A Century Blessed By Erin Reder
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n September the Sisters of Charity Community celebrated the life of S. Mary Loyola Mathia. A Sister of Charity of Cincinnati for 80 years, S. Mary Loyola turned 100 years old on Sept. 14, 2021.
Catholic School (now Saint John Paul II Catholic School), the first Catholic school in Citrus County, Florida. She acted as an influential educator and principal until 1990 when she became the director of development for two years. The school began with 50 students in three grades and added a grade each year; it continues to thrive today serving more than 150 students from pre-K to 8th grade.
A native of Hempstead, New York, S. Mary Loyola earned her bachelor’s degree in history from the College of Mount St. Joseph (Cincinnati) and spent almost 50 years in the field of education. From 1942-’70 she taught at schools From 1991 until 2007, S. Mary in Ohio, Michigan and Maryland. In Loyola served as education coordinator Cleveland, Ohio, she became a high and Rite of Christian Initiation of school teacher of history and social Adults (RCIA) director at St. Scholastica Associate Jane Burdette (back) enjoyed a studies at Holy Name; her efforts did not visit with S. Mary Loyola Mathia on her 100th Church in Lecanto, Florida. In go unnoticed as Sister was asked to serve May 2007 she began ministering at birthday on Sept. 14, 2021. the education office of the Diocese of St. Francis Cabrini Xavier Church in Cleveland as a coordinating consultant. Despite having little Springhill, Florida. There she oversaw the RCIA program and experience in administration, she felt well-prepared. “I served annulments. Throughout her years at both St. Scholastica as the social studies consultant and department chairman for and St. Francis Cabrini she got to know many parishioners; the diocese from 1970-1978,” she remembered. her dynamic personality and deep faith were contagious and as those relationships developed, she walked with many as In 1980 S. Mary Loyola earned a master’s degree in they chose to make commitments as Associates in Mission pastoral studies from Loyola University (Chicago, Illinois) of the Sisters of Charity. Upon her 70th anniversary with the which she says prepared her for a new ministry. She served Community, Florida Associate Rachel Edwards said, “I see as religious education coordinator at St. Benedict in Crystal River, Florida, from 1979-’85. While at St. Benedict several of the charity, humility and simplicity that comes from her very soul. We feel privileged to know and love S. Loyola, as she the parish’s parents approached Sister and Father James Hoge continues to mentor all of ‘her’ Associates.” about building a school. In 1985 they co-founded Central
S. Delia Sizler (left) was a student of S. Mary Loyola Mathia’s at Holy Name High School in Cleveland, Ohio. 28
Associate Jane Burdette recalls meeting S. Mary Loyola and their relationship that followed: “I met S. Loyola around 1993 when she was at St. Scholastica. I was raised Southern Baptist but had always felt called to the Catholic faith. I had no idea where to start my journey but was directed, quite by chance, to Father Tom Morgan. It just so happened that S. Loyola was in charge of RCIA. The first time I met her we had a good laugh and I knew she was special. My family owns a Papal Indulgence so I took a copy with me to her class and told her I was grandfathered in. She thought it was hilarious … Sister has a great sense of humor and we have had many more laughs and adventures over the years. Of course, there were some bumps in my road to the faith. My family was not on board with my choice so I remained a catechumen for about eight years before all was sorted out and resolved. In the meantime, S. Loyola would lift me up whenever I got I n t e rcom
