Celebrating 775 Years of Service
The Sisters of Charitiy of New York held their annual Jubilee celebration
on Saturday, September 8th. The Liturgy of Praise and Thanksgiving was followed by a reception for the Sisters, their family and friends at Mount Saint Vincent in the Bronx. Fifteen Sisters celebrated their Golden Jubilee; one, her Silver.
The Golden Jubilarians included:
From left to right
Seated in front row: Sisters Patricia A. Walsh, Margaret A. Donegan,
Teresa Kelly, Mary E. Mc Cormick, and Eveleen T. Larkin
Standing in middle row: Sisters Jane Iannucelli, Veronica Liegey,
Lorraine Cooper, and Josephine Rog
Standing in rear row: Sisters Sheila M. Finucane, Genevieve Wetmore,
Janet Baxendale, and Mary Kiera Mulligan
The Golden Jubilarians celebrated their milestone
exactly 50 years to the day of their entrance!
Sr. Janet Baxendale, SC, formerly Sr. Francis Rosaire, has taught at the Institute of Religious Studies – the graduate theological program of St. Joseph's Seminary, Dunwoodie – for 30 years, and, since 1994, also has been an adjunct professor of Liturgy at the Seminary. She also lectures on liturgical topics, is an educational consultant to two liturgical design firms, and has had articles published in America, Origins and Emmanuel.
Sister directed the Liturgy Office of the Archdiocese of New York for 26 years, and has been a member of the Liturgical Commission for 32 years.
She is currently completing a third term as an Advisor to the Bishops’ Committee on the Liturgy of the USCCB and has served on two of its task groups, one on Built of Living Stones, the USCCB Guidelines for Art, Architecture and Worship; the other on The Children’s Lectionary. She was elected to the Board of Directors of the national Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions for four terms and served as its chair for one term.
Sister's earliest ministry was teaching, at Cardinal Spellman H.S. (1962-76), and at St. Gregory the Great in Harrison (1960-62).
Sr. Lorraine Cooper, SC, formerly Sr. Jean Dolores, has been a chaplain at the Terence Cardinal Cooke Health Care Center in Manhattan for ten years. Previously, she was a Director of Religious Education, largely in the Black and Hispanic community, for over 20 years: In Manhattan, at St. Paul the Apostle (1993-1995), St. Thomas the Apostle (1990-91), St. Emeric's (1987-1990), Our Lady of Lourdes (1983-1987); in the Bronx, at St. Augustine's (1973-82), where she also taught from 1960-1963, her first mission.
Sister spent many years teaching. In Manhattan, at Blessed Sacrament (1990-91); in the Bronx, at St. Simon Stock (1982-83), and Cardinal Spellman H.S. (1971-73); and in Yonkers, at St. Joseph's (1963-69). Sr. Lorraine also taught at St. Augustine's College, Nassau, The Bahamas (1969-71).
Sr. Margaret A. Donegan, SC, has devoted her ministry to education. She has been teaching English and Religion at St. Raymond Academy in the Bronx for the past six years. She also taught there 1990-2000 and 1971-81. Other teaching posts included Resurrection Academy in Rye (1981-90); St. Joseph by-the-Sea on Staten Island (1966-71); and at Cathedral High (1961-66) and Holy Cross Academy (1960-61), both in Manhattan.
Sr. Sheila Finucane, SC, formerly Sr. Marie Kathleen, taught for nine years before changing her ministry to social work. She has been Supportive Services Coordinator at the Sisters of Charity Housing Development on Staten Island since 2002. Previously, she had been affiliated with The New York Foundling for 23 years – as Supervisor of the Maternity Shelter (1986-2000), as Administrative Supervisor of the Family Day Care Center (1980-86), and as Supervisor of the Foster Care Department in Brooklyn (1977-80). Before that, Sister was missioned to St. Agatha’s Home in Nanuet as a caseworker/psychiatric social worker (1973-77 & 1969-71). Sr. Sheila’s teaching career included the lower grades at St. Benedict’s on Harbour Island in The Bahamas (1967-69); St. Peter’s in Yonkers (1966-67); Holy Trinity in Mamaroneck (1964-66); and St. Paul’s in Brooklyn (1960-64).
Sr. Jane Iannucelli, SC, formerly Sr. Jane Dolores, was named to the Congregation's new position of Director of Sponsorship Services earlier this year. She also is vice chair of the board of Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Centers, and, until it closed recently, had served as the CEO of St. Vincent's Hospital Midtown (formerly St. Clare's).
For the previous eight years, Sr. Jane had served on the Congregation's Council: from 2003-2007, as the Assistant to the President; from 1999-2003, as a Regional Coordinator.
Sister also has served as Sr. VP of Mission at the Sisters of Charity Health Care System on Staten Island (1996-99), and was on staff at The NY Foundling (1988-96). Earlier service to her Congregation included four years as Social Concerns Coordinator and five years as Director of the Formation Team and Novice Director.
Sr. Jane was one of the co-founders of Part Of The Solution (POTS), the soup kitchen / multi-service organization in central Bronx.
Sister's first ministry was education. In the Bronx, she taught at St. Barnabas (1960-66) and was dean of students at Cardinal Spellman (1971-73). On Staten Island, she was a teacher, then dean of students at St. Joseph by-the-Sea (1966-70). In Dobbs Ferry, Sister was dean of students at Our Lady of Victory (1973-75). In Rye, she taught at Resurrection Academy (1970-71).
Sr. Teresa Kelly, SC, formerly Sr. Marilda John, has been on staff at the NY Foundling for 43 years. She began as supervisor of the nursery, and also taught and supervised the Montessori nursery. In 1976, she began her association with Blaine Hall, the program at The Foundling which takes in abused foster-care children and assesses them to best determine their next placement. As Director of Blaine Hall since 1987, Sister is responsible for the care and stabilization of up to 15 four- to ten-year olds at any given time.
