Sister Maria Derecola engages her second graders at St. Matthias Catholic School in Somerset, N.J.

 
 

Unfinished Business

sister MARIA DERECOLA CARRIES ON A CENTURY-LONG CLASSROOM TRADITION

As a second grade teacher, Sister Maria Derecola carries on our community’s heritage of teaching and caring for young children. She shares both the classroom curriculum and the spiritual lessons to prepare her students at St. Matthias School and Parish in Somerset, N.J., to receive the Sacraments and to take on the real world.

“Every day, I can see the face of God in each student,” she says. “They are a bright sign of what’s important in life.”

Sister’s work pays tribute to the earliest days of our congregation’s presence in the United States — dating back more than 108 years — as teachers and caregivers to the young children of Eastern European immigrants. There are much fewer Catholic schools these days, but the mission is ongoing.

“I love that I can personally carry on our mission of teaching and forming young minds into citizens and disciples of Christ,” Sister Maria says. “The children bring joy, innocence and a love of learning. They are a blessing from God to me and our school.”

extending our
hearts & hands

If you’d like to support our Sisters’ good works in the world, there is still time to respond to our 2021-2022 annual appeal. Click below to donate online with your credit card.

All of our Extending Our Hearts & Hands stories were featured in the Winter 2021-2022 issue of Echoes Across the Horizons.