Sister Margaret Mary Kilduff, M.M., Maryknoll Sister for 70 Years Dies

Maryknoll, NY: Sister Margaret (Peg) Mary Kilduff, M.M. died on January 24th, 2021 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY.  She was born on July 15th, 1932 in Johnston, RI to Mary Louise (Coutanche) Kilduff and Edward Kilduff.  She had four brothers and three sisters; all of whom have pre-deceased her except Edward and Louise.

In 1950, Peg graduated from St. Xavier’s Academy in Providence, ri. She then entered the Maryknoll Sisters Novitiate in Maryknoll, NY on September 6th, 1950 (from St. Bridget’s Parish, Johnston in the Diocese of Providence, RI).  She made her First Profession of Vows on March 7th, 1953 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY and her Final Profession of Vows on the same date in 1959, but in Arequipa, Peru.

From 1952-1956, Sister Peg studied at Maryknoll Teachers College (located on the property of the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY) where she earned a Bachelor of Education Degree.  In 1976, she also earned a Master’s Degree in Religious Studies from the Maryknoll Seminary, Maryknoll, NY.

Sister Peg received her first overseas mission assignment to the Bolivia/Peru Region in 1956. Upon her arrival, she studied Spanish in Cochabamba, Bolivia for one year before transferring to Peru where she spent the next 60 years teaching and doing pastoral work!

In 1957, she began her teaching journey in Puno where she taught 1st grade for one year. She then continued teaching primary levels, but transferred to Arequipa where she spent the next five years.  In 1963, she was needed in Lima, there she continued teaching elementary grades and catechetics for six years.

Sister Peg transitioned from teaching and became involved in pastoral work in 1969. Her pastoral ministry was with the Institute of Rural Education & Community Development in Caja de Agua and Ciudad de Dios, Lima from 1969-1987. She also served as Head of the Diocesan Commission for Social Communications, Resource Person for the Institute of Rural Education & Community, and offered human resource skills and religious formation to the laity until 2008.

She then retired from Diocesan work and helped initiate a Pax Christi group in Lima, while also continuing to do pastoral work with at risk youth. During this time, Sister Peg also served as a Regional Governing Board Member for the Maryknoll Sisters Peru Region Projects and on the Congregational Task Force until 2013.

In 2016, after spending six decades serving the people of Peru, Sister Peg returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY to fully retire.

Funeral Services: Sister Peg generously donated her body to science. A memorial service will be livestreamed on 1/29/2021 due to the COVID pandemic.

Sister Dorothy McGowan, M.M., Maryknoll Sister for 68 Years Dies

Maryknoll, NY: Sister Dorothy McGowan, M.M. died on January 13th, 2021 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY. She was born on August 25th, 1934 in New York City to Catherine (Dalton) McGowan and Terence McGowan. She is survived by her only brother, Kenneth McGowan.

Dorothy graduated from St. Barnabas High School, Bronx, NY in 1952. She entered the Maryknoll Sisters Novitiate, Maryknoll, NY on September 2nd, 1952 (from St. Brendan Parish, New York City). She made her First Profession of Vows on March 7th, 1955 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY and her Final Profession of Vows on the same date in 1961, also at the Sisters Center.

After her First Profession of Vows, Sister Dorothy worked temporarily in the kitchen, Treasury Department and for the Field Afar Magazine office at the Maryknoll Seminary. From 1957-1961, she studied at Maryknoll Teachers College (located on the Maryknoll Sisters Center property) where she received her Bachelor of Education Degree. In 1963, she earned a Master’s Degree in Mathematics from Notre Dame University. 

Sister Dorothy received her first overseas assignment in 1963 to Malabon, Philippines. There she served as a high school religion and math teacher. In 1964 she transferred to Maryknoll College in Quezon City where she worked as Head of the Math Department, Dean of Students and taught math until 1973. She then transferred to Santo Tomas, Mindanao to teach in the local high school and do pastoral work.

In 1974, Sister Dorothy returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY to serve on the Congregation’s Central Governing Board until 1978. She was then assigned to Bandung, Indonesia, first to study the language and culture and then to work in a community health program where she remained until 1987. From 1986-1990, she also worked in Seminary Administration.

In 1991, she received her next mission assignment to Kabupaten Aileu, East Timor. There, she did pastoral work, health work in the local parish clinic, part-time teaching in the high school and was the full-time Coordinator of the Family Life Program until 2014.

In 2015, Sister Dorothy returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY to fully retire. 

Funeral Arrangements: Sister Dorothy’s body was interred in the Maryknoll Sisters Cemetery. Her Memorial Service was livestreamed on 1/22/2021 due to the COVID pandemic.

Sister Beatrice Carvalho, M.M., Maryknoll Sister for 76 Years Dies

Maryknoll, NY: Sister Beatrice Carvalho, M.M. died on January 10th, 2021 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY.  She was born on June 22nd, 1924 in Hawi, Hawaii to Margaret (Silva) Carvalho and Eugene Carvalho. She had four brothers and three sisters, all of whom have pre-deceased her.

In 1942, Beatrice graduated from St. Anthony High School in Wailuku, Maui, HI.  She then entered the Maryknoll Sisters on September 6th, 1944 in Maryknoll, NY (from St. Anthony Parish, Wailuku). She made her First Profession of Vows on March 7th, 1947 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY and her Final Profession of Vows on the same date in 1950, also at the Sisters Center.

Sister Beatrice studied at Maryknoll Teachers College (located on the property of the Sisters Center) from 1946-1950, there she received her Bachelor of Education Degree.

In 1950, she received her first overseas mission assignment to Siuna, Nicaragua; after five months studying the Spanish language, she taught first grade.  In 1954, she received an assignment to the Maryknoll Sisters new mission project in Puerto Armuelles, Panama. While on her way to her new mission, she was delayed in Ancon, in the Canal Zone for six months, there she taught catechism to patients at Gorgas Hospital until 1955.  After her six months in the Canal Zone, Sister Beatrice was able to move to Puerto Armuelles and teach at the parish high school, Colegio San Antonio. She spent one year teaching a variety of subjects: English, music, art, geography and history and was then appointed as Superior and School Principal of the Puerto Armuelles Mission from 1956-1961.

She spent the next several years serving in many different roles.  She taught English in Mexico City and Puebla, Mexico from 1961-1971 and served as Director of Commercial Studies. From 1971-1980, she returned to Hawaii to teach Spanish and Religion, served as school counselor and Chairman of the Guidance Department at St. Anthony School in Wailuku.

In 1980, Sister Beatrice returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY for Congregational Service in the Treasury Department until 1982. She also served as one of the Council Member’s from 1982-1985. 

She was then assigned to Guatemala City to do pastoral work and teach religious education for youth in public schools from 1986-2001.  She returned to Maryknoll, NY to engage in Congregational Service again in 1995-1998.

From 2001-2005, Sister Beatrice relocated to Chicago to serve as Co-Director of Orientation.  As she began to transition into retirement she joined the Maryknoll Sisters Community in Monrovia, CA from 2006-2012.  In 2012, she returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY to fully retire.

Funeral Arrangements: Sister Beatrice’s body was interred in the Maryknoll Sisters Cemetery. Her Memorial Mass was livestreamed on 1/15/2021 due to the COVID pandemic.