MARGARET STEELE (RIP)

DIRECTOR OFF OPERATION HOSPITALITY

SACRED HEART PARISH

TUCSON, AZ

Margaret was a Eucharistic Minister to the homebound each week, Sacristan for the 10 AM Mass each week and anything that had to do with social justice in all its aspects from border issues, to recycling long before it was popular.  Margaret put her heart and soul into the work with the homeless.

Margaret strongly affirmed the mission of the Sisters of Charity.  Many of the things that Margaret set in place are still going strong even though she has died.

MARGARET ANNE ROMAN

PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH

COLLEGE OF SAINT ELIZABETH

CONVENT STATION, NJ

Margaret is a Seton Associate lifetime member and supportive observer of the college’s Mission Statement.  Her personal family life, especially with the adoption of her two children, mirrors for us the love Mother Seton had for her children and family.  This love overflows in her relationships with the generations of students she has taught and continues to inspire, as well as by her colleagues.

MICHELE LINK

CO-PRINCIPAL

ST. PATRICK & ASSUMPTION/ALL SAINTS SCHOOL

JERSEY CITY, NJ

Michele is a dedicated, caring, intelligent and faith-filled educator.  She has chose to work in Jersey City, teaching children whose parents and guardians struggle to pay their rent and put food on their tables.  She definitely “works with and for the poor”.

SUSAN PATTON

EIGHTH GRADE TEACHER

OUR LADY OF SORROWS SCHOOL

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ

Susan has always strove to apply what she has learned from her extensive Catholic education background and her outstanding home upbringing.  This is Susan’s 17^th year teaching the eighth grade.  She spends extra time after school hours tutoring pupils who require individual help and encourages her students to contribute generously to the missions. 

GEMMA HERRERA

SECOND GRADE TEACHER

SAINT JOHN SCHOOL

ORANGE, NJ

Gemma has been a faithful and loyal friend of the Sisters of Charity.  She has taught at St. John’s for 23 years.  She has followed our focus on the poor in teaching the children.  Her untiring work and dedication to the charism of the Sisters of Charity has already been shown in this generation and will hopefully continue in the generations to come.

 

DONNA LATOUR

SCHOOL SECRETARY

SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI SCHOOL

RIDGEFIELD PARK, NJ

St. Vincent, Louise de Marillac and Elizabeth Seton came to know that their society ignored the sick and homebound.  Donna learned this at an early stage of her life from her parents.  They taught her about stewardship.  As a student she was seen helping anyone who needed help.  As an adult Donna knows time, talent and many creative ways of giving of herself.  She knows the importance of helping people.

BEVERLY MCGUINESS

SECRETARY FOR THE NURSING DEPARTMENT OF THE LINDEN SCHOOL NURSES

LINDEN HIGH SCHOOL

LINDEN, NJ

The unsung heroes of any department are the secretaries.  Bev is the hero of Linden HS.  She provides support to a staff of 13 nurses by preparing the necessary paperwork that makes our job much easier.  She is the voice on the phone that listens and directs people to the appropriate departments.  She is also kind and supportive to the students who come into the Health Office.

Bev is a volunteer at a variety of animal shelters.  She has rescued and fostered 28 dogs.

ALICE MIESNIK

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL FOR ACADEMICS

MARIST HIGH SCHOOL

BAYONNE, NJ

Alice has made a lifelong choice to work in Catholic education, particularly with the Marist Brothers who are dedicated to “making Jesus known and loved through Christian education of youth, especially the most neglected.”

By choice, Alice lives and worships in a diverse community.  She helps support a needy family in her neighborhood.  The example Alice shows as a faith-filled woman goes without saying.

PAULINE FERRER

SEVENTH GRADE TEACHER

ST. AUGUSTINE SCHOOL

UNION CITY, NJ

MARGARET KIRBY

CHAIRPERSON OF THE RELIGIOUS STUDIES DEPARTMENT, FULL-TIME RELIGION TEACHER, DIRECTOR OF MISSION EFFECTIVENESS AND MODERATOR OF THE SERVICE CLUB AT THE ACADEMY

ACADEMY OF SAINT ELIZABETH

CONVENT STATION, NJ

Peggy embodies all four directions for mission of the Sisters of Charity of New Jersey.  Throughout the school year Peggy, as moderator of the Service Club, invites and urges our students to reach out to those in need and to those less fortunate.  Through her teaching, Peggy dispels ignorance and promotes justice.  In her teaching of scripture, Christian Morality and World Religion, she preaches the Word, helps students to form right consciences, especially with regard to justice issues and encourages her students to be aware and accepting of other cultures, and religious beliefs other than their own.

In her role as Director of Mission Effectiveness, Peggy is constantly reminding faculty and staff to be faithful to the mission, however; her greatest asset is the fact that she lives, what she preaches.  She truly embodies the spirit and mission of the Sisters of Charity.  She is an exemplary role model and a true partner in ministry and mission.  

NANCY BROWN

CHARGE NURSE IN EMERGENCY ROOM

ST. JOSEPH’S REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER

PATERSON, NJ

Nancy is the heart and soul of the Emergency Room.  She has a heart of gold and thinks of others before herself.  Her theoretical knowledge coupled with her immense experiential knowledge makes her the ultimate ER nurse.

Nancy is confident, open-minded, self-directed, hard-working, loyal and full of energy.  She creates an environment where each nurse, technician, etc., can make his/her best contribution.  Words of praise and appreciation for her co-workers come often and generously.  Nancy leads by actions and not just words. 

JOANN DEGNAN

PRINCIPAL

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION HIGH SCHOOL

MONTCLAIR, NJ

On numerous occasions facing crises at ICHS, JoAnn has uttered Mother Xavier’s words before anyone else.  A Sisters of Charity for seven years, JoAnn daily lives out the charism of charity in both her professional and personal life.  For example, “IC Serves” is the watch words JoAnn selected for the school’s theme this year and all class projects focus on service.  Frequently JoAnn speaks passionately to both faculty and students about the poor being the human face of Jesus.

JOAN BARRON

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AND TEACHER

MOTHER SETON REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

CLARK, NJ

Joan’s contributions to Mother Seton go far beyond the classroom or her office.  She has been a part of the fabric of Mother Seton daily from 6:30 a.m. until late into the night – whenever her day ends.  Known to be the author of words which have come to characterize the school and logo – Academic Excellence, Seton Spirit, she truly lives and promotes that logo.