Sister Sylvia Bielen papers, 1931 - 2022

Sister Sylvia was born Sylvia Bielen on August 18, 1925 in Perth Amboy, NJ. She entered the Newburgh Congregation on September 8, 1945 and received the habit on June 24, 1946 when she was given the religious name, Sister Theresa Clare. (She began using the name, Sister Sylvia after Vatican II). She pronounced first vows on June 25, 1947 and final vows on August 26, 1950. During her years in the congregation she served in the following schools: Sacred Heart, Camden, NJ, 1947-1955; and Bishop Dunn Memorial, Newburgh, NY, 1955-1963. She taught art classes in: Gloucester Catholic High School in Gloucester, NJ, 1963-1968; Pope Pius XII Regional High School, Passaic, NJ, 1968-1975; and Mount Saint Mary College, Newburgh, NY 1975-?. She has given lectures and workshops in spirituality and art at Mariandale Retreat & Conference Center Ossining, NY; Wisdom House in Litchfield, CT; Linwood Spirituality Center, Rhinebeck, NY; and Desmond Campus Extension, Newburgh, NY. She spent four summers in Mississippi conducting art workshops for the resident teenagers. Sister Sylvia earned her BS in Education from Seton Hall University;, an MA in Art from the University of Notre Dame; and an MFA in Design from George Washington University in DC. Her love of music brought her to join the singers in the Greater Newburgh Symphony Chorale. Sister Sylvia moved to Asbury Towers, Asbury, NJ. Sr. Sylvia died on October 26, 2022 in Caldwell, NJ. She is buried in Mt. St. Mary Cemetery Newburgh, New York.