Maryknoll, NY: Sister Camille Marie Black, M.M. died on October 29^th, 2019 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Maryknoll, NY. She was 96 years old and had been a Maryknoll Sister for 74 years.

She was born in Andover, NY on September 27^th, 1923 to Mildred (Hower) Black and Paul Black. She had one brother, Paul and one sister, Virginia; both of whom have predeceased her.

Camille Marie attended Dansville Central High School in Dansville, NY from 1935-1939. After graduating, she studied at St. Joseph’s Hospital School of Nursing in Elmira, NY from 1942-1945, where she earned an RN License.

On September 6^th, 1945, she entered the Maryknoll Sisters Novitiate at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY (from St. Patrick’s Parish, Danville, NY, in the Rochester Diocese). At her Reception she received the religious name, Sister Camille Marie. She made her First Profession of Vows on March 7^th, 1948 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY and her Final Vows in Manila, Philippines on March 7^th, 1951.

In 1948, Sister Camille Marie received her first overseas mission assignment to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Manapla, Philippines where she served as a Nursing Supervisor.  In 1955, she returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY to serve as a nurse in the center’s nursing home wing until 1959. She was then assigned to Guatemala to serve as a nurse and religion teacher in Colegio Monte Maria, Guatemala City from 1959-1963.

Sr. Camille Marie remained in Guatemala, but relocated to San Pedro Necta to serve again as a nurse and religion teacher for six months; she was then called to Jacaltenango to help set up an operating room and train the nursing staff from 1963-1966.  In 1967, she returned to the St. Joseph’s Hospital in Manapla, Philippines to serve as a staff nurse for one year.

Sister Camille Marie then decided to further her studies at the Maryknoll Colleges located on the property of the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY. She first attended Mary Rogers College from 1968-1972, earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education. Later, she went on to earn a Master’s of Arts Degree in Religious Studies at the Maryknoll School of Theology in 1980.  While attending school she worked in various positions at the Congregation such as, Assistant Director, Librarian and Assistant Editor of Maryknoll Society’s Overseas Extension Service Program from 1972-1984.

Sister Camille Marie remained at the Maryknoll Sisters Center for many years, serving as a volunteer in various departments such as: the Maryknoll Sisters Photo Archive Department, the Development Department, and the Mission Awareness Promotion Team until 2001. She retired in 2006, but remained active serving in the Sacristy and in the New York Archdiocese Catechetical Program.

A Vespers Service will be held for Sister Camille Marie on Tuesday, November 5^th, 2019 at 4:15 p.m. in the Chapel of the Annunciation at the Maryknoll Sisters Center.  

A Funeral Mass will follow on Wednesday, November 6^th, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. also in the Chapel of the Annunciation at the Maryknoll Sisters Center. 

Interment will follow in the Maryknoll Sisters Cemetery on the Center grounds.

Maryknoll, NY: Sister Lorraine Therese Beinkafner, M.M. died on October 18^th, 2019 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Maryknoll, NY. She was 90 years old and had been a Maryknoll Sister for 73 years.

Lorraine was born in Albany, NY on November 23^rd, 1928 to Mary (Brust) Beinkafner and Charles J. Beinkafner. She had two sisters and one brother, Marjorie Ann, Virginia and Paul; all of whom have predeceased her.

She attended Holy Names Academy in Albany, NY from 1942-1946. After graduating, she entered the Maryknoll Sisters Novitiate in Pennsylvania at the Venard on October 5^th, 1946 (from her home Parish of St. Thomas in Delmar, NY). On April 6^th, 1949 she made her First Profession of Vows at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY and her Final Vows on April 6^th, 1952, also at the Sisters Center.

While at Maryknoll, Sister Lorraine studied at Maryknoll Teachers College and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Education in 1952. She then attended Mundeleine College from 1968-1970 and earned a Master’s Degree in Religious Education. She later continued her studies at St. Francis Medical Center in LaCrosse, WI, where she earned two certificates in Clinical Pastoral Education.

