Sr. Mary Walsh, CSJ

Mary Joan Walsh was born in Detroit, Michigan, on June 19, 1935, the daughter of John and Helena (Brennan) Walsh. Mary Joan was a member of St. Philip Neri Parish in Detroit, Michigan, at the time of her entrance into the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph on July 1, 1952. She received the name Sister John Helene at her reception on January 3, 1953, but returned to the use of her baptismal name in later years. She pronounced first vows on January 3, 1955 and final vows on January 3, 1958.

Sister Mary Joan earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1969 from Nazareth College with a major in chemistry. She later went on to receive her Master’s from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with a major in religious studies. Sister Mary Joan taught in several schools of the Congregation including St. Gertrude in St. Clair Shores, St. John Vianney in Flint, St. Pius X in Grandville and St. Joseph in Battle Creek. From 1969-1972 Sister Mary Joan taught chemistry at O’Brien/Hackett High School and then onto St. Ambrose Parish in Parchment and Our Lady of Grace in Muskegon, Michigan, as Director of Religious Education. Sister Mary Joan’s ministry changed from that of teaching to a business environment and from 1979-1987 she worked at Nazareth in payroll and as Facilities Director. In 1988 Sister Mary Joan served as Director of Baraga Manor, which provided subsidized housing for seniors in Otsego, Michigan. Sister Mary Joan was a member of the Congregation of St. Joseph Leadership Team from 1989 until 1995. In 1995 she joined the staff at Borgess Medical Center serving as Corporate Ombudsman and in 1997 became Vice President of Mission Integration for Borgess Health. In 2007 Sister returned to the Nazareth Center as Life Needs Coordinator and in 2009 was chosen as the Nazareth Center Administrator. In January 2012 she retired and volunteered as on-call driver for the Sisters. While living at the Nazareth Center, Sr. Mary Joan attended every Sister meeting and gathering and frequently added a significant comment or question that was a quick synthesis of the topic of discussion.

Sister Mary Joan treasured a favorite scripture passage from Ezekiel 36:26, “A new heart I will give you and a new spirit I will put within you” and shared its graced meaning in her life when she wrote, “My prayer is that I will be worth of all that has been given to me and that the ‘new heart and new spirit’ that God has promised will find a welcome home within me. May Sister Mary Joan be joyfully received into the eternal embrace of God whose love is everlasting.

May She Rest in Peace!