Sister Patricia Wolf, RSM

2026 Father Victor Yanitelli, SJ Award
Sister Patricia Wolf, RSM

Sr. Patricia Wolf has spent her life in ministry as a Sister of Mercy crisscrossing between education, justice work, and administration. Born in the Parkchester section of the Bronx, Pat met the Sisters of Mercy at St. Catharine Academy. Entering the Sisters of Mercy in 1963, her first mission was in East Harlem as a junior high school teacher at Commander John J. Shea Memorial School/St. Cecilia’s parish. The neighborhood was home to recently arrived people from Puerto Rico, and was marked by struggle, poverty, drugs, and violence. Her first time ministering in a multicultural community, she learned Spanish to build community and trust with families.

In the years that followed Sr. Patricia was appointed to positions that fostered her leadership and administrative skills. The 1970’s moved the Sisters of Mercy into the forefront of social justice issues and Pat embraced the challenge, particularly the areas of corporate social responsibility and alternative investing. She led the Tri-State Coalition for Responsible Investment and is a founder of the Leviticus 25:23 Alternative Fund which provides flexible capital and opportunities for vulnerable, low income people to live in dignity.

In 1984, Sr. Patricia began a fourteen-year tenure in elected leadership for the Sisters of Mercy. Elected President of the New York Regional Community in 1992, she was responsible for completing the sale of the Mt. Mercy Motherhouse and provide for the care of aging and elderly sisters. “It was from my experience and position as President that the vision of what became Marian Woods emerged.”

Sr. Patricia earned a bachelor’s degree in History and Government from Mercy University, Dobbs Ferry, NY and a master’s degree in Education from Manhattan University. She holds an honorary doctoral degree from Mercy University.

Sr. Patricia retired as President of St. Catharine Academy in 2024. She has embraced retirement as a new phase of life. She serves on Mercy Investment Services Social Responsibility Committee. She recently accepted an invitation from The Anna Trust, a project of The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, to explore successful collaborative efforts among congregations of Catholic sisters globally to care for elderly sisters.