Sister Miriam Daniel Pender
Many years ago, I was a young teacher who desired a new job location. I interviewed with Sister Miriam Daniel on a Saturday and I was hired to start the following Monday morning at St. Cecilia School. Sister Miriam never met me before, but hired me after speaking to me for 10 or 15 minutes. It’s not unusual for a person get hired after a short interview. But in the weeks that followed, I knew I had landed a special position.
Sister Miriam really cared about he staff of teachers and school of students. Anytime she walked into my classroom, she spoke the kindest words over me. And although I didn’t believe what she said, I wanted to become who she said I was. And in the year that I worked at her school, I learned so much about teaching and life. It was a very powerful year for me – I met Lee that year too.
The day after I started at St. Cecilia’s, another teacher came to me and said that every class was doing a song for the show. I had three days to teach a group of 8th graders I didn’t know a song and routine to be performed in front of the school. Sister Miriam came to me and said, “Don’ t worry you can do this – they are a class waiting for a teacher like you.” And the truth is, they were an amazing class of young adults. When I told them they were expected to do a performance, they started singing and performing. Sister Miriam stopped by on the day before the performance and complimented my new class. As she walked out of the room, she nodded and smiled. Her faith in me made me have faith in myself.
I learned about being part of community under Sister Miriam’s guidance. Days after joining the staff, I took on a project in the school library because I wanted to participate in their beautiful community. And I spent many hours after school working on it. I wasn’t paid for this, but the satisfaction the project gave me made me feel so alive.
Two or three weeks after working at St. Cecilias, Sister Miriam asked me to come to her office. I was scared she wasn’t satisfied with my performance and was going to ask me to leave. As I walked up the stairs, I was so nervous. As I entered her office, she was sitting at her desk. I sat across from her and she began to tell me how she wanted me to choose new computers and get the Internet for the lab. Back then schools didn’t have Internet so it was a new and exciting component. I couldn’t believe she was entrusting me with money to build the lab. As I left her office that afternoon, I felt elated.
I left St. Cecilia’s to go to my current position which I currently hold. If I hadn’t gone to St. Cecilias, I wouldn’t be where I am today.
And Sister Miriam if you should ever stumble upon these words, please know that I am so grateful for you did for me as a teacher and as a person.
June 2017 Update- My co-worker and I were talking about places we worked prior to our current position. I told him about Sister Miriam Daniel and this was what I said: “I worked for someone who was like the female version of Jesus. She was selfless and kind all of the time. She always had encouraging words, allowed teachers to be creative, showed love to towards the students and was an amazing boss.” He said he never heard anyone speak about their old boss like that. I was lucky to have worked with an amazing woman.
Hugs,
marlene
Topics: Uncategorized | 5 Comments »
June 4th, 2013 at 9:25 am
I stumbled upon your blog and just had to share this entry with my Aunt – who is Sister Miriam :) she said it made her day and she would love to email you. Please send me your email address so I can share with her.
Oh and as a former Brooklyn girl – love your blog!
June 4th, 2014 at 6:02 am
Your kind words for Sister Miriam resonate so deeply with me. While I never taught or worked for Sister Miriam, I had the good fortune of having attended St. Cecilia’s from K-8, when she was principle there (I went to St. Cecilia’s in the late seventies through the mid eighties). I always remember Sister Miriam being genuinely warm and caring, kind to children, and above all fair. One time my brother, who also attended the school, had to be hospitalized for a severe injury. Sister Miriam promptly visited him and my mother, who was staying with him in the hospital, and her presence uplifted them both greatly. She was without a doubt one of the positive influences in my elementary school education, and I remember her fondly.
January 24th, 2017 at 1:58 am
Sister Miriam was my teacher at St. Michael’s School in Sunset Park – Brooklyn in the 1960’s.
She was always so kind, and I even remember the Mothers always commenting on how beautiful she was.
God Bless you for sharing this story – and God Bless Sister Miriam Daniel!
March 17th, 2017 at 10:46 pm
Sister Miriam Daniel was my first grade teacher at St. Michael’s School. The kindness that she extended to all the students made the transition to “full-time” student status manageable! Each, and every one, of her students was blessed. Thank you, Sister Miriam Daniel
August 23rd, 2020 at 8:41 pm
I just stumbled upon this web post when I did a Google Search on Sr. Miriam Daniel. She was my Spanish teacher at Holy Names University. She was an amazing teacher who greatly influenced me when I later became and ESL teacher. She made learning fun and interesting. She had a great impact on campus just by her presence. She was especially dear to all the Spanish speaking students. I bumped into her at Homecoming many years back and she said she wondered if she had been a good teacher. I shared with her the impact on me and assured her that she was a wonderful teacher and a powerful witness to the love of Christ. She continues to be a loving presence wherever she is. I am so glad I found this and that I am able to share my gratitude for this marvelous woman!