HEALTHY LIVING:

Catholic nun says the Y gave her the gift of health

Sr. Mary Twelve years ago, a parishioner at St. Ladislas Catholic Church gifted Sister Mary Joan Grisez, O.S.U., with a membership to the YMCA of Greater Cleveland.

Sister Mary Joan had just had major heart surgery to repair a congential defect. She has used the Y membership almost every day for the past dozen years, visiting the West Shore Family YMCA on Columbia Road to do exercise and water aerobics.

“I can truly say the Y saved my life,” she said.

“Working in a parish means that one is there long hours in the evening. Because of the energy I get in the morning with almost a daily workout, I have the stamina to work long hours, conducting rehearsals for four choirs 14 cantors and an assortment of instrumental players."

"Music takes a lot of energy and musicians need a lot of care,” Grisez said. “The stress factor is often very high as the demands are many.”

“Recently, we received the gift of a new organ. In the midst of a busy day, I still have energy to spend extra time at the organ. It is great having so much energy. That’s all because of the Y.”

Grisez, 71, earned a music education degree at Cleveland State University, and for 30 years taught music at Regina High School, the exclusive Beaumont School for Girls and Villa Angela-St. Joseph High Schools before being assigned to St. Ladislaus, where she has served as music director for the past 17 years.

She began playing the piano by ear at age 4, picking up what her then 8-year-old sister was playing.

“I used to have to sit on a telephone book to play,” she recalled with a laugh.

Her philosophy toward her career is the same as toward her daily visits to the Y.

“I kind of do my own thing,” she said. “To me, because I am creative, that’s just an added benefit.”

She has no plans to stop doing what she’s doing.

“I just love music, and the people are wonderful,” she said of the many musicians and parishioners she deals with daily. She echoes those sentiments about the Y.

“I just love it here. It really is like a family...it's life-giving."