
Written on: May 10, 2022
Sister Mary Mulligan met the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart at Blessed Sacrament School in Jackson Heights New York. She knew in her heart even in grade school that she wanted to be a Sister.
Her ministry life has been comprised of three parts: educator, counselor, and social service coordinator. She received a B.S. in education at D’Youville College and an M.S. in education from St. Bonaventure in Olean, New York and ministered in elementary education for 20 years.
A change in ministry found her serving as a guidance counselor at St. John’s Residence and School for Boys in Jackson Heights and, after becoming credentialed as an Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor, she worked at the Flatbush Addiction Treatment Center. Later, she was Social Service Coordinator at Rosary House in Jackson Heights. She has served children, teens and adults and the elderly. Sister Mary lives and prays with her sister Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart at Holy Redeemer Lafayette and is grateful for her life as a Grey Nun of the Sacred Heart. She believes firmly that she was called to religious life.
“During these 70 years, the best things in my life are the people I love – family, friends, co-workers, students and clients, the places I’ve been – from 7500 West Avenue* to 8580 Verree Road**, and the memories I’ve made along the way. God bless all, especially my Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart Community, fertile ground I stand among.”
** Holy Redeemer Lafayette
I worked with Sr Mary Mulligan at St John’s Home in Rockaway for several years where she was a dynamic force with the young men. She challenged these sometimes challenging young men to push themselves when they that was the last thing they wanted to hear. But St Mary was always successful! There was a rap song out at the time about a girl named Mary, and the boys affectionately converted the lyrics to go “Sr. Mary, why you buggin?” Because she was always on them to go to school, do better and graduate. But at every graduation, each of those boys would be hugging Sr. Mary and thanking her for bugging them all year long! It was because she stayed on them, banging on doors to wake them up to go to school or tutoring them in basic reading and math or making sure they ate that they succeeded.
Sr. Mary had a wonderful sense of humor, a quick Irish wit and was a joy to work with. She is truly a gift from God and we were all blessed to call her our friend.
Please give her a big hug from all her friends.