Sister Marie Frances Mott, a beloved member of the Sisters of Saint Joseph, Chestnut Hill for 75 years, died on January 25, 2010 at Saint Joseph Villa in Flourtown. For many years Sister Marie was know by the religious name, Sister Zita Maria.
Born and raised in Philadelphia, Marie, the daughter of William and Marie Mott attended grade school in Saint Rose of Lima parish and graduated from West Catholic High School for Girls in 1934. During her high school years she excelled in the study of languages, particularly Latin and French.
Sister Marie’s ministry brought her to the Allentown, Trenton and Scranton dioceses as well as the Archdioceses of Newark, Philadelphia and Washington. In her early years of teaching she faced the challenge of preparing lessons for her large classes in all age groups and sometimes even being asked to teach in shifts to accommodate the large number of students. When Sister began to teach French in high school she was a pioneer in the use of the foreign language lab.
Never hesitant to try new ways, in her later life Sister Marie developed prayer groups with adults. She recalled that one of the richest experiences of her life came from working with adults in the Renew program. She welcomed the changes of Vatican II and the “open window to let the Holy Spirit blow through the church” and she reflected that she was prepared for ecumenism because of her wonderful early childhood friendships with girls of various religious faiths.
Sister Marie’s linguistic ability gave her the opportunity to translate early documents of the Sisters of Saint Joseph in France. In an interview for a living history, Sister Marie said this: “I did work on the Holy Rule. . . I was quite thrilled because we are moving as our sisters did when they first began. They did anything they were called for. Any good work. Remember that: we are called to any good work.”
Offering a reflection on the life of Sister Marie, Sister Anne Myers said, “Sister Marie was a peaceful caring presence and was integral to the life of the communities where she lived. It was clear to everyone that her peace originated from a deep relationship with God and this was a source of inspiration to her sisters.”
Sister Marie’s life was devoted to the Word of God and the language of relationship. When asked what advice she would offer to those who come after her she remarked, “You must always remember that God is most important and He can take care of us and He will because we’re so important to Him and He loves us so much—not what we do, but that relationship. Don’t lose sight of that. It’s faith.”
In faith Sister Marie Mott lived her religious life for 75 years. In faith she transitioned through challenging situations and times. In faith may she intercede for us who continue on the journey to know and love God more deeply because it is “not what we do, but that relationship” that is so important.
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