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Sister Theresa Metz, CSJ passed into eternal life on August 21st surrounded by sister companions at Mt. St. Joseph.
Sister Theresa Metz was the oldest of 13 children in Weston, WV. She is preceded in death by her parents, John and Madlyn Loretta Metz, an infant brother, John Bernard and two grown brothers, Patrick and Paul Metz. She is survived by ten siblings, and their families.
Sr. Theresa entered the Congregation of St. Joseph on September 8, 1956, from St. Patrick's Parish in Weston, WV and professed her vows on July 31, 1959. She received a BS in Education from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA; an MA in Religious Education from Fordham University, New York, NY; and Spiritual Direction Certification from Pecos Benedictine Monastery, Pecos, NM.
Sister Theresa taught in several diocesan schools including: Cathedral Grade and Blessed Trinity Schools in Wheeling, Saint Thomas in Thomas, and Saint Mary in Clarksburg. She ministered as the Coordinator for Religious Education at Immaculate Conception and St. James Parishes in Clarksburg. She also ministered as Pastoral Associate and Director of Ministries at Cathedral Parish in Wheeling and Sacred Heart Parish in Princeton. She also served as Patient Family Representative at Saint Francis Hospital, Charleston. She served as a spiritual companion and led Parish days of reflection and retreats. Throughout her years of ministry and beyond Theresa enjoyed rich friendships and working relationships with many priests from around the diocese and for whom she always expressed deep gratitude.
Theresa was frequently described as "wildly creative, imaginative, sweet and very funny". She was a gifted visual artist, who painted and created beauty wherever she lived or served. As a life-long learner Theresa shared her love of books and beauty with many others. Friends were often gifted with books which she believed would enrich their lives.
Always alert to the gifts of others, Theresa believed that creativity is expressed in many ways. Through her leadership of the local Creativity Committee, she harvested the "arts" of the sisters and shared them with the larger community for appreciation and recognition.
These words from Sr. Theresa give expression to her heart and passion.
"The feast of the Blessed Trinity, the loving unity of three Persons in one God, reminds me of the charism of my community, the Congregation of St. Joseph, which is love of God, all persons, and all creation. My lived experience of religious life and my mission have been one of prayer and trying to share this mutual love with God and all who have accompanied me throughout my journey: my sisters, family, friends, co-workers, as well as diocesan, ecumenical, and civic groups of which I've been a part. Unconditional mutual love sounds good, but it does not come naturally. During my life I have experienced honest struggle to love as Jesus does. I also had to pray my way through the hard times in the same way as Christians throughout history had to do. John Pierre Medaille, our founder, said well how we are able to succeed: 'I am in love with love and let love love through me.' Freedom!"
"During my life, I have enjoyed many wondrous experiences of doing part of God's work: witnessing the wonder of children as they learned to read, empowering adult Catholics to become certified to teach religion, trying to create communities of love wherever I was. It has been a joy to find love in my life as I also companioned other persons as they discovered God's love in their lives. Gratitude fills me!"
Family and friends will be received from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 24th, 2023 at Mount St. Joseph, 137 Mount St. Joseph Road, Wheeling, WV, and a vigil service will be held at 7:00 p.m.
Catholic Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, August 25th, 2023 in the Mount St. Joseph chapel. Interment will follow in the Sisters of St. Joseph section at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Wheeling, WV.
Both the vigil service and funeral liturgy are open to the public and will also be livestreamed via a link in Sr. Theresa's obituary at www.altmeyer funeralhomes.com
Memorial contributions may be made to the Congregation of St. Joseph, at 137 Mount St. Joseph Road, Wheeling WV, 26003.
Funeral arrangements by Altmeyer Funeral Home, 14th & Eoff St., Wheeling, WV.