In 1952, Sister Lorraine received her first overseas mission assignment to Ancon, Canal Zone, Panama, where she taught until 1961.  She then returned to the U.S. to do promotion work for Maryknoll in Texas and Illinois until 1971.  At that time, she also served as the Superior at Rosary Convent in Chicago from 1967-1971.

In 1971, she returned to Central America to do pastoral work in various villages of Guatemala: training indigenous leaders; setting up Christian communities and serving as coordinator of adult groups until 1976. Sister Lorraine was then appointed as Co-Pastor of a Parish that was in San Antonio Palapo, Solala, Guatemala until 1983. From 1984-1992, she served as Co-Pastor again, but this time she was in charge of women’s diocesan work in San Antonio Sacatepequez, San Marcos, Guatemala.

In 1993, she relocated to San Salvador, El Salvador and worked on several mission projects, involving: adult education, pastoral work and an AIDS ministry until 2001.

From 2001-2004, Sister Lorraine worked as Assistant Director of the Development Department at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY.  She then was called to El Paso, Texas to work with the Maryknoll Border Team and assisted part-time as a para-legal at Las Americas Immigration Advocacy Center until 2007.  She also worked as Co-Coordinator of the VAWA Program (Violence Against Women), helping women immigrants in domestic violence situations until 2010.

Sister Lorraine retired in 2012 to the Maryknoll Sisters Eastern Region.

A Vespers service will be held for Sister Lorraine on November 10^th, 2019 at 4:15 p.m. in the Chapel of the Annunciation at the Maryknoll Sisters Center.

A Memorial Mass will follow November 11^th, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. also in the Main Chapel at the Center.

Sister Lorraine generously donated her body to science.

Maryknoll, NY: Sister Joan Crevcoure, M.M. died on October 18^th, 2019 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Maryknoll, NY. She was 93 years old and had been a Maryknoll Sister for 73 years.

Joan Crevcoure was born in Green Bay, WI on October 12^th, 1926 to May B. (Fortier) Crevcoure and J. M. Crevcoure. She had one brother and one sister, both of whom have predeceased her.

Joan attended West High School in Green Bay, WI from 1940-1944. Following graduation, she attended Rosary College in River Forest, IL from 1944-1946. She then entered the Maryknoll Sisters Novitiate in Maryknoll, NY on October 5^th, 1946 (from Annunciation Parish of the Green Bay Diocese). She made her First Profession of Vows on April 6^th, 1949 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY and her Final Vows in Hawaii on April 6^th, 1952.

While at Maryknoll, Sister Joan studied at Maryknoll Teachers College and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Education in 1950. She later continued her studies and earned a Master’s Degree in Education at the University of Hawaii, Honolulu in 1958.

Sister Joan received her first teaching assignment at St. Anthony School in the Bronx, NY from 1949-1950. The rest of her missionary life was spent between Hawaii and Majuro in the outer Marshall Islands.

In 1950, Sister Joan was assigned to the Maryknoll Grade School in Punahou, HI where she taught until 1961. She then transferred to St. Michael’s School in Waialua, Oahu and spent one year teaching there. In 1962, she moved to Majuro in the Marshall Islands to teach in Junior High School and serve as Principal of Assumption Elementary School until 1969.

Sister Joan returned to the Maryknoll School in Punahou, HI once again, but this time to serve as Administrator of the Elementary and Junior High School until 1972. She then spent the next 22 years serving in the Marshall Islands where she helped form basic Christian Communities. Her pastoral work involved: helping develop two small elementary schools, creating CCD Programs for children, and training adults to be prayer leaders, religious education instructors and elementary school teachers.

In 2004, Sister Joan returned to the U.S. to retire at the Sisters Center in Monrovia, CA. During this time, she remained active and did volunteer work in the local community. She also wrote and published a book called, Ocean Pathways, the story of the Maryknoll Sisters mission work in the Marshall Islands.  In 2015, she relocated to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY.

A Vespers service will be held for Sister Joan on Sunday, November 3^rd, 2019 at 4:15 p.m. in the Chapel of the Annunciation at the Maryknoll Sisters Center.

A Memorial Mass will follow on Monday, November 4^th, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. also in the Main Chapel at the Center.

