5 Questions with ... Cause of Servant of God Ida Peterfy
In our tenth installment of our "5 Questions with ..." interview series we have an interview with Sister Joanna Strouse of the Sisters of the Society Devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, speaking about the Cause of Servant of God Sr. Ida Peterfy. You can learn more about Servant of God Ida Peterfy here on her page at American Saints and Causes. Thank you, Sister, for participating (and my apologies for the delay)!
(If you are associated with a cause and would like to participate in our interview series, email us or use the form on our Contact Us page. New to the series? You can find an index of all 5 Questions entries here.)
American Saints and Causes: Would you introduce yourself and how did you come to work with the cause of the Servant of God Ida Peterfy?Sr.
Sr. Strouse: My name is Sister Joanna Strouse and I have been a member of the Society Devoted to the Sacred Heart since 1988. I had the great privilege of being taught by Sister Ida during my Novitiate, Juniorate, and the beginning of my life as a perpetually professed Sister until her death in 2000. Our Religious Community has always been like a family.
We each know each other well and interact on all levels, which means that even though Sister Ida is the foundress of my Community and my teacher, she is also my Sister. There are so many parts of my life that include memories with her: hiking, cooking, eating, cleaning, shopping, praying, playing, and enjoying each other’s company. After Sister Ida’s death, one of her original companions from Hungary, Sister Agnes Raday, worked tirelessly to make Sister Ida’s life and work known. With all preparations having been made for the declaration of her cause and nomination of a postulator, Sister Agnes died unexpectedly 2 weeks before the signing of the documents. Upon her death, I was assigned to assist Sister Yolanda Magallanes, our Vice-Postulator, in Sister Ida’s Cause. It has been such an amazing opportunity and a privilege to know her better by being able to view items from our Archives, newspaper articles, Sister Ida’s own letters, photos, etc. One of the things I was most grateful for was the opportunity to help compile and edit the memories of Sister Ida with her first companion in the Community, Sister Hermine Jaschko. I continue to promote Sister Ida’s cause through our website and through booklets, pamphlets and holy cards of Sister Ida’s words, teaching and prayers. In some ways I see myself as a vehicle through which Sister Ida is still able to teach others that they may know the Heart of Jesus and love God.
American Saints and Causes: For those who don't know her, who is Sister Ida Peterfy? What can the faithful learn from her witness to Christ?
Sr. Strouse: While Sister Ida is an inspiring teacher, an excellent cook, a fun-loving Sister, an adventurous hiker, and a hardworking person, Sister Ida is first and foremost a woman in love with God. From the earliest days of her childhood, even in the midst of a family that was not overly religious, Ida knew God and spoke to him in the depths of her heart.
When she was just 16 years old, she was asked to take over leadership of a camp for poor children from the slums of Budapest, Hungary. From that experience of trying to convey the love of God, she was inspired to develop a teaching method that all of her Sisters still use: The Five Step Illustrated Method. Many who know her remember the clarity with which she taught complex truths in an understandable way. Yet, her own words say it best: “My call was the love of Our Lord. This may sound simplistic or overly general: but I do want to express it in simple words and concepts. If you love someone, you love those who belong to him, and you want them all to know the person whom you love. This is what led me to teaching religion. My first call and first desire was that more and more would know Our Lord on a deeply personal level, with an interior knowledge.”
“If you love someone so much, it is impossible to work in any other way than with your whole self, with all your talents, all your energies and inventiveness. It isn’t about the work you are doing but about the Person you are doing it for.”
That sums up what her whole life was about – making the Father’s love known by:
- leading the Community
- teaching her Sisters
- countless teacher training courses
- giving retreats
- preparing children for the Sacraments
- pioneering Family Catechesis through Family Retreat Camps
- beginning Girls’ Camps to experience God in the beauty of His creation
- establishing the Heart of Jesus Retreat Center in Santa Ana, CA for children’s retreats
- building Sacred Heart Retreat Camp in Big Bear, CA for teen and adult retreats
- using the media to convey God’s love through My Friend, Pookie and Sacred Heart Kids’ Club
- enduring suffering with grace and joy
American Saints and Causes: The saints often serve as examples to the faithful of how to follow Christ and grow in holiness. How has Servant of God Ida Peterfy impacted you? How has she helped you live your faith?
Sr. Strouse: I entered our Community when I was 17 years old and within two weeks of my entrance Sister Ida directed a 3-day silent retreat for us as new postulants. The way she taught me how to meet this God who loves me so personally and uniquely has shaped my prayer life and thus my entire life of faith. I still vividly remember some of the examples she used from that retreat that was over 30 years ago. Her example of holiness went beyond what many would expect. I also learned from her the value of presence – when you were with her, you knew that you mattered. She celebrated the fact that you were there with fresh baked bread or a cup of cappuccino. She was attentive to you and not preoccupied with other people or things. I saw how she treated everyone with dignity – the gardener, the maintenance worker, the cleaning lady – asking their name, having conversation with them. On studying Rerum Novarum and Quadragesimo Anno in high school, our Catholic Social Teachings became fleshed out in her life and interactions with others.
Of course, her teachings have also had a huge impact on my life. She had an incredible gift to explain complicated theological truths to those who were not schooled in philosophy or theology. When I went to college many years later and got my degree in philosophy, I was amazed to see that I already knew and understood many of the concepts that we studied in St. Thomas Aquinas, Aristotle, etc. Even now I am inspired when I read her words or hear a recording of a seminar she taught. She is still teaching me to be a woman in love with God.
American Saints and Causes: What are the next steps for the cause? Are there any new developments that you are excited about?
Sr. Strouse: Although we are still in the preliminary stages of promoting her cause for Beatification and Canonization, it is very obvious to me that God is at work in moving Sister Ida’s cause forward. Several exciting developments have come along – all at the same time! In addition to this blog interview, we were asked to write a chapter for a book on Servants of God. Sister Yolanda Magallanes, the Vice Postulator of the Cause, just finished an initial biography based on Sister Ida’s own writings which each of our Sisters received. We are hoping to have it published soon.
Ten of our Sisters participated in the Camino de California Eucharistic pilgrimage in June 2025 and there was a Eucharistic procession in Mission San Fernando cemetery culminating with a prayer service at the gravesite of Servant of God Sister Ida Peterfy! Hundreds will be gathered for that time of prayer together, praying for her beatification.
But the most exciting news is that Sister Ida’s great nephew, László Kriskó, is directing a dramatized documentary about Sister Ida’s life! It is planned to be released in the summer of 2026. We hope many people will be able to see it.
American Saints and Causes: If someone wanted to help, how could they best support or assist the work of the cause of Servant of God Ida Peterfy?
Sr. Strouse: Our primary purpose is to continue to make Sister Ida known. We regularly receive requests for medals touched to her grave and prayers via our website (https://sacredheartsisters.com/prayers/). The best way to support the cause right now is to make her story known to others. You can download various booklets and holy cards from our website (https://sacredheartsisters.com/her-words-and-reflections/), or you can email us to receive copies that you can distribute to others. We only ask that you help to pay postage.
And, of course, pray for the cause. If you receive any favors through Sister Ida’s intercession, please let us know via email at sisterida@sacredheartsisters.com or on our website: https://sacredheartsisters.com/testimonials/.
Thanks again, Sister Joanna Strouse, for helping us learn more about Servant of God Ida Peterfy! Those who wish can learn more about her here on American Saints and Causes and the cause on their website.