Sister Maureen Meyer
Current Ministry Location – Maryknoll Sisters Center-Monrovia, CA
Maureen Meyer was born June 2, 1942 in Milwaukee, WI to Harriet Mary (Bliesner) Meyer and Clement Joseph Meyer. She had 3 sisters: Mariette, Miriam and Marilyn and 3 brothers: John, James and Joseph. Maureen graduated from Pius XI High School, Milwaukee in 1960.
Maureen entered the Maryknoll Sisters Congregation at their Novitiate in Valley Park, MO on October 18, 1960 from Milwaukee. She pronounced First Vows June 24, 1963 in Valley Park and Final Vows July 22, 1972 in Tanzania, East Africa.
Her first assignment, from 1964 to 1965, was within the United States where she was part of the Sisters Development Department’s promotion team both at the Center and in Chicago. In 1965 Maureen attended Rogers College, Maryknoll, NY earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Adult Education in 1969. That same year, she received her first overseas assignment to Tanzania where she taught in a secondary school in Morogoro.
With an invitation from the then President of Tanzania, Julius K. Nyerere, in 1975 she and three other Maryknoll Sisters started a pilot project in education in Nangwa which embodied the national goal of “Self-reliance.” She helped develop the curriculum, classroom schedule, work time, and collaborated with both parents and village leaders in the wholistic development of the students.
Later as a pastoral agent in Kung’ombe Village Sister Maureen was involved in women’s development and basic Christian Community. She also took part in the daily lives of the village that included helping with the harvest, carrying water, visiting the sick or just sitting and talking.
After serving at the Maryknoll Center, 1980 – ’83, and obtaining a Certificate in Clinical Pastoral Education from St. Peter & Paul Parish, South Boston, MA, she returned to Tanzania and in 1998 , co-authored a book, “Wisdom for Changing Times.” She also assisted with retreats and workshops, using materials from this book.
Sister Maureen was part of the Emusoi Center in Arusha where she taught Oral English to girls who were in pre-form one (a level in school that reviews all they learned in primary school so they could take exams to gain entrance into private secondary schools). In this course Sister Maureen taught Conversational English and confidence building.
Back in the US, Sister earned a Certificate in Culture/Creation Spirituality in 1991 from Holy Names College, Oakland, CA.
In 2015, Sister Maureen was assigned to the Sisters retirement house in Monrovia, CA where she is a very active volunteer.