Sister Joan has generously donated her body to science.

Maryknoll, NY: Sister Jean Mary Michalec died on October 1^st, 2019 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Maryknoll, NY. She was a Maryknoll Sisters for 57 years and would have been 80 years old on October 13^th.

Mary Jean Michalec was born in New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada on October 13^th, 1939 to Terezia (Lukacik) Michalec and John Michalec.  She had one brother named William. Her parents and brother have both pre-deceased her.

From 1953-1957, Mary Jean attended St. Ann’s Academy in New Westminster, B.C.  She then attended the University of B.C., Vancouver, Canada and graduated in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry.  She entered the Maryknoll Sisters Novitiate in Valley Park, MO on October 18^th, 1962 from her home Parish of SS Cyril and Methodius (Diocese of Vancouver, Canada).  At her Reception she received the religious name, Sister Jean Mary.  She made her First Profession of Vows on June 24^th, 1965 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY and her Final Vows in Japan on June 20^th, 1971.

In 1965, Sister Jean studied Bio-Chemistry at Mary Rogers College in Maryknoll, NY until she was assigned to Japan in 1966. Upon arrival, she began studying the Japanese language and continued her studies in Bio-Chemistry at Sophia University in Tokyo from 1971 – 1972. She earned a Master of Arts Degree in Bio-Chemistry in 1973.

Sister Jean began teaching Biology and Chemistry at Sophia University from 1973-1983, but also continued her studies and earned a Doctor of Science Degree in 1979.  She then returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY to serve in the Admissions Office from 1983-1986.

She then was called back to Japan to teach science once again at Sophia University until 2004.  During these years, Sister Jean also engaged in a variety of volunteer work: counseling prisoners, teaching foreign prisoners Japanese and working with migrants and students.

In 2002, she served on the Formators Committee of Women Major Superiors.  Sister Jean then helped organize the Committee for Women’s Conference, gave English editorial assistance for the National Christian Conference of Japan, and volunteered at Kalakasan Migrant Center all in 2006.  She assisted with English Communication for the Apostolic Nunciature of the Holy See in Tokyo in 2008.

In 2014, Sister Jean returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY to retire. She began a prayer ministry with a focus on Japan.

A Vespers Service will be held for Sister Jean Mary on Friday, October 18^th, 2019 at 4:15 p.m. in the Chapel of the Annunciation at the Maryknoll Sisters Center.   

A Funeral Mass will follow on Saturday, October 19^th, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. also in the Chapel of the Annunciation at the Center.   Interment will follow in the Maryknoll Sisters Cemetery on the Center grounds.

Maryknoll, NY: Maryknoll Sister, Sr. Marie Corinne Rost died on September 1^st, 2019 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Maryknoll, NY. She was a Maryknoll Sister for 82 years and had just celebrated her remarkable 102^nd birthday in July!

Anna Marie Rost was born in Jefferson City, MO on July 29^th, 1917 to Euphemia J. (Dudenhoeffer) Rost and Louis Henry Rost.  She had two sisters, Cay and Bernice and three brothers: Louis (Maryknoll Father), Joseph and John all of whom are deceased.

Anna Marie attended St. Peter’s High School in Jefferson City, MO and graduated in 1935. From 1935-1937, she studied at Mount St. Scholastica College in Atchison, KS.  She then entered the Maryknoll Sisters Novitiate in Maryknoll, NY on July 5^th, 1937 (from her home diocese of Immaculate Conception in Jefferson City).   At her Reception she received the religious name, Sister Marie Corinne. She made her First Profession of Vows on January 6^th, 1940 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Maryknoll, NY and her Final Vows on the same date in San Juan Bautista, CA in 1943.  From 1939-1942, she studied at Manhattanville College of the Sacred Heart in New York City and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Music.

In 1942, Sister Marie Corinne was assigned to San Juan Bautista in Central California, there she served as a catechist and was involved in pastoral ministry until 1943.  From 1943-1945, she worked at a group home for oriental children in Los Angeles, CA.

