During the celebration for her 100th birthday at St Jerome’s parish in Munster, Sr Canisius, a member of Sisters of St Joseph of the Apparition, made it very clear who was responsible for her longevity.
“I thank the good God for giving me 100 years of life. To Him be praise and glory forever,” she announced to more than 300 friends and well-wishers who had gathered for Mass and festivities on 21 December, the feast day of St Peter Canisius, a 16th-century Dutch Jesuit priest.
Sr Canisius was born on 18 December 1914 in the small Croatian village of Milna and the St Jerome’s celebration was one of several held to acknowledge her ongoing love, service and commitment to the countless lives she has touched since her arrival in Western Australia in 1936.
At the conclusion of Mass a video, produced by Catholic Croatian Chaplain, Fr Nicola Cabraja, was presented on the life of the humble and still active centenarian.
Born Katica Mladinic, she was one of 11 children, raised by her paternal grandparents after her mother died during childbirth when Sr Canisius was two years of age. At the age of 18 she left the family home and entered the convent of the Sisters of St Joseph of the Apparition, an Order founded by French saint, Sr Emilie de Vialar in 1833.
The year after making her final vows in 1935, at the age of 22, it was discerned that Sr Canisius would be sent to Perth where many Croatian migrants had settled. Here, she lived in Fremantle and travelled by bus each day to teach at St Jerome’s Primary School in Spearwood, which had opened the previous year.
Conditions at the school were extremely basic, with no running water or electricity and with financially struggling parents often paying their fees with fruit, vegetables, meat or bread. Such supplies proved beneficial to the small congregation of Sisters who used the produce for their meals.
“They (the parents) were absolutely marvellous in those days,” Sr Canisius is quoted on the school’s webpage. “They worked hard but had no money. Whatever they had, they shared. We lived on what they lived on.”
In addition to her full-time teaching role, predominantly to newly-arrived migrant children, Sr Canisius was sacristan at St Patrick’s in Fremantle and was also involved in visits to prisons, nursing homes and hospitals, providing words of comfort and encouragement. She would later become principal of the school.
In 1964, Sr Canisius was transferred to St Joseph’s Convent in Albany where she would continue her teaching and outreach visits for the next eight years. Her untiring dedication and service to others then continued for the following 15 years in Beaconsfield, including religious education classes for children in public schools.
By 1981, the Croatian Ethnic Schools in North Fremantle and Gwelup had been established and Sr Canisius enthusiastically added the religious education of Croatian children to her already full list of commitments.
In 2004, at the age of 90, the seemingly tireless nun finally announced to Fr Cabraja that her hearing was declining. “It’s not nice for the children to hear me and I am unable to hear them,” she said.
Her official retirement, however, did not dampen her effervescent spirit as she continues to visit hospitals and nursing homes, taking Holy Communion and comfort to those who are sick and lonely.
Sr Canisius was humbled by the attention she received during her century celebration but extremely grateful for the effort made by many people. The celebration at St Jerome’s was attended by three generations of students as well as many others whose lives have been enriched by her presence.
After multiple celebrations for her latest milestone, one would expect Sr Canisius to allow her life to slow down for a while but, given her past record and the fact she will be celebrating her 80th year of consecrated life later this year, that isn’t very likely.