In Memory of Sister Mary Jane Birrcher

Phyllis was third of six children (five were girls) of Francis Xavier and Althea Tanguis Birrcher. Dad, who was Irish /Alsatian, was a store manager selling office furniture. Mom was French, from the Mississippi River parishes. The Birrchers lived next door to the sisters' convent. St. Anthony of Padua parish always had a great spirit, and this family was central to the church community. Dominicans from Holy Rosary Province, Spain, were their priests, and Phyllis was baptized by the noted preacher, Fr. Casimir Municha.

Phyllis won a scholarship to Holy Angels Academy; ; after graduation she went to work as a stenographer. Before the year was out, she entered the Dominican novitiate in Rosaryville. Her little sisters were just four and seven, but she was following her heart.

Mother Catherine was novice mistress; Phyllis received the name of St. Dominic's mother, Blessed Jane (Joanna) d'Aza. It was difficult in English (one of the cooks called her "Jane Jackson"; she also got "Jane Dazzle") and after thirty years she would shorten it to "Jane" for the people's sake.

Sister Mary Jane d'Aza taught in elementary schools for twelve years. She was moved frequently, perhaps because she was a favorite "on the missions." Her first year was in Reserve, Louisiana (St. Peter) and except for two years in Paulina (St. Joseph) the others were in New Orleans: St. Leo, Our Lady of Lourdes, St. Matthias, and St. Anthony (where she was next door to her family home, but restricted from ordinary contact). When all the sisters were sick and she needed to cook for the community, she would toss a pebble at her mother's window. Mom would come to the window and answer questions, and then bring over a big pot of soup for the hungry nuns.

In 1957 Jane completed the long series of Saturday and summer classes that led to her B.A., and six years later earned her M.A. from Catholic University with a thesis: "A Plan to Incorporate Christian Social Principles for Catholic Business Education Teachers."

She began teaching in the Business Education Department of St. Mary's Dominican College, and was soon appointed prioress of the motherhouse community. In 1968 she was elected Superior General of St. Mary's Congregation. The long overdue changes of the Second Vatican Council brought an upheaval in the whole Church, and large numbers of priests, brothers, and sisters were leaving. There was confusion and misunderstanding, and mistakes were made on all sides. Sister Mary Jane d'Aza found herself at the helm of a ship tossed about in a massive storm. The first of a long line of sisters had begun to leave the community. The flow of vocations dwindled, and virtually dried up. It was a time of grieving, for a small community that was like a family. Jane was by nature positive, and the effect on her sunny temperament was devastating. She survived the ordeal, and in 1975 a grateful congregation sent her on a pilgrimage to the Lands of Dominic with twelve other Dominicans. She threw herself into it whole-heartedly, and enjoyed it with the wonder of a child.

After her second term ended, Jane went to St. Clare's, Waveland, on the Gulf Coast, where she worked as a pastoral associate. Later when a principal was needed for the school she went through the process of certification in Mississippi. She served there 19 years, until her health broke down. In 1983 she had written, "I went for a check-up (after two years) only to find out I have diabetes... but with a diet and medication it will be controlled. I'm sure it could be worse."

The diabetes eventually resulted in kidney failure. After a near-death experience in Waveland, she gave up her work there. She had endeared herself to her people to a rare degree. Returning to New Orleans, she recovered enough to help out at Dominican High School. In 1996 the sisters at the motherhouse elected her coordinator; she seemed not to know how to spare herself. Her health failed again, soon after her re-election in July, and she spent more than four months in the hospital suffering intensely before the end came. Her constant prayer was for vocations. When a Vietnamese sister, one of her protégées for whom she had a tender affection, visited her in the hospital, she asked her how could she pray in the midst of so much suffering. The sister reported that Sister Jane said, " I pray different now." And she proceeded to sing "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus in the morning, Jesus in the noontime. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus when the sun goes down." Sister Jane taught that song to her nursing assistants, and they would sing it to her over and over.

There is a profound sense of loss for community, for her family, and friends. Octogenarian Sister Mary Alice Russell said, "Bad for us, good for her." Jane was full of life and love. Her death leaves a great hole; she will be missed for a long time.