Holy Names Sister leaves legacy of service
God opened the door to service as an educator and Holy Names Sister Marianne Viani is happy to admit she walked right through it.
“God called me to this and I listened and responded,” said Sister Marianne, a Catholic school educator for more than 50 years. Sister Marianne will retire in June after 20 years as associate superintendent for curriculum and school improvement for the Archdiocese of San Francisco. “I think I always wanted to be a teacher because my childhood experience of the Sisters who taught me was wonderful. Administration just happened and I found out that I liked it and was good at it.”
“The Archdiocese of San Francisco can be proud of the work accomplished and the legacy left by Sister Marianne Viani,” said Archbishop George H. Niederauer. “Sister Marianne has been tireless in her efforts as an educator and administrator.”
Maureen Huntington, Superintendent of Schools for the Archdiocese of San Francisco has worked with Sister Marianne for eight years. “I have found Sister Marianne to be very professional and extremely capable,” Huntington told Catholic San Francisco. “She is a hard worker, always willing to take on new challenges, and eager to do what is in the best interest of our students, teachers, principals, and schools.
“Sister Marianne has a great sense of humor, is fun to be with, and enjoys a good party! We will miss her easy laughter, quick wit and concern for others. I wish her a long and healthy retirement filled with many opportunities to travel and enjoy this next chapter in her life. ”
Dominican Sister Glenn Anne McPhee, chancellor for the Diocese of Oakland, served as superintendent of schools for the Archdiocese of San Francisco for 14 years from 1986 – 2001.
“Sister Marianne is one of the finest Catholic School educators that I have been privileged to work with,” Sister Glenn Anne said. “In the late 1980’s I asked her to come to the Department of Education in the Archdiocese. Hers was a reluctant yes with a one year qualifier. She had succeeded me in the position I left in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles when I came to San Francisco. Daily, she has faithfully served all in the Catholic elementary and secondary schools in the Archdiocese of San Francisco and beyond. Catholic education has been strengthened by her commitment to excellence.”
Catholic schools are permeated by moral and ethical values, according to Sister Marianne. “The USCCB’s 2005 statement on Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools in the Third Millennium says ‘Catholic schools afford the fullest and best opportunity to realize the fourfold purpose of Christian education, namely to provide an atmosphere in which the Gospel message is proclaimed, community in Christ is experienced, service to our sisters and brothers is the norm, and thanksgiving and worship of our God is cultivated.’ This is what is great about Catholic education!”
The education landscape has changed, Sister Marianne pointed out. “Many family structures have changed so the support that parents used to give educators has changed, sometimes in non positive ways,” Sister Marianne said, noting “both public and Catholic schools have taken on far more responsibility for the care of children, especially before and after school.” The emphasis on a safe environment for children is “a modern day reality in all schools,” she said. Sister Marianne said focus on the arts in education has resulted in a “far more rounded student.”
In addition to her service in Los Angeles, Sister Marianne served as Community Supervisor for the Sisters of the Holy Names, as teacher and principal of San Francisco’s now-closed St. Joseph Elementary School, and as a member of the faculty at St. Anselm Elementary School in Ross. She is a graduate of Oakland’s Sacred Heart Elementary School, Holy Names High School, and Holy Names University.
“One of the greatest challenges, especially in the current economic climate, is keeping our Catholic schools, particularly in urban areas, available, accessible and affordable,” Sister Marianne said. ”I worry about the future of our inner city Catholic schools.”
“God planted the seed of my Religious vocation very early and I responded. It’s a wonderful, challenging life rooted in community. The Sisters of the Holy Names formed me early on and continue to do so.”
Sister Marianne’s best moments have included “serving God’s children, forming their parents, working with a multitude of colleagues, and expanding my horizon.”
The future, she said, “holds a bit more free time to enjoy family, community and friends while continuing to keep my attention on Catholic education.”
Like many religious and clergy who “retire,” Sister Marianne will not be leaving the education scene completely. “I will be working about 10 hours a week on the WCEA/WASC accreditation piece of the job,” she said.
For those she’s served with, Sister Marianne says, “Continue to give your very best to your students, their parents and families, your colleagues, your Church, and, most specially your God.”
For those entering the education arena, she advises, “Know you are doing the work of Jesus, teaching his little and not so little ones. Put love, energy and laughter into it every day!”
Sister Marianne stays very busy
During her 20 years in the Catholic Schools Department of the Archdiocese of San Francisco, Holy names Sister Marianne Viani was instrumental in starting the annual Choral Festival for elementary school students and the annual junior high Academic Decathlon.
She is the Elementary and Secondary Commissioner for accreditations and does all of the accreditation training for chairs and teams as well as coordinates all of the Accreditation Visiting Teams for schools in the Archdiocese of San Francisco each year. She also chairs teams each year even traveling to other countries to do so.
Sister Marianne started an Archdiocesan Staff Development Committee to provide ongoing systemic professional development for all Catholic school teachers and administrators and plans a full day in-service for all teachers, K -12 every year. She worked with the Archdiocese of San Francisco High School Curriculum directors to develop an Archdiocesan wide curriculum for all 14 secondary schools.
She has been responsible for updating elementary curriculum and works with teams of teachers and principals to conduct the research on curricular changes and identify new instructional materials. A different content area is addressed each year.
Sister Marianne coordinated the development of an Archdiocesan Report Card for elementary schools. She conducts school visits and works with teachers and principals on school improvement needs as identified by the accreditation process.
Sister Marianne Viani will be honored at several events:
• April 27th by the Council of Catholic High School Administrators
• May 13th by school principals of the Archdiocese of San Francisco
• May 28th by the Department of Catholic School of the Archdiocese of San Francisco
By Tom Burke
From April 23, 2010 issue of Catholic San Francisco.
