Sisterhood of love

A kindergarten teacher, a professor to students struggling in class, a caregiver to anyone in need of help and one very special “power angel.” These are the faces of the Sisters of St. Joseph.

Since coming to New York in 1858, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet have been teachers, professors, caregivers and companions to all. Sisters everywhere who have helped countless people in need, adapting their ministries and lives to help those around them.

These are the stories of six women who answered the call to join the Sisters of St. Joseph. Together, they have curated over 300 years of services and have recently celebrated milestone jubilees.

While the sisterhood has shaped and morphed over the years, a constant through each story told is that the life of a sister is one filled with vast opportunities, education, hope, strength, incredible faith - and above all - a great deal of love.

Sister Anne Lawrence Clark, 75th jubilee

Sister Anne is the “power angel” of her family.

“My nephews, they call me ‘power angel,’” she said. Sister Anne’s nickname comes from her ability to powerfully pray for and love those around her, a craft that she has perfected over her 93 years of life. “It’s nice to be an angel,” she said.

Now retired, Sister Anne lives at the Provincial House in Latham where she continues her ministry as a “power angel” to her friends, family and community: “The first thing in the morning, when I put my feet on the floor, I’m praying,” she said.

Born on Feb. 23, 1926 and raised in Binghamton, Sister Anne never thought she would enter the sisterhood, especially the Sisters of St. Joseph. Her family attended a parish that at the time was affiliated with the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart, but Rev. Lawrence “Larry” Patterson - a local priest and close family friend - suggested that Sister Anne talk to the Sisters of St. Joseph.

Only a senior in high school, Sister Anne brought a friend with her to meet the mother superior, Mother Anna Francis. Sister Anne said she was half her size and a “soul of kindness.” She offered the two snacks, books to read and encouraged them to come back anytime. Sister Anne did go back, and after graduating from high school, began to seriously consider the sisterhood.

Telling her family and the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart at her parish of her plans was “a hard part of my relationship with the religious life.”

“To leave one community that had been really special to me and belong all of a sudden to this other community” was difficult, but with the support of her family and new sisters, Sister Anne entered the community in September of 1943.

She went on to teach in various elementary schools around the diocese, from Syracuse to Albany. “I was born to be a teacher,” said Sister Anne. “My mother was a teacher and I watched her teach, and I learned to teach from her.”

Sister Anne holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in elementary education from The College of Saint Rose, and a Ph.D. in both special education and administration from Michigan State University.

In 1966, Sister Anne went to work at The College of Saint Rose where she taught elementary education, was director of the Special Education Program, associate dean of graduate studies, then dean of graduate studies, then vice president of academic affairs and provost. She retired from Saint Rose in 1997 and served as the archivist of the Sisters of St. Joseph from 1997 to 2010.

Sister Anne is continuing her ministry in retirement through active prayer, noting that one’s ministry is something that “never ends.”

“There are power angels all around,” she said. “No matter how old you get, you’re always marveling at God’s life in you and the people around you.”

Sister Mary Lois Goldner, 75th jubilee

Even at 97, Sister Mary Lois Goldner says she’s still learning new things.

“Everyday, I’m learning who I am and who God is,” she said. Though retired and living at the Provincial House in Latham, Sister Mary Lois is still active in her ministry by praying and learning about her relationship with God each day.

Born Aug. 25, 1921 in Syracuse, Sister Mary Lois attended public school most of her life. It wasn’t until her first year of high school when she got to attend Catholic school at St. Anthony’s High School in Syracuse. Here, she meet the Sisters of St. Joseph; joining them seemed like a natural fit.

“I liked to be with the Lord,” said Sister Mary Lois. “I prayed a lot and I knew the sisters.”

She was received into the novitiate on March 19, 1944, two minutes after her good friend, Sister

Anne Lawrence Clark. “[We] entered at the same time; we’re two minutes apart,” recalled Sister Anne. “She walked in the door and I walked in right after.”

They didn’t know it then, but that day in March marked the beginning of a life-long friendship.

The two went on to live together while both teaching at St. Mary’s in Amsterdam in the late 1950s, and now, the pair live down the hall from each other at the Provincial House, still

continuing their ministry together.

