My maternal aunt, Sister Jean Marie (born Jo Ann) Guokas, C. V. I. (1930-2024), lived a rather remarkable life. Her
official obituary gives most of the facts, but in this blog post, I'm going to quote from an autobiography she wrote in 2009 and added to in 2013. I'm also posting a few of my favorite or most significant pictures of her that I haven't posted elsewhere in this blog (check for the label "
Sister Jean Marie" for all those posts).
Above and below: Sister Jean Marie was interviewed by Tracy Hatfield for an article entitled "A Wii bit of fun" published in the December 2008 issues of The Bellaire Buzz and the West University Buzz - and was the cover girl for both!
Revised version of my 67 years (1946-2013) since I entered the Incarnate Word Congregation as a 15-year-old young girl, having just completed my sophomore year of high school at Incarnate Word Academy (IWA). How best can I summarize these years for a web page [no longer in existence] that a young woman might read and become interested in a religious vocation? Guess at this point in my life, I want it to serve as my autobiography.
Up until the time that I retired (July 1, 2011) from active ministry, my answer has always been the same: "Would not want one thing to change." Many people weaved in and out of my life that really helped to make my life significant, even the ups and downs helped me experience a fullness of life far from what I expected at age fifteen. Hopefully they made me be a stronger, faithful servant of the Lord for all these years.
Today, I do not believe that I can truthfully say that I would not want one thing to change. There have been several events and actions that I wished could have been different. This appears to be the challenge that faces me now. Asking myself what is God asking of me at this time in my life - what changes in my attitude must I let go of to bring more peace and joy into my life.
During the 2012 year, I was finally able to take a long desired sabbatical. Because of my age [82] and health limitations, I did not want to attend two four-month programs. So I set up my own type of sabbatical, I found a six-week program entitled "Sabbatical Journey in the Southwest" in Albuquerque, New Mexico. That suited my need at the time. It gave me the opportunity to pray, eat, sleep, and have morning classes on a variety of topics that were interesting to me, all in the same building. Included were lots of free time to rest, visit with the other participants, travel to surrounding places to take in the history of this New Mexico city, and be exposed to attitudes and life experiences that are extremely significant as one begins to age.
My second program was to spend at least ten days in the other Incarnate Word Congregations, in Corpus Christi and Victoria, Texas; and in Cleveland, Ohio. I wanted to experience how they lived their religious lives in community. I found their meals, prayer times, and community sharing were somewhat different. As a result of my visits, it gave me a greater appreciation of my own life here in the C. V. I. Houston, Texas, community.
Now for more of the traditional stuff needed for one's autobiography. My decision was to start backwards. I want whoever is reading this to want to continue to the end. I believe that this personal web page must not only be factual but hopefully very interesting reading.
- Retired from active ministry from St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Houston on June 30, 2011. The Parish and my CCE/LDP staff gave me the most wonderful send-off farewell reception. I served for 14 years as the Director of Religious Education (DRE) for two-year-olds to eighth-graders. This assignment definitely broadened my understanding of the Church (both pre- and post-Vatican II). For the past 20 years, I have presented the National Retirement Appeal for Priests-Brothers-Religious Sisters. I am very proud to say that St. Vincent de Paul has been the top parish in funds collected all of these years.
- Had the privilege of serving as the Superior General (CEO) of my Congregation for eight years (1986-94). Being Superior offered opportunities to travel to several countries, such as: Guatemala where we had a mission in the city of Huehuetenango; a pilgrimage to Medjarogie; French cities such as Lyons, Belmont, Avignon, and the chateau where our foundress,
Venerable Jeanne de Matel, was born. Each have played a significant part in the founding roots of our Houston community, and especially our Incarnational Spirituality. I joined three other superiors from the U.S.A. to travel in Nairobi, Kenya, and even a Swahili village. Finally, I attended two International Union of Superior Generals from all over the world in Rome. These two visits gave me the opportunity to actually meet
Mother Teresa of Calcutta. (She sat next to me, and, being the table monitor, I had to ask her to let the other sisters give their input on the questions!) The group was privileged to have a private audience with His Holiness,
Pope John Paul II.
Above: Sister Jean Marie with Pope John Paul II (now St. John Paul II).
Below: Mother Teresa (now St. Teresa of Calcutta) with Sister Jean Marie.
Above: Swim contest at the International Union of Superior Generals in 1994 in Mexico - Sister Jean Marie is at right. More info here.
Below: A fundraiser at St. Mary in LaPorte, sometime between 1983 and 1986, resulted in a street in a new development being named for Sister Jean Marie, at least for a while.
- Served as a Councilor in my Congregation for the eight years previous to that (1978-86). These community experiences enabled me to follow the advice of our foundress, Jeanne de Matel, to be an "Extension of the Incarnate Word."
- My first experience with parish life started at St. Mary parish in LaPorte when I was the DRE and Assistant Pastoral Administrator for three years (1983-1983).
- Before this my early years were in elementary education at Annunciation (1948-50 and 1952-53) and St. Vincent de Paul (1951-52), both in Houston; St. Joseph's in Baytown (1950-51), and St. Joseph's in Bryan (1953-55).
- In September 1955, I found myself teaching science and math at Incarnate Word Academy (IWA) in Houston, my alma mater. In 1960 I transferred to Bishop Byrne High School in Port Arthur (my first experience teaching high school boys science and math), and was principal my last two years there. In 1964 I returned to IWA to serve as principal until 1978. I was principal at IWA's Marian campus the following year, then the first President (1979-80) and first Development Director (1980-83) at IWA.
So what background was provided to me by the congregation? B.S. and Master of Religious Education from the University of St. Thomas (UST) in Houston; Master of Education and counselor certification from the University of Houston; and the Spiritual Direction Institute at UST. I was a member of the first graduating class of the Catechetical Leadership Institute in 2002. I attended IWA, entering the convent at the end of 10th grade at age 15 going on 16 (this doesn't happen any more). Graduated while in the convent with my 1948 class. I usually handle getting the group together for our annual noon luncheon.
Some extra activities very significant to me: Served as a counselor for the Foreign Study League for four years (1969-72), responsible for eight students spending the summer in Europe; became the Administrator of the program for nine years (1974-1982), responsible for the whole group. This gave me the opportunity to visit London and other England towns, Paris and many surrounding cities in France, Italy with emphasis on Rome and other places of historical and religious interest, Holland, Austria, Germany , even to Spain for a flamingo and Teresa of Avila, and Greece to visit the Parthenon and a trip to Delphi for the famous Oracle. [My earlier blog posts on this are
here and
here. I always thought it was so cool that she went to Europe nearly every summer when I was a teen, and a little jealous that she made it possible for my mom and youngest sister to go too.]
Above: Sister Jean Marie Guokas at the Lo Scoglio di Frisio restaurant in Rome with the Foreign Study League, sometime between 1969 and 1972 inclusive.
Below: Sister Jean Marie Guokas (third from right in back row) in the Netherlands, 1969 (the year she wrote on the back of the photo), on a Foreign Study League trip.
Hope you have enjoyed letting me live my past years with you. Really helped me to see how blessed I have been by my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And I hope my story will in some small way serve as an Extension of the Incarnate Word. "Praised Be the Incarnate Word!"
My favorite Scripture passage is...."God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him." - 1 John 4:16
More photos of Sister Jean Marie over the years are (and more will be) here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/riofriotex/albums/72177720301409067/
