In Memoriam: Sister Virginia Catharine Jarczynski, SC

“Sister Catharine embraced her missionary calling and was greatly influenced by her years in the Bahamas. When she returned to the States in 1967, her love for the poor was shown in her ministry at the New York Foundling Hospital…”

Sister Virginia Catharine Jarcznski (Katherine Veronica) was born on July 8, 1924 in New York City, one of four daughters and three sons of Francis and Katherine Gillon Jarczynski. Katherine attended Saint Margaret of Cortona School and Saint Barnabas High School, both in the Bronx. She then received a Business Diploma from Alvernia Business School. Katherine worked for two years before entering the Sisters of Charity of New York on February 2, 1946 and was given the name Sister Virginia Catharine. Her sister Helen had entered the Sisters of Charity in 1940.Sister Catharine’s first mission was Holy Name Day Nursery in Manhattan. In 1955 she was missioned to the Bahama Islands where she taught in both Saint Anselm School and Our Lady School. Sister Catharine embraced her missionary calling and was greatly influenced by her years in the Bahamas. When she returned to the States in 1967, her love for the poor was shown in her ministry at the New York Foundling Hospital as Director of Volunteers. She then served as Attendance Coordinator at Saint Peter High School in Staten Island, where her care and interest in the students endeared her to them. In 1983, Sister Catharine was appointed staff member of Mary the Ocean Star in Ventnor, New Jersey, the much loved vacation house for the sisters. She served there with Sisters Jean Donachie and Mary Kane and together they enabled the sisters to enjoy their time at the beautiful Ventnor shore. In 1987 Sister Catharine became a staff member at Saint Patrick Villa in Nanuet and retired there in 1991. She came to the Convent of Mary the Queen in 2009.

We rejoice with Sister Catharine now as she enters into the loving presence of her God whom she loved and served so well.