Mary
Jane McCormick:
A treasure of the Archdiocese
By NADIA MARIA SMITH
CS&T Staff Writer
PHILADELPHA — Mary Jane McCormick, who some describe as a pillar
of St. Matthew School, has dedicated the past 50 years of her life to
its students and faculty
According to its principal, Sister Kathleen Touey, I.H.M, McCormick, has
captured the spirit of St. Matthew and of the Sisters, Servants of the
Immaculate Heart of Mary, and exemplifies their sense of truth and goodness
for the students and the other teachers.
Her dedication has not gone unnoticed. The school plans to hold “Ms.
McCormick Week” in April, during which she will be honored in a
number of events for her 50 years of service.
“She is a real treasure of the Archdiocese,” Sister Kathleen
said McCormick was hired right out of Little Flower High School for Girls
in 1958 and began teaching first- through third-grade classes. Her second-grade
class alone had 78 students.
In those days things were done differently, McCormick said, but she was
a quick study and loved to teach — a calling she felt as a young
girl.
“I started tutoring when I was in sixth or seventh grade. I had
a real interest in teaching others,” she said.
McCormick has taught every grade except kindergarten and fourth grade,
as well as coached CYO, basketball, volleyball, and track and field.
She has also been very involved in the parish, teaching catechism classes
and the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults.
Her favorite subject to teach has always been religion class because she
feels that she is “Giving the students the Spirit of God,”
she said.
But in fact, McCormick brings her faith to everything she does and believes
no matter what subject one teaches “God works in any teachable moment,”she
added.
Today she is the resource teacher, and her subjects are math and English.
She no longer coaches, but is the school’s number one fan.
She also lectors at the parish and she is a member of the liturgy and
pastoral council committees.
McCormick realizes she could have gone on to teach at any other school.
But St. Matthew won her heart: “It became my second family. It became
a part of me,”she said. She wouldn’t trade being a Catholic
school teacher for anything in the world.
“Children need a faith-based education on a daily basis,”
she said.
“I believe in educating the whole child, mind, body and soul. That
is one of the greatest gifts Catholic education gives to a student,”
she said.
And McCormick has been one of the greatest gifts to Catholic education
in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
CS&T staff writer Nadia Maria Smith can be reached at npozo@adphila.org
or (215) 965-4614.