Wake Reflection for Sister Elaine Byrne, OSU
In the name of the Ursuline Community I wish to offer our prayers, our sympathy on the loss of your sister, sister in law, aunt, cousin, godmother, co-worker, friend. It is a loss that affects us all deeply.
“I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let what you have said be done to me. “Mary was saying “I don’t know what this all means, but I trust that good things will happen.” Mary trusted so deeply that her waiting was open to all possibilities. And she did not want to control them. She believed that when she listened carefully, she could trust what was going to happen. To wait open-ended means giving up control over our future and letting God define our life. This passage of Scripture was very important to Sister Elaine and I believe for the same reasons. She knew that waiting could bring possibilities and to wait open-ended would mean letting God be in charge of her life. Sister Elaine knew this was what all the fiats in her life were about.
As I sat in prayer wondering where to begin, I thought of something I had read recently. The author Debbie Macomber said each year she reads through her journals, to see what one word keeps coming up and then that one word would be her drive, her challenge for the coming year. To me, it seemed that that word for Sister Elaine would be journey. She journeyed to Cincinnati, to Vanderbilt, to Paducah, to Owensboro, and back to Fancy Farm each time so often over the last year that I figured that she journeyed through light and through darkness, through despair, through hope, through the ups and downs of melanoma. So, it seemed Journey should be the theme of this reflection.
The journey of faith began for Elaine Isabel Byrne on May 28, 1946 when she was born to Anna Marie Coomes and John D. Byrne. She joined the family, Margie, John Jr and J.L. Later there would be Mary Lou, Eddie and Tony. Three above and three below making her that “special” middle child. She was surrounded by the love and deep faith of this family.
Her parents took Elaine to St. Elizabeth Church, Curdsville on June 4, 1946 to have her baptized…to become a member of the Catholic faith…she was one week old. Fr. J.J. Glenn administered the sacrament which initiated her into the life of the spirit. Her godmother Pauline Coomes and godfather James Coomes were there to promise to walk with her on this her faith journey. Both of them have walked the entire journey. They still live. The Byrne family was a farming family whose values and work ethic was of the highest caliber. It never phased Sister Elaine to speak of how many tobacco patches she hoed and one of the Sisters was telling me that is her first memory of Sister Elaine was a program where she portrayed a farmer with a hoe slung over her shoulder, singing a catchy farming song. This was at a community celebration.
The faith life that was begun in her home was enriched and deepened when she started to St. Elizabeth School at Curdsville and was taught by the Ursuline Sisters. Within the first three years of school Elaine had received the Sacraments of Penance, Holy Eucharist and Confirmation. The Eucharist became and remained the center of her life, her spiritual journey. After finishing all 8 grades at St. Elizabeth School she became a “day” student at Mount St. Joseph Academy and continued being taught by the Ursuline Sisters. In March of her senior year she applied to be a postulant the next year, because she felt it was the will of God for her. Her former pastor, Father Henry Willett wrote to the superior of the community telling her that “Miss Elaine Byrne is a model girl, an example of everything good and noble which one would expect in a Catholic Young Girl.” So Miss Elaine entered postulancy on September 6, 1964 along with classmates: Sisters Marie Joseph Coomes, Michael Marie Friedman, Maureen Griner, Barbara Jean Head, Mary Henning, Ann McGrew and Emma Anne Munsterman.
To you her classmates I say,” Thank you. You have my prayers and sympathy as you take some time to grieve the loss of a classmate.”
Along with Sister Elaine’s journey of faith, the journey of education continued. Elaine entered into the Novitiate on August 14, 1965 and became Sister John Marie. It was said at this period of formation, one could easily have had a Theology degree when Fr. Bernard Powers and Sister James Rita finished with you. Temporary vows were professed on August 15, 1967. By 1969 when Sister John Marie was preparing to go to her first assignment at St. Paul, Leitchfield the community was making some changes. Returning to one’s baptismal name was one of them. Sister Elaine began her journey of ministry, continuing the journey of education, the journey of spirituality. Elaine received her first degree from Brescia College; she went forth to pursue her masters in education at WKU in Bowling Green. Her ministry of teaching and administration went from Leitchfield to Mother of Good Counsel, Louisville, to Glennonville, MO to Whitesville, to Stanley to Hardinsburg…and along that journey she was gaining another Masters in Theological Studies from the University Of Dayton, Ohio. A shift in ministry for Sister Elaine seemed to be a new turn along the journey. She became the administrator of the parish of St. Mary, LaCenter, KY while doing parish ministry at St. Charles in Bardwell. A newsletter article from the University of Dayton entitled:” Where two or more are gathered, will one be a priest?” has this to say:” You might say Sister Elaine Byrne wears the collar in the 100-family parish. She leads prayer services, gives baptismal and marriage preparation classes and takes communion to the homebound.” Another realm of service, another journey! And somewhere at LaCenter there is a Japanese maple tree planted in her memory by the Lourdes Hospice Volunteers.
