Sister Grace Corde Myerjack
Current Ministry Location – Contemplative Community, NY
Mary Ann Myerjack was born August 31, 1935 Elmhurst, NY to Mary A. (Lucas) Myerjack and John T. Myerjack. She had one brother, James. She graduated from St. Agnes Academy, Queens, NY in 1953.
Mary Ann entered the Maryknoll Sisters September 2, 1953 at their Center in Ossining, NY from the Brooklyn diocese. She pronounced First vows March 7, 1956 at the Center. At the time of her First Profession, she was given the religious name, Grace Corde. Sister Grace Corde’s first assignment was giving Congregational Services at the Center from 1956-1957and then later to work for the Maryknoll Society while living in St. Teresa’s Convent. She pronounced Final Vows March 7, 1964 at the Cloister.
During college studies at Maryknoll, Sister Grace volunteered and was accepted for the Maryknoll Cloister in 1961, a year before the opening of Vatican II. She received Final Enclosure at the Cloister October 3, 1966.
Our founder, Mother Mary Joseph Rogers, described the cloister as “a contemplative community with a different kind of work to do.” An integral part of the Congregation, members live their lives in prayer and sacrifice for the support of missioners, especially Maryknollers, and the missionary endeavor of the universal church.
As Vatican II was implemented, Sister Grace participated in the Contemplative Community’s decision to open their space to Maryknoll Sisters and others, who desired a time apart for reflective living. All who desired were welcomed to share liturgies and prayer. A section of the building was reserved for retreatants. The Maryknoll Sisters helped to establish the Metropolitan Association of Contemplative Communities and supported prayer movements throughout the United States.
In 1973 Sister Grace earned a B.A. in Theology from St. Louis University in St. Louis, MO.
In 1986, invitations to begin a prayer presence in Guatemala and Sudan were accepted, and in 1990, Thailand. It had always been the cloister’s hope to be in countries where Maryknoll Sisters work.
In 2000, our Contemplative Community in New York moved into a smaller dwelling in a wooded area adjacent to the Maryknoll Sisters Center near Ossining, NY. Sister Grace continues offering retreats and spiritual guidance there.