Sister Marie Corinne then received her first overseas mission assignment to Hong Kong in 1946. For the next 36 years, she taught in the Primary and Secondary Sections of the Maryknoll Convent School in Kowloon, Hong Kong. Sister Corinne also served as the school’s piano teacher from 1947-1955 and taught Music, Religion and English in the Primary Section until 1967.  Sister Marie Corinne was then appointed as Principal of the Maryknoll Convent School Primary Section and served as Supervisor of the Secondary Section from 1967-1977. While serving as Supervisor of the Secondary Section, she also gave private English and piano lessons from 1977-1983.

In 1983, Sister Marie Corinne returned to Maryknoll, NY where she worked in Congregational Service in the Research and Planning Office until 1985.

She then returned to Hong Kong in 1986 to do pastoral work at St. Joseph’s Parish. She also was engaged in Religious Education and served as a private English tutor until 1995.

In 1996, Sister Marie Corinne returned to California to the Maryknoll Sisters retirement home in Monrovia, there she did volunteer work and English testing until 2003.  She fully retired at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Maryknoll, NY in 2004.

A Vespers Service will be held for Sister Marie Corinne, Thursday, September 5^th, 2019 at 4:15 p.m. in the Chapel of the Annunciation at the Maryknoll Sisters Center.

A Funeral Mass will follow Friday, September 6^th, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. also in the Main Chapel at the Center.  Interment will follow in the Maryknoll Sisters Cemetery on the Center grounds.

Maryknoll, NY: Sister Joan Uhlen, M.M. educator and pastoral worker died on August 12th, 2019 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Ossining, NY.

Joan was born in St. Louis, MO, on December 21st, 1923 to Lily Ann (Pistorius) Uhlen and Bernard J. Uhlen. She had three brothers, Herbert, Henry and Raymond, and three sisters, Lorraine, Mrs. Margaret Ahrens, and Sister Teresa of Jesus, OCD; all of whom have pre-deceased her.

In 1941, Joan graduated from Rosati-Kain High School in St. Louis, MO. She then entered the Maryknoll Sisters Congregation at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Ossining, NY on September 6th, 1942 (from Holy Ghost Parish, now part of St. Ann’s and Visitation Parishes of the St. Louis Diocese).

At her Reception on March 7th, 1943 she received the religious name Sister M. Joan Francis. She made her First Profession of Vows at the Maryknoll Sisters Center on March 7th, 1945 and pronounced her Final Vows on March 7th, 1948 also at the Sisters Center.

Sister Joan attended Maryknoll Teachers College from 1944-1948, graduating with a Bachelor of Education Degree. She then received her first mission assignment to Kaneohe, HI where she taught in St. Ann’s Grade School and High School until 1957. Sister Joan returned to NY to study, in 1958 she earned a Masters of Education Degree from Fordham University in the Bronx, NY.  After earning her Master’s Degree, she returned to Kaneohe and was appointed Principal of St. Ann’s Grade and High School until 1964. In 1965, she was assigned to the Maryknoll School in Punahou, HI where she taught English and religious guidance to grades 10 and 12.

Sister Joan returned to the U.S. in 1968 for a renewal period and to do promotion work for the Congregation.  In 1970, she was assigned to a new mission in Yucatan, Mexico. After language study there, she worked with students in art, films and multi-media.

In 1972, Sister Joan was assigned to Condega, Nicaragua where she did pastoral work with parish and diocesan teams.  She also created educational courses for women and children’s groups.  In 1974, she was appointed Regional Coordinator for the Panama/Nicaragua/El Salvador Region in the Maryknoll Sisters Regional House.  She then returned to Condega, Nicaragua where she immersed herself in Pastoral work and adult education until 2003; when she called on hundreds of friends to help her construct a retreat house, “Casa de Paz” (House of Peace). In 2008, Sister Joan returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, NY where she retired.

In 2013, a plaza in Nicaragua that happened to be located directly across from “Casa de Paz” was renamed in her honor to, “Plaza Hermana Joan Uhlen.”

A Vespers Service will be held for Sister Joan on Thursday, August 15^th, 2019 in the Chapel of the Annunciation at the Maryknoll Sisters Center.