Sister's only other ministry was St. Mary’s in Yonkers, where she taught first grade (1962-66).
In September 2006, the NY Daily News profiled Sr. Teresa in its "Big Town, Big Heart" column, which celebrates New Yorkers who make a difference.
Sr. Evyleen Teresa Larkin, SC, formerly Sr. Rose Eugene, has worked for the retired Sisters of her Congregation over the past 12 years – at the Mount Saint Vincent Convent since 2005, and at St. Patrick Villa in Nanuet for the ten years before that.
Sister's earlier ministry was 35 years in primary education. She taught at St. Thomas More Decatur, GA (1989-90); at Sacred Heart School on Staten Island (1971-89); at Epiphany Early Training Center in Brooklyn (1969-71); at Visitation in the Bronx (1967-69), and at St. Gabriel's in Queens (1965-67). Sr. Evyleen's teaching ministry began at Immaculate Heart of Mary in Scarsdale, where she taught 1st grade (1960-65).
Sr. Veronica Liegey, SC, formerly Sr. Maria Veronica, has been ministering to the sick and to senior citizens at Our Lady of the Assumption in the Bronx for the past 11 years. The prior 36 years of her ministry were devoted to teaching.
Sister's first three schools were all in Manhattan: Holy Name (1960-63), Xavier Parochial School (1963-64), and Immaculate Conception (1964-70). Then she moved into high school education at St. Gabriel's in New Rochelle (1970-71). That was followed by 25 years teaching English at Cardinal Spellman H.S. in the Bronx.
Sr. Theresa Luciano, SC, formerly Sr. Richard Mary, has been teaching for 47 years. She has been a computer science instructor at St. Mary's School in Yonkers for the past 18 years; she also had taught there from 1971 to 1976.
Other elementary school postings included Christ the King in Yonkers (1986-89); Sacred Heart in Dobbs Ferry (1982-86); Blessed Sacrament in the Bronx (1977-82); Holy Name in New Rochelle (1976-77); St. John Evangelist in White Plains (1970-71); and Holy Trinity in Manhattan (1964-70).
Sister's first ministry was at her Congregation's child care facility St. Agatha's Home in Nanuet, where she was a teacher (1960-62), Assistant Principal at the lower school (1962-63), and a group mother (1963-64).
Mary E. Mc Cormick, SC, formerly Sr. Thomas de Lourdes, is currently involved in charism writing projects, and spiritual direction/retreat programs. From 1989-2005 she served in Congregational ministries – as Regional Coordinator and Councilor and as Vocation and Candidate Director.
For twelve years Sister was missioned outside of New York: on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona (1971-72), where she taught in the Tuba City Public School System, and in Nassau, The Bahamas (1976-81 & 83-89) where she taught at St. Augustine College and at Her Majesty’s Prison, Fox Hill.
Sr. Mary also had taught at St. Gabriel H.S. in New Rochelle (1972-76); at St. Joseph by-the-Sea on Staten Island (1967-71); at Sts. Peter & Paul (1964-67); and at St. Athanasius in the Bronx (1960-64). She had served as a pastoral associate in Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish in Pelham Manor (1981-83), and at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, in Nassau, The Bahamas (1983-89).
Sr. Mary Kieran Mulligan, SC, has dedicated her entire ministry to education. Since 2000, she has been teaching at St. Anthony School in Yonkers. That was preceded by 30 years at St. Mary's in Wappinger Falls. From 1960-70, she taught first grade at St. Joseph School in Yonkers.
Sr. Josephine Maria Rog, SC, has served at Mary the Queen, her Congregation's retirement convent in Yonkers, for 24 years. She has been the Director of Housekeeping/Purchasing there since 1988. Her second longest ministry was at St. Agatha's Home in Nanuet (1963-77), where she was a child care worker and purchasing agent, while earning a MA as a Reading Specialist. Sister also worked at the rectory of St. Gabriel's in New Rochelle (1982-83) and taught 3rd grade at St. Anthony School in Nanuet (1977-82) and 1st grade at Sacred Heart School in Manhattan (1960-63).
Sr. Patricia A. Walsh, SC, formerly Sr. Agnes Marita, has been volunteering in recent years. She put her degrees in business education to good use at the Leviticus Fund in Yonkers (1996-2000); served as business manager at Our Lady of Lourdes in Manhattan (1992-96); and was Coordinator of Computer Implementation at St. Vincent's Hospital in Westchester (1983-91). Sister served her Congregation as Secretary General (1976-83) and chaired the Business Dept. and taught business education at St. Gabriel H.S. in New Rochelle (1969-76). Sr. Patricia's first ministries were middle school education: in Manhattan, at St. Paul (1964-69) and at St. Joseph (1960-62); in Brooklyn, she taught at St. Mary Star of the Sea (1962-64).
Sr. Genevieve Wetmore, SC, has been teaching for 47 years. She currently is a librarian at Holy Name of Jesus School in Manhattan. From 2002-2006, Sister was an educational mentor at Fordham University. From 1997-2002, she was Assistant Principal at Our Lady of the Angelus School in Queens, where she also had taught 2nd grade, 1974-84. Other elementary school ministries included, in Manhattan, Our Lady Queen of Angels (1994-97), St. Ignatius Loyola (1989-94), St. Brigid (1973-74), St. Bernard (1969-73), St. Joseph Academy (1965-69) and Incarnation (1961-65). Sr. Genevieve also taught in the Bronx at St. Margaret of Cortona (1960-61) and on Staten Island at Sacred Heart (1984-89). She also has been part of CCD throughout the Diocese for many years and has participated in RCIA programs for almost four decades.
