Two observances for the 10th anniversary of the beatification of Blessed Miriam Teresa Demjanovich will take place in the area in early October.
Born in Bayonne, Sister Miriam Teresa was a Sister of Charity of St. Elizabeth in the Convent Station neighborhood of Morris Township. She was a prayerful woman and gifted writer who had an enormous impact before she died at 26 in 1927.
Pope Francis approved the attribution of miraculous healing to the intercession of Demjanovich, opening the way to her beatification. She was beatified on Oct. 4, 2014, in Newark. Hers was the first beatification ceremony held in the U.S. for a native-born American citizen.
The following are the two local 10th- anniversary events:
λ Dr. Kimberly Borin, a Seton Asso-ciate, will present a retreat on Saturday, Oct. 5, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., in the Sisters of Charity’s Caritas Center in Convent Station. Participants will explore her writings, reflections, and miracles, and examine the interconnecting stories of their lives with her life.
The event also will commemorate the Sisters of Charity’s 165th anniversary. The Sisters of Charity, the Blessed Miriam Teresa Prayer League, and the Sisters of Charity Ongoing Formation Committee will sponsor the retreat.
The retreat is free to attend; donations are accepted. Reserve a seat by Oct. 1 by emailing Sister Maureen Corcoran at mcorcoran@scnj.org
λ A commemoration of the 10th anniversary of Blessed Miriam Teresa’s beatification will be held on Sunday, Sept. 6, starting at 2 p.m., in St. John the Baptist Byzantine Ruthenian Catholic Church in Bayonne. Blessed Miriam Teresa was born an American Ruthenian Catholic but became a Sister of Charity.
The event will start with the rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet, and confession at 2 p.m. Bishop Kurt Burnette of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic will celebrate a divine liturgy of St. John Chrysostom at 3 p.m.
The commemoration will include a short prayer service, veneration of Blessed Miriam Teresa’s relics, and anointing with holy oil for healing.
Information for Bayonne commemoration: call St. John the Baptist at 201-339-1840.
