We Remember Sister Betty Schuster

The following reflection was written by Sister Mary Alyce Koval, a member of the Leadership Team
 
“Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” [Hebrews 11:1]
 
Sister Betty Schuster’s journey began on Long Island, New York. Throughout her life, she walked with God. She taught physical education classes on Long Island until her life journey brought her to the home of the Ursuline Sisters in Youngstown when she responded to an invitation to become a Companion in Mission at Beatitude House.
 
She ministered at Holy Family School in Poland, Immaculate Conception School in Youngstown  and then at New Hope Academy, all the while walking with Sister Margaret Scheetz as she worked to establish Beatitude House, another leap of faith into the unknown.  
 
For the year that she lived with the Ursuline Sisters as a Companion in Mission she became enamored with the chrism of St. Angela Merici. St. Angela’s imagination and courage were the inspiration for Betty to “leave her mother and father” in New York and join The Ursuline Community in Youngstown to walk with us as she continued to walk with God.
 
Further in her journey with God, she became the first Child Advocate at Beatitude House, working with mothers and their children to help them imagine the unknown and achieve personal success in their lives.  Her role as Associate Director of Beatitude House gave her the more opportunities to share her passion for working with the families who needed support and encouragement.  She walked with God at Beatitude House for 21 years, until July 2013.  At each stop along the way, Betty relied on her relationship with God to lead her to the next step.
 
In the course of her illness over the past seven years, Betty never wavered in her belief that God was her constant companion and support through the ups and downs of her journey.  Her move to the Motherhouse in July gave her an opportunity to “come home” to the Ursuline Sisters. The final stop in her journey was at Hospice House for six days where she experienced the compassionate and healing Face of God through the staff who ministered to her there.
 
Over the past few weeks, Betty took her last walk with God.  As they neared the end of their walk together, God invited Betty to the final destination of her journey with the promise, “Come, my faithful servant.  We are closer to My Home than yours.  Come, receive the Crown of Glory prepared for you from the beginning of time.”  Betty went Home on October 16 and now realizes all of the joys that she had hoped for throughout her life.