Sister Elaine served as the community Director of vocations for several years. She worked in pastoral ministry at Precious Blood then went on to be campus minister at WKU. Working with the collegians was a dear thing to her heart. She served as Pastoral Associate at St. Thomas More Parish in Paducah and then came back to be Coordinator of Liturgy and Spiritual Formation at the Campus Parish at WKU in Bowling Green. In 2009 Sister Elaine took the position of Pastoral Associate at St. Jerome, Fancy Farm, KY. How she loved you! She and I were a bonded community and daily she emailed. I was amazed at the energy, the creative ideas, the ability to get all on board for events. She remained there until her medical leave in November which brought her to St. Joseph Villa here at the Mount. Once more in the midst of her ministry she gained her Spiritual Direction Certificate from Atchison, KS.
Sister Elaine fed her spiritual hunger through the Mass and the Sacraments, praying the Divine Office, reading Scripture, the readings of Bishop Robert Morneau, Henri Nouwen and the poetry of Jessica Powers and many other sources. Retreats and visits to her spiritual director were important on this journey. She discerned with many young women and men as well as mentoring some of the young priests. Relationships were important to Sister Elaine.
Her hunger for beauty was fulfilled through the decorative planning of liturgies, walking with and helping the many people from the very young to the very old. Many a homily she critiqued for a Sunday liturgy in places in this diocese, and other dioceses as well. The beautiful pictures of sheep, shepherd, shepherdess… of the Annunciation, the many, many beautiful wall hangings …How she loved to watch UK games with you, her family…her hot, cold chocolate, her peach ice cream. And we can’t forget those banana popsicles! What a love she maintained for you her family. Thank you for your love and support these many years and in the midst of her many struggles.
From Kentucky to Missouri, from East to West in the diocese of Owensboro the people found that saying goodbye to Sister Elaine was like saying goodbye to the sun. Light left and darkness settled in.
In the last month we, as community, have had the opportunity to watch sister carry her illness. Despite the privacy she needed and demanded Sister Elaine never complained, always had a smile for all the Health Care workers, both the Villa staff and the Hospice nurses. I thank each of you who ministered in any way to her. You are great!
At this point I believe I speak for all her former students, for all the people whose lives she touched, and that is large number of folks. Many times I’ve known that Sister Elaine dealt with stress, carried heavy burdens. She smiled when she felt like screaming. She often sang when she felt like crying. She cried when she was happy, laughed when she was afraid. But her love was unconditional.
“I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let what you have said be done.” I trust that good things will happen.
Sister Elaine, you were here for a reason and your life testified to more than you could have imagined. You gave yourself completely to God. Thank you for being Ursuline. Thank you for your touch. We have grown. Your hands were those of a servant and your heart was that of a friend. And I have noticed the sun hasn’t shone since the bell tolled.
Sister Mary Matthias Ward, OSU
Director of Local Community Life
Friend of 42 years.
January 23, 2012
Comments
I was very saddened today when I learned of Sister Elaine’s death. I went to school at the Mount with her. However, the only class I attended with her was Music. I still remember her sitting beside me when St. Marita Greenwell would teach us. We were both in the alto group. I was having a great deal of trouble with my hearing and Elaine would help me with the similar sounds. She never judged me like others and was always very gracious to me. When I received the booklet today, in the mail, I noticed there was a web site that had been updated. My first thought was to contact Elaine since I hadn’t over the years. How sad I was when toward the end I saw her picture and the article stating she had passed away. I have always carried her in my heart not reallyy understanding why. I only assume she made a great impression on me with her fun, loving attitude. I am sorry I didn’t have the opportunity to share this with her.