Sister M. Perpetua (Frances Joan Meyer), C.S.C.

Entered the Congregation from Princeton, New Jersey on September 8, 1950
Initial Professional of Vows on August 15, 1953

Sister M. Perpetua’s family tree in Trenton, New Jersey flowered four shoots in the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Cross.  Before Joan Meyer entered the Congregation at 21 years old in 1950, her Aunt Mildred, Sister M. Rita Carmel (Meredith), who later died in 1981, guided her through the application process.  Joan’s great aunt, Sister M. Bethania (Wilson) had died in 1872, not as long-lived as her other great aunt, Mother M. Perpetua (Wilson), who served as Superior General 1900-1919.  One wonders why her mother, Olivia R. Meredith, and especially her father, Anthony J. Meyer, objected so strenuously to their only daughter entering the convent.  But Joan heeded the counsel of a high school priest-teacher who told her “to wait until she was of age and then she was free to do as she chose.”  So, she waited and worked two years in the library at Princeton University, finally pressing for a sure date to enter so she could give her notice to the library “and not leave the place in a mess.” She wrote her Aunt Mildred that she hoped “I will be as good a sister as God could possibly want.  The thought of it frightens me a little, however I refuse to be a half-baked sister.”

Thus, Joan Meyer became the fourth religious vocation, firmly rooted in the Tree of Holy Cross.  It is surprising that the young novice received the name Perpetua at the time of her Reception of the Holy Habit on August 15, 1951.  However, Sister Perpetua proved to be as strong, disciplined, and practical in nourishing the Tree of Holy Cross for nearly 54 years (1958-2012) in her missionary activity in East Pakistan (later called Bangladesh) and India as her legendary namesake had been improving the “order and union” of community life and the Congregation’s material progress.  Sister Perpetua was never known to be “a half-baked sister.”  She bore her name well but the next generations in the Congregation knew little of Mother Perpetua.  The youth of Dhaka--whether at Holy Cross College, Bottomley Home Orphanage, or the poor children on its streets—knew only Sister Perpetua, a foreign woman who spoke their language and gave practical help.

From 1980-2012, Sister Perpetua was involved in vocation promotion and formation (training young candidates and sisters) in Savar, Dhaka and Bangalore, India.  Her degrees were in education with a concentration in psychology and guidance.  She had the lived experience of being a mature, seasoned consecrated religious who was eager to promote indigenous vocations as the local church continued to increase its witness within its own culture.  Appropriately, the novitiate in Savar was named Dapaneeta (“House of Light”).  Since Sister’s retirement to Saint Mary’s in 2012, she continued to be involved with novices, now from several other continents, the International Novitiate having been moved to the motherhouse. Contributions in Sister’s name to the Ministry with the Poor Fund will help expand our novitiate on campus. The Tree of Holy Cross still thrives.   Visit:  www.cscsisters.org    

Kaniewski Funeral Home is handling arrangements.  All ceremonies will be in the Church of Our Lady of Loretto on Wednesday, April 25, 2018.  Visitation begins at 9:00 AM until 10:15 AM Prayers in the Presence of the Body. The Memento is before mass, followed immediately by the Mass of Resurrection.

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