On Tuesday, June 16, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield gathered to celebrate the Special Anniversaries of Sisters who have been members for 60, 65, 70 and 75 years. The theme was “We Choose Peace”, and Monsignor Chris Connelly celebrated with them at Jericho, the Bureau for Exceptional Children and Adults in Holyoke. An indoor picnic followed the Mass. Everyone enjoyed themselves immensely!
Below the slide show, you can read all about this year’s group of celebrants.
60 Years – Entered in 1966
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Sister Sally Marsh is a native of North Adams, MA, and entered from St. Francis parish there. She earned a B.A. at the College of Our Lady of the Elms and an M.A. in Music at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She taught at Our Lady of Hope and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart schools in Springfield, MA, and the Consolidated Catholic Schools, Pittsfield, MA. She ministered at the House of Prayer in Gloucester, MA, and was an instructor at the College of Our Lady of the Elms. She served in music ministry at Immaculate Conception parish, West Springfield, MA, and as music minister and companion to the retired Sisters at Mont Marie in Holyoke, MA. She was the founder of Mole Works, an SSJ Ministry of the Arts, an author and song writer, and she wrote the children’s stories Shrediver’s Secret, It Is Not Dirt, and Hugh Manatee and the People of the Earth. She has also written and recorded music, including the CD Songs of an Earthling. Sister Sally is retired and lives in Framingham, MA. |
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A native of Springfield, MA, Sister Joan Ryzewicz entered from Holy Cross parish there. She earned a B.A. at the College of Our Lady of the Elms and an M.Ed. at Boston College. She taught at Immaculate Conception School in Easthampton, MA, and St. Mary’s in Milford, MA. She has served as a consultant for the Office of Religious Education and the Office of Pastoral Ministry for the Springfield (MA) Diocese; as pastoral minister at St. Jerome parish, Holyoke, MA; as Director of Resident Programs at Providence Place Retirement Community in Holyoke, MA; and as Congregational President from 2017-2022. Sister Joan is retired and lives in Agawam, MA. |
65 Years – Entered in 1961
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Sister Maureen Broughan (Shawn Mary) was born in Greenfield, MA and entered from Blessed Sacrament parish there. She earned a B.A. at the College of Our Lady of the Elms; an M.A. at Boston College; and an M.A. in Pastoral Ministry at St. Joseph’s College. She taught at St. Stephen and Academy of the Sacred Heart in Worcester, MA, and then at Holyoke Catholic High School in Holyoke, MA. She served as pastoral minister at St. Cecilia’s parish, Wilbraham, MA; Associate Director of Admissions at Our Lady of the Elms College; and on the Bureau of Exceptional Children & Adults at Jericho in Holyoke, MA. Before her term as Vice-President of the Congregation, Sister served the missions in Guatemala through Maryknoll, and was Associate Director of Cross-Cultural Services in Maryknoll, NY. Sister is also a co-founder of Homework House of Hermano Pedro House. Sr. Maureen has worked in pastoral care at Mary’s Meadow. Sister Maureen is retired and lives in Holyoke, MA, |
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Sister Joan Magnani (Alice Peter) was born in Springfield, MA, and entered from St. Michael’s Cathedral parish there. She earned an A.B. at the College of Our Lady of the Elms. She taught at Our Lady of Hope School, Springfield, MA, and Immaculate Conception School, Easthampton, MA, and then served at the Bureau of Exceptional Children at Jericho in Holyoke, MA. She also ministered through Alleluia House, Holyoke, MA. She served as a Special Religious Educator at the Bureau for Exceptional Children, in Holyoke, MA, and as Associate Director and Director of Jericho House where she continues to volunteer. Sister Joan is retired and lives in East Longmeadow, MA. |
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Born in Webster, MA, Sister Elaine Moskal (Beatrice Joseph) entered from Sacred Heart parish there. She earned an A.B. at the College of Our Lady of the Elms; an M.A. in Religious Studies at St. Joseph College; and an A.S. in Video Production and then a B.S. in Telecommunications at the New England Institute of Technology. She taught for many years in the Diocese of Providence, RI, including at Bishop Keough High School, Pawtucket, RI; St. Francis Xavier Academy, Providence, RI; and Coyle Cassidy High School, Taunton, MA. She worked at Video Production/Tele Communications in Pawtucket, RI, and served the Congregation by documenting Community events through digital recording. Sister Elaine is retired and lives in Framingham, MA. |
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Sister Janet Provost was born in Webster, MA, and entered from St Louis parish there. She earned a B.A. at Anna Maria College and an M.A. in Psychology and Counseling at Assumption College. She has taught at a number of schools for the Springfield (MA) Diocese, including Our Lady of Hope and Holy Name Schools in Springfield, MA; St. Mary School, Northampton, MA; St. Mary School, Westfield, MA; and Mary Immaculate School, Holyoke, MA. She also taught at Sacred Heart School, Pawtucket, RI, and Marianhill Junior/Senior School, Southbridge, MA. She was a parish team member at St. Joseph parish, Vinton, LA, and a Pastoral Associate at St. Louis parish in Webster, MA. She also served as a guidance counselor at Holy Name High School and St. Peter Marian High School in Worcester, MA. Sister Janet is retired and lives in Worcester, MA. |
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A native of Worcester, MA, Sister Julia M. Sullivan entered from St. Stephen parish there. She earned an A.B. at the College of Our Lady of the Elms; an M.Ed. in History at North Adams State College; a Certificate of Library Science at the University of Rhode Island; and a Certificate in Applied Theology at the School of Applied Theology in Oakland, CA. She taught at St. Rose of Lima School, Warwick, RI, and at St. Joseph’s Central High School, Pittsfield, MA, where she went on to become principal and serve in that capacity for 14 years. She also ministered at the Berkshire County (MA) Jail and House of Corrections where she was Assistant Deputy Superintendent for Programs and Treatment. Sister Julia is retired and lives in Holyoke, MA.