 A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on August 16^th, 2019 in the same chapel to be followed by interment at the Maryknoll Sisters Cemetery.

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Maryknoll, NY: Sister Julie Miller died on July 25^th, 2019 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Maryknoll, NY. She was 76 years old and had been a Maryknoll Sister for 57 years.  She was born in Norfolk, VA on November 11^th, 1942 to Frances (James) Miller and Joseph Miller.  She had a brother, James and two sisters, Gloria and Mary. Her brother and parents are both deceased, she is survived by her two sisters.

In 1960, Julie graduated from St. Vincent’s Academy, in Savannah, GA and then attended Armstrong Junior College in Savannah from 1960-1961. She entered the Maryknoll Sisters Novitiate in Maryknoll, NY on September 2^nd, 1961 (from St. James’s Parish in Savannah, GA).   At her Reception she received the religious name, Sister Maureen Faith, and returned to her baptismal name after Vatican Council II. She made her First Profession of Vows on June 24^th, 1964 at the Maryknoll Sisters Topsfield, MA Novitiate and her Final Vows on June 14^th, 1970 in Japan.

From 1964-1969, Sister Julie studied at Mary Rogers College (on the Maryknoll Sisters Property) in Maryknoll, NY and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Community Service.

In 1969, she received her first overseas mission assignment to Japan, where she studied Japanese until 1971.  That year she was the only American as a language staff member of the “Japan Overseas Co-operation Volunteers”, a government agency. From 1972-1973, Sister Julie taught volunteers at the “Japan Peace Corps”, music at Aoyama School, and English at Futaba School. She also did private English tutoring at that time.

In 1974, she returned to the United States to study at the University of Georgia where she earned a Master’s Degree in Educational Psychology in 1975.

Sister Julie was then assigned to the Panama/Nicaragua/El Salvador Region in 1976. She first served in Nicaragua where she worked with catechists and church leaders. In 1979, she went to El Salvador to do pastoral work, but soon after returned to Nicaragua to engage in relief work after the war.

From 1986 – 1987, she returned to the United States to study once again. She attended New York State University and Long Island University, earning a Certificate in Gerontological Counseling and became licensed as a Nursing Home Administrator.  She was then appointed as Administrator of the Maryknoll Nursing Home from 1984-1987.

Sister Julie joined the Maryknoll Sisters Eastern U.S. Region and worked as Nursing Home Administrator for the Sparkill Dominican Sisters from 1987-1998.  She returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center for Congregational Service as Associate Congregational Personnel Director until 2001. She was given a special assignment as Center Liturgist and was the Director of Music and Liturgy at the Maryknoll Sisters Center from 2001 until her retirement in 2015.

A Vespers Service will be held for Sister Julie Miller in the Chapel of the Annunciation at the Maryknoll Sisters Center on Tuesday, August 6, 2019 at 4:15 P.M.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place in the same Chapel on Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at 11:00 A.M.   Interment will follow at the Maryknoll Sisters Cemetery.

Maryknoll, NY: Sister Rose Dominic Trapasso died on July 14^th, 2019 at Clinica Stella Maris Medical Center in Lima, Peru. She was 94 years old and had been a Maryknoll Sister for 70 years.

Marie Louise Trapasso was born in Niagara Falls, New York on September 23^rd, 1924 to Rose (Di Ciocco) Trapasso and Dominic Trapasso.  She had two sisters, Joan Ann and Margaret. Her parents and sister, Margaret have predeceased her.

In 1941, Marie Louise graduated from Niagara Falls Public High School. She then attended New York State College for Teachers in Albany, NY from 1941 to 1945, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education. From 1946-1947, Marie Louise enrolled at the University of Buffalo, NY earning a Master’s Degree in Social Work. After completing her studies, she worked briefly at Catholic Charities of Niagara Falls before entering the Maryknoll Sisters Novitiate.

On September 6^th, 1948 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Ossining, NY she joined the Sisters from (St. Joseph’s Parish, Buffalo, NY). At her reception she received the religious name, Sister Rose Dominic, honoring both her father and mother with that name. She retained that name until her death. She made her first Profession of Vows on March 7^th, 1951 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, NY and her Final Vows on the same date in Bolivia in 1954.

