Memorials
Sister Mary Priscilla Weidenschlager, CSJ
We come together as a faith community to give thanks to our gracious God for the humble and beautiful life of Sister Priscilla Weidenschlager, a Sister of St. Joseph for 69 faith-filled years.
We welcome with full-hearted gratitude Priscilla’s Bethany community here in St. Joseph Convent and all of our sisters who call the convent home.
You, along with Priscilla’s caring aides, the nursing staff, the Recreational Team, PT, Pastoral Team, housekeeping, and Administration have provided Priscilla with a nurturing, loving home that gave her peace and tranquility as she transitioned back from her beloved Appalachian hills. It was never easy, but with great love and grace, your kindnesses were never ending.
Priscilla’s love of cats must be mentioned here ~ all of God’screatures animated her spirituality, love of nature and embrace of our beautiful world, but if you spoke in “Meows”, Meow-language, you were something special.
As the only child of devoted, German immigrant parents, John and Caroline Weidenschlager, Priscilla, baptized Carol, grew up in a tight-knit German community in Ridgewood, Queens. Her parish church, St. Aloysius offered many opportunities for Priscilla to grow in her faith and to serve the dear neighbor in charitable actions.
This Gospel pathway continued to be nurtured at St. Joseph’s Commercial High School where Priscilla experienced the joyous commitment to the charism of our sisters.
After graduation, Priscilla entered the community and embarked on her ministerial life in Catholic education at the elementary level while pursuing her BA from Brentwood College. Sent on to obtain a certificate in German from Queens College and one in German Psychology at St. John’s University, Priscilla, and the community recognized that the need for such skills did not align with the evolving needs of the times. A Masters in Special Education was a better fit and that wise choice brought Priscilla into the world of children who were deaf or hearing impaired.
As a vital part of the community of St. Francis de Sales School for the Deaf for 28 years, Priscilla embraced a passion for her ministry. Each child, whether 2 or 12 received her undivided attention and skills, always signing encouraging words of praise and love.
In 1984, Priscilla, along with her dear companion, Claude ventured across the country as volunteers in a summer program in Preston County, West Virginia. It was a call that changed her life and ministerial focus. For the next 17 years, summer vacation meant pastoral service to the poor and marginalized in a plentitude of practical ways ~ there were no boundaries on the everyday expression of loving service that characterized Priscilla providing:
• Relief efforts after the catastrophic Preston County Flood of 1985 ~ No problem!
• Establishing an Evangelization Committee and Ministry Program to the homebound ~ done with inclusive opennesss;
• Creating a Parish Census program that spanned 7 parishes by door to door visits ~ an easy call for Priscilla and her team;
• Gathering people of all faiths or none to ecumenical services characterized by simple times of prayer to an all welcoming God~ Priscilla did it with ease and grace.
And the list goes on . . .
The transition from summer service to full time ministry with her beloved community of West Virginia came in 2001 when Father Mike ~ (and I believe he’s with us via live stream today), aware of the transformative impact of Priscilla and Claude’s presence invited them back to their home away from home.
Their journey was filled with the highest drama and tragedy ~ they had departed from New York on 9/11/2001, and due to the horror unfolding in New York and Washington they were diverted en route for two days. Their homecoming provided a sense of much-needed peace and tranquility to a people often forgotten on the national stage. By investing her life with the people of West Virginia, Priscilla gave witness to our charism of love of God and the dear neighbor.
Priscilla often mentioned that Father Mike and the generous people of Preston County not only provided them with a lovely simple home but gifted them with their own church ~ that became a welcoming sacred space to many!
In 2015 Priscilla accepted the Communities of Salt and Light Award on behalf of Claude and all Sisters of St. Joseph, with great humility and gratitude.
The impact of Priscilla’s life on the people of West Virginia and all those she served so faithfully as a Sister of St. Joseph for 69 years is summed up by Marta Lynne Barlow, the parish secretary for the churches of Preston County ~ (with us today)
“Sister Priscilla was generous, prayerful, open-minded, an incredible listener, gracious, and lastly, a true blessing to many and a Christ presence to all.”
Thank you, Priscilla, go in peace and grace for a life well lived.
Sister Mary Priscilla Weidenschlager, CSJ died on January 22, 2025 in the 69th year of her religious life.