Sister Martha Garzon

To Christian Charity Sister Mary Martha Garzon, religion is not taught, it is caught from our families and others in our lives. Sister Mary Martha’s family impressed upon her from an early age the importance of prayer and keeping a devotion to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, and for that, she could not be more grateful.

Sister Mary Martha, who lives at  St. Cecilia Parish, Iselin, was born in Colombia and immigrated to New York City as a small child with her family. She attended St. John Chrysostom School and Immaculate Conception School, where she had her first experiences with the Sisters of Christian Charity that taught there.

The Sisters were a wonderful early example for Sister Mary Martha of a consecrated life, but perhaps the most influential person in her decision to seek a vocation was her grandmother, whom she lived with.

“She was very religious, always took me to church, and taught me prayers. My grandmother always prayed that one of us would enter religious life, and I was the blessed one,” stated Sister Mary Martha.

Sister Mary Martha said her first vows in August 1963, and describes the formation process as joyful, but challenging. “Like everything in life, you have your joys and sorrows, your ups and downs. Training was hard, but it was done with kindness and to firm us up for the future,” she explained, remembering how the “happy group” prayed the rosary and went to church together.

“Devotions had been important to my family, and this was a natural continuation when I entered the convent. It was a good foundation that grandmom gave me,” she added.

Her grandmother also gave her another gift: an affinity for working with older people. “I was raised by my grandmother, so I grew up with older people and enjoyed working with them,” she said. Sister Mary Martha touched the lives of many individuals while working at a nursing home in New York and the Home for the Blind of the City of New York. Reflecting on that experience she stated, “It was wonderful to work with the blind and disabled, and to see how happy they were despite their challenges. I really enjoyed those years working there before entering the convent.”

Sister Mary Martha took her final vows in August 1969, and has loved serving the Church and the faithful ever since. She served in the Diocese of Paterson for more than 30 years, including 12 at St. Mary Parish, Dover, and 19 at St. Cecilia Parish, Rockaway, where she was blessed to be a pastoral associate, visiting patients in the hospital, attending funerals, and comforting the mourning.

She also relished assisting the director of the religious education program and teaching: “I just love those little kids. They were so eager to learn.”

Today, Sister Mary Martha serves St. Cecilia’s by doing various tasks for the parish. “I’m a jack of all trades, and the master of none,” she laughs. “I love to be challenged and learn new things.”

In addition to her religious work, Sister Mary Martha enjoys gardening. She said, “It brings me close to God. When I start digging in the earth, I forget about everything else and just focus on preparing the earth for the plants to grow. I sometimes run into rocks, and I say, ‘Yes, Lord, this is like my life — rocks and pebbles that are resisting you need to be removed.’

“My garden becomes like a prayer for me.”

She also sings, knits, crochets, and puts her sewing skills to work by making masks for donation.

Throughout her 60 years of religious life, Sister Mary Martha has learned that the most important thing to do in tough times is to persevere through prayer. She states, “Pray, pray, and pray — even when you don’t feel like it. It’s very important. We do more by example than by preaching.”

Kaylynn Ebner