Sister Rose Dominic’s first assignment was to Hawaii in 1951, she lived in Nuuanu and worked at Catholic Charities in Honolulu. In 1953, she received her first overseas assignment to the Bolivia/Peru Region. She studied Spanish at Cochabamba, Bolivia until 1954, then she was assigned to Lima, Peru to work at Caritas de Lima (the social work of the Archdiocese of Lima). From 1961-1972, Sister Rose Dominic along with three Peruvian social workers and another Maryknoll Sister, Sister Rose Timothy Galvin, initiated a Department of Social Development at Caritas de Lima.  During the 1960s, she taught in the newly established School of Social Work, affiliated with the Catholic University of Peru and supervised students studying in the National School of Social Service.

From 1973-1987, with Maryknoll Sister Rose Timothy Galvin, she co-founded a small center, Creativity and Change-to promote concern for women’s rights. In 1977, Sister Rose Dominic with two other women, set up another center- the Movimiento El Pozo, (The Well Movement).  This center was designed to work specifically with women involved in prostitution and to educate the public through written materials on the trafficking of women and girls.

From 1987-2010, Sister Rose Dominic continued to do outreach work on behalf of women in Lima. She eventually retired in Lima at the nursing home of the Religious of the Sacred Heart, where she later died.

A Mass of Resurrection, celebrated by Maryknoll Fathers Joseph Fedora and Robert Hoffmann, was held on July 15 at the Chapel of the Religious of the Sacred Heart in Lima, Peru.

Maryknoll, NY: Sister Janet Carroll died on May 28^th, 2019 at Cedar Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Ossining, NY. She was 85 years old and a Maryknoll Sister for 67 years.

Janet was born in New York City on July 22^nd, 1933 to Ethel Rita (Waters) Carroll and Raphael Peter Carroll. She had two brothers, Raymond and Arthur. Her parents and her brother Raymond have predeceased her.

She graduated from St. Barnabas High School in the Bronx, NY and entered the Maryknoll Sisters Novitiate in Maryknoll, NY on September 2^nd, 1952 from (St. John the Evangelist Parish, Kingsbridge in the Archdiocese of New York).

At her Reception into the Congregation, she received the religious name, Sister Mara Francis, but returned to her baptismal name after Vatican Council II. She made her First Profession of Vows on March 7^th, 1955 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Maryknoll, NY. In 1961, she made her Final Profession of Vows on March 7^th, in Taiwan.

After making her First Profession of Vows in 1955, Sister Janet worked at the Maryknoll Society kitchen and Field Afar magazine until 1956.  She then received her first overseas mission assignment to Changhua, Taiwan where she studied the language until 1957. From 1958-1962, her missionary work included: pastoral ministry, religious education, youth work, leadership training, and socio-economic development in the villages of PoLi, Changhua and Houlung. She was also the House Superior from 1962 – 1965 and served on the language school staff for seven months in 1965.

Sister Janet then returned to Maryknoll, NY in 1966, where she studied for one year at the Congregation’s Mary Rogers College before transferring to New York University in 1967. There she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Social Science/Cum Laude in 1968.  She later earned a Master of Arts Degree in International Affairs at Yale University, New Haven CT in 1989 and was awarded an Honorary Degree for Doctor of Humane Letters at Siena College in 1996.

Her Professional Services included:

-1968 – 1972   Executive Secretary, Institute for Social Action – Hsinchu

-1972 – 1979   Maryknoll Sisters Research and Planning Director

-1979 – 1987   United Nations Advisor to the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations, Asean States and China and was awarded the Papal Honor: Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice for her service to the Holy See Mission in 1987

-1989 – 2003   Maryknoll – Executive Director of U.S. China Bureau; Editor: China Church Quarterly; Coordinator: National Catholic China Annual Conferences; and Leader of eleven Religious Study Tours to China

-2004 – 2009   Senior Associate of the U.S. Catholic China Bureau: Primary responsibilities were: research, writing, lectures, seminars, media contacts, educational and China service outreach

-1991 – 2019   Maryknoll Society’s China Project: Consultant

Sister Janet was also closely associated with and actively a part of the Overseas Ministries Studies Center (OMSC) at Yale University, a vibrant, international and ecumenical community from 1980-2010.

