Sister Helen Demboski papers, 1955 - 2005

Sub-Series — file_cabinet: 1

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Record Group: This collection contains records from all the sisters who make up the DSOH. It includes their personal papers, publications, artistic work, photographs, diplomas, ministry history etc. The Dominican Sisters of Hope were founded in 1995. The group includes members of the former Newburgh Domincan, Fall River Dominican and Ossining Dominican Communities. The sisters work and minister in various ways including community organizing, social work, education, environmental advocacy, and retreat ministry.

Dates

1955 - 2005

Conditions Governing Access

Access is restricted.

Biographical / Historical

Sister Helen was born Helen Demboski on May 17, 1938 in Passaic, NJ. She entered the Newburgh Congregation on September 8, 1955 and received the habit on June12, 1956 when she was given the religious name, Sister John Aquin. (She began using the name, Sister Helen after Vatican II). She pronounced first vows on June 13, 1957 and final vows on August 20, 1960. During her years in the congregation she served in the following schools and ministries: St. Paul, Jersey City, NJ; Sts. John and Paul, Larchmont, NY; religion and business subjects at Pope Pius XII Diocesan High School, Passaic, NJ, as well as at Our Lady of Lourdes High School, Poughkeepsie, NY. While in Poughkeepsie she was adjunct faculty at Duchess Community College and the Redemptorist Fathers Seminary. In 1973 she was appointed Consultant and Regional Coordinator for the NY Archdiocesan Religious Education Program based in Poughkeepsie, NY. There she served the 23 parishes in the Vicariate by providing: catechist training; scripture study groups; parent programs; adult education; and supportive services to parish religious education coordinators. Sister was a member of the Dutchess Interfaith Council, 1973-1979 and served as its president in 1979. Prior to her ministry in the Paterson Diocese she was a full-time student at Regis College in Toronto. Sister Helen served as Associate Director of the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis in the Diocese of Paterson, NJ 1981-1985 where she initiated and implemented the RCIA process on the diocesan level; implemented RENEW using the cluster model; and provided training in group process skills for parishes. Sister was elected to the General Council of the Dominican Sisters of Newburgh, NY,1983-1991. After her time in community leadership, she was Associate Director of Finance at LCWR (Leadership Council of Women Religious), Silver Spring, MD. She was Assistant Director of the Office of Evangelization, Philadelphia restructured to be the Office for the Formation of the Laity, 1995-2000. As part of a sabbatical year she served as team member to the Czech Republic on a fact-finding trip sponsored by the Bishops Committee for Eastern Europe. This trip was to ascertain how Dominican Sisters there were living following the "Totality". She was accompanied by Sr. Anne Marie Reimmer, OP of Caldwell, New Jersey and a translator. She was Assistant Director of Lay Leadership Development in the Camden, NJ diocese, 2001-2003. Here she developed and coordinated the spiritual formation component of the Studies in Parish Leadership Certificate Program, (SPLC) and designed and implemented a model for the cultural immersion experiences for SPLC participants. She also served as interim coordinator for Women’s Ministry. Sister Helen now resides in Mt. Vernon, New York. Prior to this was the first Pastoral Associate at St. Joseph, Toms River, New Jersey 2003-2008. She was responsible for baptismal preparation; efforts in evangelization; adult faith formation programs; and parish spirituality programs. She served as moderator to the Legion of Mary and was a member of the Liturgy Committee. On the diocesan level she was a member and vice-chairperson of the RCIA Committee and a member of the Diocesan Adult Faith Formation Committee. Sister Helen earned a BA in English from Seton Hall University; MA in Business Education from Columbia University Teachers College; MA in Religious Studies from Manhattan College and STM in Theology from Regis College in Toronto, Canada.