At the beginning of her ministry, Sister Mary Lois taught kindergarten in Oswego. She recalls the sisters being so nice, and the mother superior was extremely kind. She was also grateful to be near Syracuse, where her mother was still living.

From 1946-1970, Sister Mary Lois taught kindergarten and first grade around the diocese, and obtained a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in elementary education both from The College of Saint Rose.

After 24 years of teaching, she retired from the classroom and came to the Provincial House where she served at sacristan and aide to the Senior Sisters: “I did things for the older sisters, like fixing the trays and helping them,” she explained.

Sister Mary Lois worked at the Provincial House from 1970-2015, when she retired at 93. Even in retirement, Sister Mary Lois is answering prayers and growing her faith with God, all with good friends by her side.

“We did well together, didn’t we?” Sister Anne asked her friend.

Sister Mary Lois gave a soft smile and a nod. “Yes, I think so,” she said.

Sister Maureen Murphy, 60th jubilee

Sister Maureen Murphy was born Aug. 4, 1940 and entered the Sisters of St. Joseph community on Sept. 15, 1958.

Growing up, Sister Maureen was taught by the Sisters of St. Joseph at St. Mary’s School in Hudson: “I felt called to the community,” she said. “So I asked the questions I needed to ask to find out who I talk to” about joining.

A few years after joining, her younger sister followed in her footsteps and also joined the congregation. Sister Maureen may have been an inspiration for her younger sibling, Sister Monica Murphy, but as Sister Maureen notes, “No younger sister is going to ever admit that.”

After entering the sisterhood, Sister Maureen went to The College of Saint Rose to study mathematics. She graduated in 1963 and went on to teach math around the diocese; she later obtained a masters in mathematics from Union College.

From 1977-81, Sister Maureen went to Rome to study as part of the sister’s formation program, and then at the Pontifical Gregorian University where she obtained a licentiate in psychology. The experience abroad was amazing, she said.

“To be with religious from each one of other those difference cultures, it wasn't just Americans, so that was a wonderful experience.”

After returning, Sister Maureen began working as counselor at Onondaga Pastoral Counseling Center in Syracuse and at Columbia County Family Services in Hudson.

She worked a variety of other leadership positions, including regional superior for the Sisters of St. Joseph, member of the Province Executive Council, parish minister and school social ministry developer for St. Casimir’s School, Albany, and pastoral associate at Blessed Sacrament Parish, Albany.

“I must say every ministry builds on the one that came before it,” said Sister Maureen. “It really has been a stepping block from one to the next.”

She is currently a concierge at Shaker Pointe at Carondelet and a caregiver for Sisters Care, still adding to her ever growing list of experiences.

“Anything is possible” with God, said Sister Maureen. “To study in a foreign country, I never would have dreamt of fit. But with God it’s all possible.”

Sister Kay Ryan, 50th jubilee

Growing up, Sister Kay Ryan had goals set for her life: she thought about being a nurse’s aid, she planned to learn guitar, practice her sign language and teach herself Spanish (something she tried multiple times, but is harder than it appears.)

While none of these goals came to fruition - though she still plans to learn ASL one day - Sister Kay was blessed with a life filled with faith, love and community service.

“I wouldn't be who I am had I not been a Sister of St. Joseph,” she said. “Those experiences of being a sister, living in community, living in the conversations with the sisters and the graces of ministry have enabled me to grow in many of my own gifts and my own experience of God.”

Sister Kay was born and raised in Syracuse, along with her five siblings. In 1968, after graduating from St. Patrick’s High School, Sister Kay Ryan knew she was being called to join the Sisters of St. Joseph.

“I was taught by the Sisters [of St. Joseph], so that was my attraction,” she explained. “I didn’t think about another religious community, and I think God sends you where you need to go.”

Sister Maureen joined the sisterhood rat the end of Vatican II, which left the sisterhood in a state of “exploring and experimenting around who we are,” she said.

The changes brought a shift in how sisters dressed - many stopped wearing veils or religious habits - and how sisters sought out their ministry and work. What use to be an assignment process for ministry, became more of a discussion for where sisters should go and serve.

“Vatican II called us back to our roots,” said Sister Maureen. “We always say, ‘Love of God, neighbor and self without distinction.’”

