In chapter 7:62 of the Rule of Benedict, we read:  “The twelfth step of humility is that a monastic always manifests humility in her bearing not less than in her heart, so that it is evident at the Work of God, in the oratory, the monastery or the garden, on a journey or in the field, or anywhere else.”  Sister Jean, shown above at left with Sr. Beatrice, center, and Sr. Mary Jean Feeney, exhibited this picture of humility in the monastery.  Many of us saw her as gentle, quiet, and shy most of the time, and we could say she was childlike in her love of God.  Let’s take a closer look at Sister Jean.

 

Emmajean Matteson, the daughter of Henry Matteson and Emma Blatz, was born July 2, 1918, and raised in Moline for most of her years. Jean’s father died when she was three.  Her sister, Henrietta, died at 12 years old.  Jean was nine when Henrietta died.  She loved Henrietta dearly and missed her terribly.  A brother, Edgar, is also deceased.

Jean, as she was called, was educated by our Sisters at St. Mary’s Grade School and St. Mary’s High School.  At one time she wrote to the Sisters, “I feel I know you and you know me because you had a share in my upbringing and, in no small measure, are responsible for who I am today.” 

Jean was a very devoted daughter who took care of her mother, Emma, until her death in 1978.  During those years, Jean worked at a number of companies in various positions including Secretary, Cost Clerk, Controller, Office Manager and Bookkeeper.  Jean was artistic and creative.  She painted, wrote prose, poetry, and at least one entire manuscript that we found.  There were probably more.

Jean entered our Benedictine community in November of 1979.  After her reception in to the novitiate in August of 1980, Sister Jean put this poem and note on our bulletin board: 

Come, Lord Jesus, Come. Thy will be done.

I love you dearly, God’s only Son.

You have chosen me to follow you,

And that is what I will always do.

Come, Lord Jesus, come and enter my heart.

From your sweet love may I never depart.

I feel you so close right now my heart is full.

Of your sweet love and St. Benedict’s Holy Rule.

Come Lord Jesus, Come.  I look for you each day.

Listen to me when I pray and show me your way.

I know I am carried in the palm of your hand,

But tell me, how do I fit into your Master Plan?

To All My Dear Sisters,

              Thank you for a beautiful, holy day filled with so much love and joy.  Thank you for all your sweet remembrances of this day.  I shall treasure every one of them and all of you always.  The poem is just something I felt like sharing with you of how I feel today.

                                                        God loves you and so do I,

                                                        Sister Jean Matteson, OSB

In the first two years after her first profession, Sister Jean’s bookkeeping skills were called upon as she kept books for several parishes in and around Nauvoo.  Sister Jean used her creativity to paint a crib set and the Stations of the Cross for two parishes.

When I began, I spoke of humility.  We know that humility is truth.  There is more truth to be told about Sister Jean.  She was not only gentle, quiet and shy.  Sister Jean had a great amount of determination when she set out on a project.  I’d like to share an example that illustrates this.

In 1983, Pastor Robert Weis appointed Sister Jean to minister to all Catholic patients at Munster Community Hospital.  At that time, Sister Jean had to sort out Catholic patients from a master list of all the patients in the hospital without the assistance of a computer.  On any given day there were over 100 Catholic patients in that hospital.

When Msgr. Carl Mengling arrived in 1985, he and Sister Jean studied the program and redefined the purpose and goals.  They wanted to expand the program to minister to the needs of all St. Thomas More parishioners.  In 1987 Sister Jean addressed the parishioners regarding the new program and 80 volunteers responded to the survey.

Training sessions were conducted and volunteers were given “Ministry of Care” identification badges.  The program continued to grow including numerous programs and visits to the homebound and hospitalized.  

All of this blossomed from this quiet, gentle, shy Sister Jean.  She continued this ministry to the people she dearly loved and served at St. Thomas More Parish in Munster, IN. until 2003.  Twenty years of generous service.

I cherish a special memory of Sister Jean.  Upon her return to the monastery, Sister Jean continued her service to the community.  At the time, I was Vocation Director.  I asked Sister Jean to help me create a list of e-mail addresses for the parishes within a hundred miles of our monastery.  She scoured Diocesan directories and worked until she compiled all the addresses available.  Though it was a difficult task, she was always pleasant and did it with her beautiful smile. 

-Sister Phyllis McMurray, OSB

February 19, 2008