The 108-year legacy of Sister Mary Joseph Tsuzuki
Sister Mary Joseph Tsuzuki was 108 years old when she passed away peacefully on October 10, 2024, in Kyoto, Japan. This made her the oldest sister in the School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND) Central Pacific Province. Of her many years, she counted more than 70 of them as a SSND. She is remembered as a gentle and dignified religious woman, known for a wonderful sense of humor and talent for both playing and teaching music.
Sister Mary Joseph Tsuzuki was born on June 22, 1916, in Kyoto. Her father was Hitoshi Tsuzuki and her mother was named Hana. She was the fourth oldest of a large family of eight children, growing up alongside two sisters and five brothers. Her family belonged to the Anglican Church, and as a child she received a Christian education. When she was 13, she was baptized at the Doshisha Protestant church but would later go on to convert to Catholicism. She was baptized in her late 20s at St. Francis Xavier Church on Christmas Eve in 1943 and given the name Cecilia.
As a young woman, she attended Jiyu Gakuen Women’s College, which at the time housed a special technical music department. She majored in piano and graduated in 1939.
In 1948, upon the very recent conclusion of World War II, the School Sisters of Notre Dame made the bold decision to venture into Japan to help re-establish Christian education efforts for Japanese students. Four sisters from St. Louis navigated a long journey and many challenges to set into motion a legacy for educating girls and women that continues today.
Not long after the arrival of those first sisters, on September 5, 1949, Cecilia entered the School Sisters of Notre Dame at Shishigatani Convent. She was received into the novitiate on August 28, 1951, and given the name Mary Joseph. On August 29, 1952, she professed her first vows and six years later, on August 29, 1958, she professed her final vows.
Like many SSND, Sister Mary Joseph was an engaged and devoted educator. She was a homeroom teacher and a music teacher from 1953 until 1961 at Notre Dame Jogakuin Jr. and Sr. High School. This school for girls, a special ministry of SSND, had at the time only opened the year prior. She was also part of the early days of Notre Dame College (now known as Kyoto Notre Dame University). She taught music classes from the college’s initial establishment in 1961 until her retirement in 1988.
As she moved away from an official teaching ministry into her retirement, Sister Mary Joseph kept herself very busy. She ministered as an organ accompanist for Mass, wedding celebrations and funerals at the parish church. In addition, she gave private music lessons and tutored graduates. She herself sang in the choir (Coro Celeste) and led the choir at churches and the alumnae association of Notre Dame Women’s College.
Sister Mary Joseph valued her relationship with nature and God’s creation, as well as with people. She demonstrated both her appreciation of nature and her own creativity by beautifully arranging fresh flowers to display in the convent. Even in her 90s, she was a diligent caretaker over the convent gardens. She took care of her own health by practicing yoga every day and cooking brown rice.
The Department of Japanese and Global Cultures of Kyoto Notre Dame University shared the following story of Sister Mary Joseph, illustrating her eagerness to share with and support students, even in her later years.
“A group of four sophomore students began the research on bread and Kyoto. The research theme was 'No bread, No life'.” Kyoto ranks first in the country in terms of bread consumption. In their research, students found out that Shinshindo was the oldest bakery in Kyoto. Moreover, they learned that a SSND, Sister Mary Joseph Tsuzuki, was the daughter of the founder of Shinshindo. They decided to interview her.
Immediately, the four girls visited Iwakura Convent. Sister Mary Joseph was already 98 but was still full of energy. She welcomed them with a smile. For almost an hour, she explained how her father started Shinshindo and why bread began to become so popular in Kyoto. When they left, Sister Mary Joseph saw them off, waving all the way with a smile. Later the students displayed their results of the research in University library.”
For the last five years of her life, Sister Mary Joseph lived a ministry of prayer and presence at the convent in Kyoto.
On October 10, 2024, she completed her life as a School Sister of Notre Dame. A wake service was held on October 11 and the Mass of Resurrection was celebrated on October 12. Her cremains were buried at Kinugasa Cemetery in Kyoto.
May she rejoice in her new life with her God and family members who have preceded her into eternal life.