Marianne Stuckert, SSJ

“This is what God asks of you, only this, to act justly, to love tenderly and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8

Sister Marianne Stuckert, SSJ, offers this advice to those interested in devoting time and energy to their spiritual lives: “Slow down. Take time to listen to your heart and you will discover God’s plan for you.”  God’s plan for Sister Marianne (formerly Sister Joanne) was to share her knowledge.

Born in Atlantic City, N.J., she entered the Sisters of St. Joseph from Blessed Sacrament Parish in Margate, N.J., in 1967. She had just completed her junior year as a chemistry major at Villa Maria College in Erie. After graduating from Villa Maria College, she went on to do additional studies at the University of Notre Dame.

“I have been blessed by so many people and their support has helped me throughout the years,” she says.

Among her gifts are a quick sense of humor and a dedication to peace and justice issues and environmental concerns. Although she spent most of her religious life in education, she served as assistant director of Community House for Women, Erie, and in 1978, was resident director of Horizon House for Women in Union City.

She began her religious life as a seventh- and eighth-grade science teacher at Our Lady’s Christian School in Erie. This was followed by 10 years as a chemistry instructor at Villa Maria College, where she also served as bookstore manager and director of its Conference Center. She was a chemistry teacher at Villa Maria Academy and at Gannon University, until 1990. That’s when she assumed the responsibility for student scheduling at Villa Maria Academy, a position she holds today. “I would like to continue to work with the wonderful students and staff at Villa Maria Academy,” she says. “Every day, I am touched by their love of God and love of neighbor.”