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70 Years – Entered in 1956
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A native of Worcester, MA, Sister Maryanne Guertin (Mary Edmond) entered from St. Andrew the Apostle parish there. She earned an A.B. at the College of Our Lady of the Elms and an M.A. in Spanish at Assumption College. She taught at St. Mary High School, Westfield, MA; Holyoke Catholic High School, Holyoke, MA; St. Joseph Central Catholic High School, Pittsfield, MA; and Sacred Heart High School, Pawtucket, RI. She also served as principal of St. Peter-Marian High School, Worcester, MA, before becoming a lecturer at Assumption College. Sister served as executive director at St. Vincent de Paul Place, Norwich, CT, and as the Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs Officer for the Dioceses of Worcester, MA and Norwich, CT. She also worked as an advocate in the Hampden County (MA) Sheriff’s Department. Sister Maryanne is retired lives in Framingham, MA. |
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Sister Joan Hawkins (James Joseph) was born in Pawtucket, RI, and entered from Sacred Heart parish there. She earned a B.A. at the College of Our Lady of the Elms. She served in elementary education at St. Joseph’s, Pittsfield, MA, and Sacred Heart, Holyoke, MA, and 36 years at St. Francis School, Warwick, RI, the first sixteen years as teacher and the final seventeen years as principal. She served at the Washington Park Community Center in Providence, RI, for 19 years before her retirement in 2016. Sister Joan lives in Warwick, RI |
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A native of Rutland, VT, Sister Margaret McDevitt (Matthew Joseph) entered from St. Peter’s parish there. She earned a B.A. at the College of St. Joseph the Provider and an M.A. at St. Michael’s College. She taught at Christ the King and St. Peter Schools in Rutland, VT; St. Mary’s School, Fairhaven, VT; and Sacred Heart School, Bennington, VT. She also served as Religious Education Coordinator at Sacred Heart parish, Bennington, VT, and as pastoral minister at Rutland Regional Medical Center for 33 years. Sister Margaret is retired and lives in Rutland, VT. |
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Sister Margaret O’Neil (Maria Francis) was born in Florence, MA, and entered from St. Mary’s parish, Northampton, MA. She earned an A.B. at the College of Our Lady of the Elms and an M.A.T. in Religion at St. Michael’s College. She taught at Our Lady of Hope, Springfield, MA; St. Matthew’s, Indian Orchard, MA; St. Mary’s, Southbridge, MA; St. Peter’s, Worcester, MA; and St. Mark’s, Pittsfield, MA. She served as pastoral minster at St. Joseph parish, North Scituate, RI, and as pastoral minister and Director of Religious Education at St. Cecilia parish in Wilbraham, MA. She also served as Director of Religious Education at St. Mary’s, Westfield, MA; Founder and Director of the Divine Mercy Intercessory Prayer Ministry at the Marian Center, Stockbridge, MA; and pastoral minister at St. Mark’s parish in Pittsfield, MA. Sister Margaret is retired and lives in Framingham, MA. |
75 Years – Entered in 1951
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Born in Florence, MA, Sister Irene Mizula (William Alice) entered from St. John Cantius parish in Northampton, MA. She earned an A.B. at the College of Our Lady of the Elms; an M.A.T. in Biology at Fairfield University; and an M.A. in Pastoral Ministry at Boston College. She taught for 15 years in the Diocese of Springfield, MA, and then served as administrator at the Mont Marie Infirmary in Holyoke, MA. She also served as a residential supervisor at Youville House; a pastoral associate at St. Joseph parish; a medical technologist at Medical Science Lab; and inter-library loan coordinator at Holy Cross College Science Library, all in Worcester, MA. Sister Irene is retired and lives in Framingham, MA. |
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Sister Joan Pollock (Maria William) was born in Philadelphia, PA, and entered from St. Joseph parish, Newport, RI. She earned an A.B. at the College of Our Lady of the Elms; an M.A.T. in Art at Assumption College; and an M.Ed. in Home Economics at Framingham State College. She taught for 30 years in the Dioceses of Springfield, MA, and Worcester, MA, at Cathedral High School, Springfield; St. Joseph’s Central Catholic High School, Pittsfield; St. Peter’s Catholic Central High School, Worcester; and St. Peter Marian Central Catholic High School, Worcester. She also worked in Accounts Receivable at Worcester’s Catholic Free Press. Sister Joan lives in Worcester, MA, and retired from working at the Worcester Diocesan Chancery Office as payroll and benefits administrator. |