Sister M. Valeria Sojkova, OSF

February 11, 1893 – March 30, 1988

March 30, 1988, marked the end of the earthly life of a most outstanding and faith-filled woman, Sister M. Valeria Sojkova. God was her life, and she praised Him continuously for His love and goodness. She often repeated, “Jesus, You are my closest and dearest friend” — representative of Sister’s 95-year intimate relationship with her Savior.

Sister Valeria was born on February 11, 1893, in Uhrinov, Moravia, to Cyril and Francis (Prinosilova) Sojka. At baptism she was given the name Frances. Her father was a farmer, and he and his wife lovingly nurtured and guided Frances and her four brothers and three sisters. Her childhood years were very happy and, it was in this environment that Frances grew in her love for God, family and the Church. Her early education took place in Uhrinov, but she traveled to Slatinany to attend high school classes.  From 1908 to 1910, she studied to be a kindergarten teacher, passing her examination in 1911.

It was during her early high school years that Frances came to know and admire the School Sisters of St. Francis. The stirrings toward religious life within her became strong, and she asked admittance to the community, becoming a postulant on October 1, 1906. Because of her youth, her postulancy extended until 1911, when she entered the novitiate. One year later, Sister Valeria pronounced her first vows and began teaching kindergarten. During this time, she also began taking violin lessons, as she loved music and often entertained the Sisters with her violin.

On November 9, 1914, the second group of our European Sisters traveled to America to establish a foundation, and Sister Valeria was asked to be a part of this pioneer group. The request was difficult, but in a spirit of love and adventure, Sister said yes to a new life and a new culture and language. Never did she imagine that she would not see her beloved family and homeland for 30 years.

This new community grew by leaps and bounds, and our pioneer Sisters were open and ready to do all they could to meet the challenges and needs of the times. Sister Valeria was right out there in the foreground — getting her degree in education because teachers were needed and her degree in nursing because nurses were needed. New missions were being established throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Massachusetts, and she was right there for their beginnings, venturing as as far as San Antonio, Texas, and Cottage Grove, Oregon. 

From 1914 to 1970, Sister Valeria was involved in a number of ministries — as teacher, nurse, local superior, provincial councilor, parish minister, directress of postulants and library aide. Both in 1934 and 1960 she was a delegate to the general chapter. These trips to Rome also provided Sister with long awaited reunions with her family in Czechoslovakia.

Sister Valeria was very much needed in her time of active ministry.  She served the world as a woman of deep faith, a woman dedicated to the works of the Church, one committed to her vowed life and a life of prayer in the midst of apostolic activity, one who said yes to the call wherever it led, and as a Franciscan to whom the Eucharist and Mass had vital importance.

Perhaps one of the most difficult years for Sister Valeria was when she had to say yes to retirement. In 1970, she returned to the Provincialate in Bethlehem, Pa., to devote more of herself to prayer and union with her Lord. Her later years were a beautiful example to all her Sisters of a woman who grew old gracefully. The Chapel was her home and, even in ill health, she insisted on attending Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours daily. She remained active, always wanting to learn through reading, listening being a part of things.

Sister thanked God for everything and she thanked everyone who did the slightest service for her. This was evident by her daily prayer for us and her recognition and reaching out to each Sister even in her last hours on earth. She is remembered as a cheerful Sister with a fine sense of humor, ready to play a trick or listen to a joke. She also loved and appreciated nature in its every form.

A very familiar greeting that our Sister Valeria frequently used was “Shalom,” which means “peace that comes from wholeness.”  On Wednesday of Holy Week in 1988, Sister peacefully left this world to be embraced and lovingly greeted with the eternal Shalom of her beloved Lord, who she so faithfully served here on earth.

Sister Valeria is buried in St. Francis Cemetery at Monocacy Manor in Bethlehem, Pa.