John quotes a prayer of Jesus “that all his chosen might be with him where he is.”

At the funeral Mass tomorrow we will hear: “the souls of the just are in God’s hand”; we go home to God because this is only an earthy dwelling. And finally, that “it is God’s will that all who believe will receive eternal life.”

Sister Mary’s choices were very well-integrated with her own strong belief in the Resurrection.  She knew where her true roots were – with the God whom she loved, and who had called her to this Benedictine monastic life 55 years ago.

Mary Claire Core was born April 4, 1948 to Darrell and Anna Jane Core in Sterling, IL.  She was the second of 5 children and the oldest girl.  She has 2 brothers and 2 sisters.  We are so pleased that all of them can be with us during these days.  Mary was raised to love her family – because they loved each other.  In more recent years that love of family came through when she was always so proud to share pictures of the next generations of Core descendants.

Mary Claire attended 3 grade schools in IL, before graduating from Alleman High School in 1966. She spent her freshman year of college at Western Illinois University, in Macomb.  

In 1967 she entered the community in Nauvoo.  The following year, she was the only Novice, so the community made the decision to send her to St. Scholastic Monastery, in Duluth, MN in order for her to be with other women discerning their vocations.  As a result of that, she became very close to her Formation director and the sisters there.  She told me once that she considered staying with them.  But in the end, she must have continued to feel the call that God was directing her to this community.

She made her first vows in 1969, her perpetual vows in 1972, and celebrated her 25th Jubilee in 1994 and her 50th Jubilee in 2019. 

Sister Mary received her BA in Theology and English from St. Xavier’s College, in Chicago and her MA in Theological Studies from St. Meinrad, IN School of Theology.  She earned a certificate in Religious Education for Adolescents from the University of Dayton, OH.  

Throughout her 25 years of teaching, she taught grade, middle and high school students in Nauvoo, IL at Sts. Peter and Paul and St. Mary’s Academy, in Monmouth at Immaculate Conception, in Chicago at St. Columba’s, as well as St. Bede Academy, Peru, IL, and Bergan High School (now Notre Dame) Peoria, IL.   

I believe her favorite group of students were the adolescents.  Their liveliness, and willingness to serve was why she seemed to love them and her time with them.  Directing service projects was high on her list. Working with them in religious education programs were also high points during her ministry years.

Sister Mary conducted the RCIA program and led book groups, at St. Maria Goretti, Coal Valley, and Our Lady of Peace, Orion, 

Sister Mary was called by the community to serve as the Initial Formation Director from 2004 – 2010.  

Two trips made to Israel and Rome over the years contributed to her love of Scripture and the History of the Church and Monasticism.  She also became quite schooled in Liturgy when she was asked to assist in the Liturgy office of the community.

Anyone who has worked with young people – whether in the classroom or in any other capacity knows how much energy that takes.  Sister Mary not only had that energy but gave back to the Diocese of Peoria in other ways.  She wrote book reviews and Reflections for the “Catholic Post” newspaper,  and served with a liaison group between the Religious of the Diocese and the Presbyteral Council for a time.  Over several summers she contributed to the summer Catechetical Institute in the Diocese.

Sister Mary entered community when so many others were leaving religious life in all communities following Vatican II.  At the time of her request to make final vows, she was asked to put into words “the hopes she had for the future of the community.”  She responded by saying that she could not write down any set hopes for the future.  But she was HOPEFUL! She said: “When I see the great potentials of the people around me, their faith, their hopefulness, their belief in the power of the Good News, then I am not worried about our future.”  

She went on to acknowledge that it was a time of uncertainty and questioning and seeking for right answers.  But she said: “It is good to have uncertainties, for it means we are not satisfied.”  Each new thing reveals God to us.  She asked: “Is it not better to be questioning people than to live in the stale air of possible apathy where all the answers are known?”  

She saw her final vows not as a stepping stone to some other level of religious life, but as a “continuation in the growth steps of love and understanding.”  She ended with: “It is a growth I hope will still be growing on the day I die.”

Mary, may you continue forever to grow into the love of God as you now attain the very reason for that hope which you harbored in your heart all these many years.