Sister Charlene Cesario

(Sister Charles Marie)

Charlene Cesario was born on the feast of St. Mary Magdalene. The “apostle to the apostles” is Sister Charlene’s true companion in faith.

Sister Charlene has always felt a deep love for God. Although her parents did not practice their faith, they sent their children to Mass. Compelled by a concern for her father, she once asked “What profits a man if he gains all but loses his soul?” Mr. Cesario, a loving and kind man, smiled at her and continued shaving. In retrospect, Sister Charlene believes that his reticence to attend Mass was connected to the horrors he witnessed in the War.

Charlene entered the convent twice. A Sister relative invited her to visit their motherhouse on what was entrance day. Char felt so drawn to religious life she received a quick assent from her parents and entered that day. Soon, she received a letter from her sister who told of their father’s distress and challenged her: “If you love God as much as you say you love Him, come home.” Charlene left with the words of the novice directress in her heart, “You have a vocation, but you need to go home for now.”

Char grew up in Chicago, on both the north and south sides. The family settled in St. Gall parish where the Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary taught. Her younger brother announced to Sister. Magdalen de Pazzi that his sister wanted to be a nun. Sister Magdalen (note name) acted on the news and spoke with Charlene. Considering what she learned about from her recent try at religious life, Charlene reasoned that if she attended boarding school, it would facilitate an easier transition for her family when she entered the convent.

Charlene attended Holy Family Academy, Beaverville, Illinois, her final years of high school. There she found a mentor in Sister Joseph Marie (Sister Myra Dionne) who was in charge of her dormitory. Sister was “kind, generous, welcoming”. She allowed the teen-age girls in her care to be themselves and was an example by her serving attitude.
Sister Charlene’s favorite time as a teacher was spent at St. Alphonsus in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, as the very first first-grade teacher in the school’s history. Later, Sister Charlene was involved in catechetical ministry as a Director of Religious Education.

Currently, Sister Charlene is a spiritual director whose joy is “helping people see the other side of God”. Her life as a spiritual companion to people of a variety of faith traditions leads them- and her- to experience God in many and varied ways.

The charism of family love is most important to Sister Charlene. As she regards a picture of Father Delaplace, founder of the SSCMs, she reflects that family love is expressed in sacrifice, belief in each another, and holding all things and experiences in common. This love is extended in humility that accepts one another and has patience, mercy, and love without expectation. Sister Charlene lives a graced life.

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