Soft-Spoken Spirituality

LIFE’S SIMPLE JOYS HIGHLIGHT 75 YEARS IN
RELIGIOUS LIFE FOR SISTER MARIETTA BANKOS

A native of Cementon, Pa., Sister Marietta was born Virginia Bankos, one of three children of the late Edward and Mary Bankos. Edward labored in the nearby cement quarry, while Mary was a homemaker and active volunteer at the family’s home parish, Blessed Virgin Mary in Northampton, Pa.

Virginia was in fifth grade when the parish school opened in 1938, and she quickly fell under the influence of the Sisters ministering there. “They must have seen a bud of religious vocation in me,” Sister recalls.

A mere two weeks after securing her parents’ permission to enter the convent, teenaged Virginia was packed up and ready to go to Pittsburgh, were she attended Mount Assisi Academy and entered aspirancy with the School Sisters of St. Francis.

Virginia was received into the community in 1945 and, upon making first vows in 1946, received the name Sister Marietta. Before professing final vows in 1951, she was already experienced in teaching the elementary grades and CCD at parish schools in Perryopolis, Pittsburgh and New Castle, Pa. She went on to teach in the Pennsylvania towns of Clymer, Hellertown and Bethlehem, before settling in for a nine-year tenure teaching math, religion and business courses at St. Francis Academy (SFA) in Bethlehem, where she also coordinated the resident students.

“She was and continues to be a model of kindness, gentleness and wisdom that helped all of us through our adolescent years,” says Judy Labanz Colt, a 1971 SFA grad who has remained in touch with Sister Marietta over the years. “She taught us many things, including faith, discipline, courtesy, forgiveness and thoughtfulness.”

Along the way, Sister Marietta earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Duquesne University in 1964 and a master’s degree in business education from Marywood College (now Marywood University) in 1975. After more than 30 years of teaching, Sister transitioned into community leadership, serving as provincial secretary of the Bethlehem Province throughout the 1980s and then transplanting to Rome, where she served as general secretary at the community’s headquarters from 1989 to 2001.

Always soft-spoken and well-organized, Sister Marietta attended workshops to learn archival techniques, skills she used as archivist to the Bethlehem Province and assistant archivist to the U.S. Province from 2002 to 2016. She also spent a few years as office aide to the former Mount Assisi Academy Preschool in Pittsburgh, where she delighted in interacting with the tiny tots and their parents.

She’s always been energized by the spiritual writings of Henri Nouwen, community gatherings, smiling faces, and knitting and other handiwork. Aside from an affinity for cookies, children remain her greatest source of joy.

Now 93, Sister is retired in Bethlehem, Pa., where she has volunteered with our stamp ministry for the poor and enjoyed daily games of Scrabble with other retired Sisters. She remains active in prayer ministry.

“The privileges and blessings have outweighed any crosses,” she says of her 75 years in religious life. “I can sum up my life as one of faith. With God helping me, it’s all been done with peace and much joy.”