Sister Margaret A. Donegan, SC

SOAR! recently had the wonderful opportunity to speak with Sister Margaret about her years in religious life as a member of the Sisters of Charity of New York. 

What attracted you to become a Sister?

Sister Margaret teaching students at St. Raymond Academy in the 1970s.

As I recall my many years as a religious and reflect on what attracted me to become a Sister, so many memories flood my mind. When did the journey begin? Maybe in the sixth grade when Sister Lawrence told us the story of Jesus knocking on the door that had no knob. Jesus longed to enter that house, but he had to wait to be admitted. Without hesitating I said I would open the door and invite Jesus in, into my heart. I probably had no idea what I was saying but the story has remained with me over many years.

I think it is the reason I love the Scripture line from Revelation, “Look, I am standing at the door, knocking. If one of you hears me calling and opens the door, I will come in to share his meal…”

Two years later I visited a residence for children, St. Joseph’s Hall, in Brooklyn. I listened as Sister Joseph told me about her ministry. I guess that afternoon had a great impact on me, a young teenager, for the next morning as I prepared for school, brushing my teeth, a light flashed in my mind. That’s what I want to be, a Sister who cares for small children who know so much pain. I had no idea how challenging Sister Joseph’s ministry was.

And it is good I was assigned to teach teenagers.

Sister Margaret teaching students at Resurrection Academy in the 1980s.

As you look at your years of faithful service, what has been your greatest joy? Your greatest challenge? 

Ministering in the field of education brought many joys and challenges. Helping a student to discover her gifts and to believe in herself so that she could face her future with confidence, knowing she had a significant role in society, has been one of my greatest joys.

On the other hand, with the joys, came challenges. I wanted the students who resisted reading to come to appreciate Shakespeare and Dickens, Tennessee Williams and F. Scott Fitzgerald. I hoped that they would enjoy reading To Kill A Mockingbird and Daphane Du Maurier’s Rebecca. I wished they would become readers and I had to find a way to achieve that goal. That was a challenge.

Can you share a story or some insight about a favorite time in ministry?  

One of my favorite memories is the time the guidance counsellor and I introduced Caritas, a program that highlighted students who could easily have been overlooked in a large group, possibly because they were quiet or shy or maybe so cooperative that they never attracted attention. We created an atmosphere with flowers and posters and colorful programs communicating to these students that they were a gathering of special people.

The meetings opened with a prayer and a short contemplation on a story from scripture. At first a few students shared their response to the story.

Then as a feeling of trust evolved, more students joined the conversations. Their classmates were listening to them.

Their ideas were respected. They had a voice and they were ready to create projects that would build school spirit.

One student, for nearly a year, was too shy to speak although she felt comfortable in the group. She knew she was accepted and participated in any project the group undertook. In senior year, surprising even herself, she was elected to the Student Council. By high school graduation she was ready to pursue a college education believing she would achieve her goal as a physical therapist.

I often think about that group and remember the energy and hope those students gave me.

Sister Margaret teaching sisters at the Sisters of Charity Spirituality Center 2024.

Each part of our life journey is touched by the holy, and we in turn are asked to bring Christ to others.  Can you share such a  moment from your life? 

Moments like these are holy. Touching the life of another, being touched by another, is sacred. God is surely present.

Now 68 years later and approaching my ninetieth birthday, l know it was the love and care of many people that nurtured the seed, enabling me to hear and respond to God’s call.

Actually, I know now, it is all about the mystery of Love.