Sister Mary Elizabeth Gleason, CSJ

(Catherine Agnes)

We remember her in the rustling of the leaves and in the beauty of autumn.

September 3, 1930 – September 26, 2026

In the 77th year of her Religious Life

Entered: September 8, 1949

She was a scholar and a great reader. She was truly a wisdom figure ahead of her time. It was so important for her to bring her treasured books with her. She would simply pick out a meaningful line or concept to share.

For our prayer today, Sister Mary Elizabeth very deliberately chose the readings and the music. There is a message that she wants each of us to hear. I read this poem recently about the Canaanite woman and I think this might be part of her message. “Ground us in your love, merciful God and grant us unshakeable faith. Like the Canaanite woman, may we be inspired with persistent courage, devotion and energy. Help us care as deeply and warmly about other people, as you care for us. Always inclusive in word and action, may our faith be great enough to bring your kingdom to our divided world.”

Catherine Agnes Gleason was born in South Boston, on September 3, 1930, the oldest child of loving parents, Francis and Mary Gleason. Over the years, she developed a wonderful relationship with her sister Mary. Kay, as she was known in the family attended Gate of Heaven Schools in South Boston for twelve years and was drawn to the Sisters of St. Joseph. After working in a drug store for a year, she entered the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1949 and soon after received the religious name of Sister Mary Elizabeth.

Kay or Aunt Kay remained close to her family, especially her sister Mary and her daughters Mary Beth and Colleen. She was so proud of them; they were involved in education and committed to helping others. Visits with Aunt Kay were always special. They all enjoyed happy and fun times together as family, punctuated with stimulating conversation. She truly brought a special light whenever she visited. During the 80’s and 90’s, Kay and Mary relished enrichment courses in Theology at Weston School of Theology. When Mary moved to Florida, Kay visited and treasured their time together and with friends.

While teaching in elementary schools and Cardinal Spellman High School, Mary Elizabeth was studying at Regis College, and then at Providence College for her Masters’ Degree in Theology. During this study time, she was asked to be a Director at the Novitiate in Framingham. How many lives she influenced during these years! Her thought provoking conferences highlighted Scripture, St. Thomas Aquinas and other theologians, Vatican II, and many challenging topics for young minds. At the same time, she brought a listening and compassionate presence to each person. She helped so many young women discern their future, whether within the congregation or outside of it.

After teaching a few years at Mount St. Joseph Academy, Sister Mary Elizabeth moved to college students, teaching theology at Aquinas Junior College and Emmanuel and philosophy at the University of Massachusetts in Lowell.

For the next 37 years, she challenged her students to think, to be skeptical, to question and to ponder. She invited them to live with intensity and integrity. Despite her emphasis on academic rigor, she was able to teach with humor and with a lightness that often encouraged her students to do their best. She was a professional committed to supporting her students — but, at the same time, held them to high standards.

Whether the field was theology or philosophy, she was a wonderful teacher. She encouraged her students not to accept stereotypes, but to develop their own potential, not to feed into the expectations of others, but to be their own person.

Sister Mary Elizabeth had a passion for justice. Perhaps the topic was politics, or perhaps it was the place of women in the church and the world. Maybe it was devastating persistence of poverty or maybe it was the treatment of immigrants. How committed she was to the Cambodian Mutual Assisting Association of Greater Lowell! She loved tutoring those children. They gave her such joy. This was just another example of her own generous heart, opening her arms to those in need. How often she continued to share with others the happy days that she enjoyed with the children and their parents. Like her, these Cambodian parents valued education for their children.

She was a scholar, a great reader, and a wisdom figure ahead of her time. It was so important for her to bring her treasured books with her. She would simply pick out a meaningful line or concept to share. Despite her hearing loss, and with her trusty iPad, she maintained great communication with others in her life. Hospitality and simplicity were keynotes for Sister Mary Elizabeth as she welcomed family and friends to her home in Groton, and Pepperell.

She lived with an “attitude of gratitude”. Whether with family or friends, with students or community, Sister Mary Elizabeth lived her life with gratitude for her God, her faith, the people and experiences that filled her life. Thank you Sister Mary Elizabeth for sharing your life with us — we are grateful and will try to live this “attitude of gratitude” each day.

Mary Ellen O’Connell, CSJ
September 18, 2026

I am honored to share some memories of Sister Mary Elizabeth Gleason, with you, her many friends and her family.

A little background: I entered religious life on September 15, 1964, alongside forty-nine of my cohorts. Sister Mary Elizabeth was our formation director. When we gathered for the first time in Framingham, she said to us, “You have done a super-natural thing today.” At the time, I had no idea what she was talking about, but I soon found out.

During that year in formation, she introduced us to the history, charism and mission of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston, and to the writings of Thomas Aquinas, and Teresa of Avila, and most importantly, to the wonderful wind blowing through the open windows of the Church because of Vatican II. She talked with us often about having an “attitude of gratitude” in our lives. Not only did she share her wisdom, but her dry wit and her laughter, and there was nothing better than to watch her almost falling out of her seat with laughter, with tears rolling down her face, when we performed one of one of our “creative skits” for some special occasion.

Over the many years since, Sister Mary Elizabeth and I became friends. Sister Mary Elizabeth had many, many, life-long friends, from the women in her Party, to those she was in community with, to those she guided in formation, to students she met through her teaching, and many others.

She loved her family — she was so proud of each of her nieces and nephews. She had pictures of them at her home in Groton, and she was proud of their achievements as adults.

For each of us in this chapel, and those who cannot be with us today, from California to Maine, to those who preceded her in death, she made our lives better. She had a strong sense of herself as a woman. She was a great reader and great listener, and you could talk with her about anything, from the most serious issues facing the church or the country, to something going on in your life, to the progress of the gardens she loved to plant. To each of these conversations she brought both wisdom and understanding. She loved to laugh. Her strength, support, and encouragement made each of us better, and each of us more ourselves. And so, we have an ‘attitude of gratitude’ for having known her in our lives, and for the many gifts she shared with us. We will miss her greatly.

Suzanne Perry
September 18, 2026