Sister Kay taught math and religion in high schools around the diocese for 10 years. In 1987, she began working at the Albany Diocesan Marriage and Family Life office where she stayed for 13 years. In 2008, she came to Shaker Pointe retirement community, where she serves on the executive team.

“I think there are wonderful stories of residents helping each other,” said Sister Kay. “When somebody comes homes from the hospital people bring food to them and makes sure they’re okay.”

Going forward, Sister Kay can see the sisterhood being smaller community, but no matter how many changes occur, it’s a community that will always remain.

“Being a sister has strengthened my faith,” she said. “It has expanded my experience and vision of God, both because I’m a sister and because of the people I’ve worked with in the ministry and the sisters I live with. It just builds.”

Sister Renee Adamany, 40th jubilee

It wasn’t until college that Sister Renee Adamany even thought about joining the sisterhood.

“At the College of Saint Rose, there were sisters there and everybody seemed happy,” she recalled. “At that time we had Mass on campus everyday, and at that point I think it was an attraction.”

Born in Utica, and raised in Catholic school, Sister Renee said she always had a “spiritual bent,” but it wasn’t until college when being surrounded by the sisters made her consider the lifestyle more.

After graduating from Saint Rose, Sister Renee returned to her hometown in Utica to teach at St. James School, which at the time was run by the Sisters of St. Joseph and housed their convent next door: “I would go visit them and they’d have activities. It just seemed like good fit,” she said.

After discerning, Sister Renee entered the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1978, just one year after graduating from the College of Saint Rose with a bachelors in early childhood education. She went on to teach for four years at the Cathedral Academy in Albany.

Sister Renee noted that while she “always wanted to be a teacher,” after a few years she started to look into other fields of interest. She became a children’s center director with the YWCA of Northeastern, NY, a social service agency offering domestic violence, housing and various programs to empower women. She worked there for 11 years where she oversaw four children’s center’s in the state.

“It was very rewarding,” she said. Her job took her from training sessions in Texas to the steps of the Albany capital building. But after a few years, it was time to try something new: “I had done teaching, I done administration, I wanted to do more with dealing with people in life situations.”

Sister Renee graduate in 2002 with a masters in social work; she worked at the YWCA until she was offered a teaching position at Schenectady County Community College where is is continuing her ministry today.

“I think that whatever way of life people choose it energizes them to do their ministry,” she said. “I think my spiritual life and prayer and community certainly grounds me in that to be able to be happy in my ministry.”

Sister Joan Mary Hartigan, 25th jubilee

In 1985, Sister Joan Mary Hartigan was a senior at Le Moyne College. She was dating someone very seriously, and was planning to graduate at start her life as a high school English teacher.

But God had other plans for her.

“I started to think about [the sisterhood] in college a little bit,” she said. “I love to pray, I love to service; there was something in me but in the ’80s not many people became sisters.”

In her last semester, Sister Joan Mary took a class on the New Testament that pushed her to pursue a masters at Yale Divinity School.

Here, she decided to look more into joining the sisterhood: “I made the decision to be fully who I was suppose to be,” she said.

After graduate school, Sister Joan Mary became a catechist for St. Brigid's, Watervliet where she meet some of the Sisters of St. Joseph. Each of them carried “this creative, energetic warmth” with “hearts filled with ministry,” she said. “I said, ‘I want to be like that.’”

Sister Joan Mary was received into the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1994. She began her ministry at Bishop Maginn high school as a theology teacher, and after worked as campus minister for The Academy of the Holy Names, Albany - her alma mater.

Today, she is vice president of Mission Integration at St. Mary’s Healthcare in Amsterdam. She began serving on the board for St. Mary’s in 2011 and has been involved with the hospital ever since.

“I had always had a little desire to be in healthcare,” said Sister Joan Mary. “Everyday is different and the people are just wonderful we give wonderful care to out patients. Really, St. Mary’s healthcare has kept the legacy of our sisters alive.”

Looking back at her work and her ministry, Sister Joan Mary said that she is grateful for the community that she was placed with.

“I’m very blessed with the community and support and a relationship with God,” she said. “And that God would think that I could serve in this small way. I’m very blessed when I think about it. and grateful for what I’ve been given.”