In 2014, Sister Janet received the American Missiology Society’s Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition for serving the people of Taiwan and China since 1956.

A Vespers service will be held for Sister Janet on Monday, June 3^rd, 2019 at 4:15 p.m. in the Chapel of the Annunciation at Maryknoll Sisters Center. 

A Mass of the Resurrection will follow on Tuesday, June 4^th, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. also in the Main Chapel at the Sisters Center.

Interment will follow in the Maryknoll Sisters cemetery.

Maryknoll, NY: Sister Mary Gertrude Naab, M.M. missioner and social worker died on May 17th, 2019 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Maryknoll, NY. She was 97 years old and had been a Maryknoll Sister for 78 years. She was born in Passaic, NJ on November 27th, 1921 to Grace (Donovan) Naab and Joseph Naab. She had two sisters, Peggy and Patricia. She is survived by her sister Patricia.

In 1938, Mary graduated from St. John Cathedral High School in Paterson, NJ. After graduating, she began her college studies at Seton Hill College in Greensburg, PA until 1940. She then entered the Maryknoll Sisters Novitiate in Maryknoll, NY on July 2nd, 1940. At her Reception she received the religious name, Sister Grace Mary. She made her First Profession of Vows on March 7th, 1943 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY. After completing her novitiate, she was sent to study at Manhattanville College in Purchase, NY, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology in 1944.

Sister Mary then received her first mission assignment to Hawaii, where she made her Final Profession of Vows on March 7th, 1946. When she first arrived to the island she worked as a case worker at the Catholic Social Services in Honolulu and then as Executive Secretary and Supervisor until 1950. During this time, she also attended the University of Hawaii Graduate School of Social Work, where she earned a certificate in Social Casework.

In 1954, Sister Mary was assigned to Stockton, CA to develop the Catholic Social Services in that Diocese. There, she served as Executive Secretary and Supervisor until 1960. She then served as Survey Director of Catholic Charities in the Archdiocese of San Francisco, CA. At that time, Sister Mary also enrolled at the University of California in Berkeley, CA earning the positions of Medical Social Worker at Stanford/Palo Alto Hospital and as a Psychiatric Social Worker at Langley – Porter Neuro Psychiatric Institute, San Francisco, CA.

For the next several years, Sister Mary served between New York and Hawaii in many different roles. In 1962 she returned to Honolulu, HI to continue to serve as Executive Secretary and Supervisor. She also served as Chairman of the Hawaii Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers until 1969. She was then appointed as Superior of the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY. Returning to Hawaii once again, Sister Mary served as the Planning Coordinator for the Diocese of Honolulu as a member of the Board of Education until 1971. From 1971-1975, she worked as the Unit Administrator for Queen Liliuokalani Children’s Centers situated on five Hawaiian Islands. At the same time, she served as a member of the Sisters Regional Governing Board and Regional Planning Coordinator.

From 1988-1992, Sister Mary was appointed as Co-Personnel Director for the Sisters and Lay Employees at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll NY. She was then invited by Bishop J. Quinn Weitzel, M.M. to the U.S. territory of American Samoa, to help facilitate the development of Catholic Social Services in the Diocese of Samoa-Pago Pago from 1993-1997.

In 1997, Sister Mary was assigned to the Maryknoll Sisters retirement house in Monrovia, CA where she did volunteer work at Santa Anita Family Service. In 2006, she was awarded a certificate as American Senior of the Year for her volunteer work there.

In 2007, Sister Mary returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll NY where she fully retired.

A Vespers service will be held for Sister Mary on Wednesday, May 22, 2019 at 4:15 p.m. in the Chapel of the Annunciation at Maryknoll Sisters Center.

A Mass of the Resurrection will follow on Thursday, May 23, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. also in the Main Chapel at the Sisters Center.

The interment will follow in the Maryknoll Sisters cemetery on the Center grounds.