Sister Terezija studied nursing in 1970-1971 in Novi Sad, Serbia. In 1974 she was appointed as Assistant of Novices Directress. Sister Terezija studied theology in Zagreb in 1976. She became Directress of Novices in 1977 and served three office terms until 1986. In 1990 She was elected as a Provincial Superior and re-elected in 1995 for the second term. Sister also served in the Province several times as Vicar and Provincial Councilor (2000-2010, 2013-2023), Provincial Treasurer, Provincial Secretary (1980-1990, Local Superior, Directress of juniors. Sister Terezija was a member of the Preparatory Committee of the VIII General Chapter 2001 and she was a member of the Basilian Spirituality Commission.

Sister Teodozija’s* testimony: 

How will you remember Sister Terezija?

I will remember Sister Terezija as someone who always tried to create peace and harmony in the community. She made great physical efforts to achieve this, working for years in the monastery’s kitchen and household, ensuring that the Sisters had everything they needed. Additionally, she always made sure that common prayer was harmonious, relations between the Sisters were good, conversations were polite, work was prudent and well-planned, and recreation was enjoyable. She found time to talk to the sorrowful, encourage reconciliation between those who quarreled, and rehearse singing before festive services. For me, she was a living embodiment of the virtuous woman described in Proverbs 31 – rising at dawn, distributing work in her household, caring for the needs of everyone, and helping the poor.

How many years had you lived with her?

I met Sister Terezija on the first day of my arrival in Osijek, in July 2008, and lived with her there in 2008–2011, 2017–2019, and 2020–2022. During these years, she was my novice Directress, Provincial Vicar, and local Superior. We last saw each other on Easter Day, 2025, in Osijek.

Which of her virtues impacts you the most? Why?

The virtue of Sister Terezija that has had the greatest impact on me is her effort to create peace and harmony in the community, her willingness to sacrifice her own strength and time, her ability to recognize where help is needed and provide it without waiting for instructions. She was also an example to me of how essential human rationality and prudence are for the functioning of a religious community. Grace presupposes and perfects nature. Above all, I pray that Sister Terezija finds peace and joy in eternity with the Lord, whom she served so tirelessly.

* Sr. Teodozija Mostepaniuk, OSBM, doctoral studies at the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome, is from the same Province.