Whenever someone talks to Sr. Maria Berlec ’67, she is always radiating with positivity. She sets such a great example for everyone in the VASJ community.
The year 2018 is a special one for Sr. Maria as she is celebrating her 50th Golden Jubilee. This means that it has been 50 years since she made the decision to devote her life to Christ and become a nun.
“It went very fast,” Sr. Maria says. “The benefit was knowing how to trust God and letting Him guide my life.”
At first, it was difficult for her to let God have the job of being in control of her life but these years have taught Sr. Maria that it was all about what God had done for her, not what she had decided for herself.
“It was all a gift from God,” Sr. Maria says.
Faithfulness, perseverance, and God’s grace were some of the things that she said kept her going.
“It was also the people,” she says.
The experiences with others have had a tremendous impact throughout her life.
Sr. Maria gave three “rules” that she has learned to live by after 50 years.
“I live one day at a time, I do my best everyday, and I trust God to guide me.”
These rules explain how Sr. Maria has been able to continue to be the inspiring person she is today.
“Would I do it again? In a heartbeat,” she says.
Sr. Maria recently spoke at VASJ’s Founder’s Day Mass about what the past years have meant to her. The students presented her with a video they created to show the impact she has had on people throughout her years at VASJ. Sr. Maria was also given a book containing sentiments from students as well as a piece of original artwork from a student.