Sister Kathryn Walsh, OP

SOAR! recently had the opportunity to talk with Sister Kathryn Walsh, OP, a member of the Dominican Sisters of Amityville, New York.  Her congregation received a grant to purchase automatic doors. Getting through doorways if you use a wheelchair or walker can be challenging. Thanks to the SOAR! grant, the Sisters are more independent and can safely and easily navigate through the Motherhouse.

Sister Kathryn Walsh, OP, lovingly known as “Sister Kay,” has been a Dominican Sister of Amityville, New York for 70 years. She will celebrate her 70th Jubilee this year. 

Growing up, Sister Kay was attracted to becoming a Sister because she was impressed by the Sisters who taught her at Dominican Commercial High School in Jamaica, Queens.

She attended college and graduated with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in business management and went on to teach at various levels of education throughout Brooklyn, and even one year in Monticello, NY, where she taught fifth- and sixth-grade students. She recalls how different living and teaching in a rural community was compared to city schools. She reflected on trying so hard to prepare for her upcoming parent-teacher conferences, and the largest issue the parents raised that evening was if they were going to sell fruit cake at their holiday fair that year. Despite the fruit cake concern, she felt the parents were very involved and attentive to their children’s education. After Monticello, she continued to teach at various high schools in Brooklyn and then at St. Agnes Academic High School in College Point, NY teaching business and computer sciences for 40 years.

Sister Kay has enjoyed seeing so many of her students throughout the years. She said, “to see how they have matured and grown into such wonderful, successful women,” has been her greatest joy as a Sister.

Presently, she resides at the Motherhouse in Amityville, NY where she is an important administrative staple. She diligently volunteers three to four days a week in the Secretariat Office taking care of all the administrative tasks of the Motherhouse.

When asked if she had any words of wisdom she would like to share with people today, she replied, “Be true to yourself. Be true to your God.”