Written on: April 7, 2017
Sister St. Catherine Curley was barely 16 when she entered the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart. Her 80 years in the congregation have been filled with rewarding experiences as teacher and principal. She remembers, as if it were yesterday, a favorite class from St. Joan of Arc School in Jackson Heights, New York. For many years after her retirement to the Motherhouse, she stayed close to elementary school children by volunteering at Grey Nun Academy. At 96 , she now lives at Magnificat, the retirement facility housed at the former Provincialate of the Sisters of the Holy Redeemer. There she shares life with five other Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart and several Sisters of the Holy Redeemer. She fills her days with prayer and reading, and being lovingly present to others.
In my 80 years as a Grey Nun, I look back with joy and happiness on the many places that I was missioned. As a teacher, I knew I had an important mission in educating young children to grow to be responsible adults. I found fulfillment in knowing that I was doing the work of Marguerite d’Youville. I have also been able to rejoice in the way Divine Providence has brought me this far. I never expected to move to a new home in these later years. I am appreciative of the many sisters who have been with me on this journey.
I always have prayed that the community of Grey Nuns would prevail and we have and we will always be daughters of Marguerite d’Youville.
Sr. Saint Catherine was our 4th Grade teacher at Joan of Arc and our favorite. Our class had 69 mixed and graduated in 1952.
She taught English at Our Lady of Fatima for years. I had her for 6th, 7th and 8th grades, 1971-74