By Jim Davis - Florida Catholic

MIAMI BEACH | "I'm at a loss for words — and that’s unusual for me," Sister Clementina Givens said.

Her 200 listeners at St. Patrick Church laughed, and more than made up for her lack of words — telling how the 94-year-old sister taught and disciplined them, and encouraged them to learn, excel and love God. On June 11, they gathered to say "Thank you" at a Mass in honor of her retirement.

Coming to South Florida five decades ago, the Oblate Sister of Providence taught twice starting in 1962 at Holy Redeemer Church in Miami, then at St. Patrick for more than 21 years. And for some, it still wasn't enough.

"We are crying that she's leaving," said Hilda Tondo, who came an hour early with her friend Geysa Gispan. Both of them had sat under Sister Clementina's teaching, then sent their children for the same.

"But we're happy that she shared 20 years with us here," Tondo added. "Some nuns and priests are like they're above us, but she came down to us."

Gispan agreed. "She's been like a friend. You could come to her with any problem, and she'd give you an idea of what to do."

Father Roberto Cid, pastor at St. Patrick, termed Sister Clementina a "gift" in his homily.

"We thank God for her vocation and gift of service, and for being a witness in our lives," he said. "Sister Clementina was set apart to teach adults and youths greater communion with him."

A pair of gifts was what put her at a loss for words, at least temporarily. One was a bouquet of roses fit for a beauty queen. Another was a giant check announcing the new Sister Clementina Education Endowment Fund for disadvantaged students. Seeded with $100,000, the fund has a goal of $1 million, Father Cid said.

The Mass was the second recent South Florida honor for the tiny nun. Last year, for her 75th anniversary in religious life, Archbishop Thomas Wenski declared Sept. 12 as Sister Clementina Givens Day in the archdiocese.

Hugs and hope

Entering the Oblate Sisters in 1940, Sister Clementina served as a teacher and administrator in various venues — Chicago, Charleston, Baltimore and Washington, D.C.

She served at Holy Redeemer as teacher and principal from 1962 to 1973, then as administrator from 1981 to 1988. She instilled a love of learning and a drive to succeed, testified two of her alumnae.

"You see this woman? She is God's gift," Miranda Albury of Miami told the congregation at St. Patrick. She then addressed Sister Clementina: "You loved every child. You touched every life. You gave us hugs and hope."

Albury added later in an interview: "What she gave us as African Americans was pride. With Sister Clementina, you got your education. She said it was our ticket to wherever we were going in life. There was no such thing as failing."

Her sister, Montrese, nodded. "She always told us, 'Knowledge is power.' I am so proud to have received the blessing of education through her."

After her second term at Holy Redeemer, Sister Clementina took a one-year sabbatical at the Oblates' motherhouse in Baltimore; then she served from 1989 to 1996 as director of the Office of Black Catholic Ministry in Rockford, Ill. She then came to St. Patrick as director of religious education.

"Feisty" was the first word that came to Leo Rios, 23, when asked his impression of Sister Clementina. His parents were married at St. Patrick 32 years ago and he and his two siblings prepared for confirmation under Sister Clementina. He mentioned what others have called "The Principal's Stare": settling down kids like himself who occasionally acted up, with little more than eye contact.

"She has incredible strength for a woman her age," said Rios, who had come to the Mass from Hollywood with his family. "I think it has a lot to do with her faith."

Besides DRE, Sister Clementina's other jobs at St. Pat's included, at various times, Virtus coordinator, first Communion teacher, Sunday school teacher and instructor for adult conversion classes (RCIA).

Sister Dora Fernandez, another Oblate sister, will succeed her as DRE. Filling her diminutive shoes for the other tasks will be harder.

"This is a bittersweet occasion, and a challenge," Father Cid said in an interview. "She is a towering figure."

Gems and butterflies

After Mass, the church served franks and hamburgers at a reception in the school cafeteria, where letters strung from the ceiling spelled out "THANK YOU SISTER CLEMENTINA." She sat at a table in the center, strewn with blue plastic gems and blue butterflies. One former student after another approached to hug, say thanks or shoot selfies with her.

Sister Clementina voiced an irony about it all. "I wanted a big family with a lot of children. And God gave me all these children."

Among those sitting closest was Joy Killum, another Holy Redeemer alumna. Visiting South Florida from her current home in Stone Mountain, Ga., she heard of the farewell Mass and made a point to attend.

"Sister Clementina was a powerful influence on my life," said Killum, a retired officer of DeKalb County Schools in Georgia.

Fighting to hold back tears was Donna Moore, Sister Clementina’s niece and a catechist at St. Patrick.

"The Spirit of God is so strong in her; when you sit near her, you feel it. Sometimes it's dizzying. I've always loved to be around her," she said. "She's been a source of strength and prayer and patience."

Sister Clementina's next home is back at the Oblate motherhouse in Baltimore, but she doesn't want a leisurely retirement. Instead, she plans to tutor students in reading and math.

"I've already told the mother general: I may be 94, but I don’t intend to sit down, waiting for death," she said.