Sister Patricia Jelly papers, 1973 - 2017

Sub-Series — file_cabinet: 2

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

1973 - 2017

Conditions Governing Access

Access is restricted.

Biographical / Historical

Sister Patricia was born Patricia Jelly on April 6, 1938 in Jersey City, NJ. She entered the Newburgh Congregation on September 8, 1956 and received the habit on June 12, 1957 when she was given the religious name, Sister Mary Michelle. (She began using the name, Sister Patricia after Vatican II). She pronounced first vows on June 13, 1958 and final vows on August 21, 1961. During her years in the congregation she served in the following schools: Holy Family, New Rochelle, NY, 1960-1965; Bishop Dunn Memorial, Newburgh, NY, 1965-1969; and Saint Cecilia, Iselin, NJ,1969-1970. She was principal at Saint Augustine School, Larchmont, NY, 1970-1973, and at Our Lady of Fatima, Scarsdale, NY, 1973-1977. Sister was a member of the Dominican Preaching Team in Wheeling, WV, 1977-1979. She was councilor and personnel director for the Dominican Sisters of Newburgh, 1979-1983, and was Prioress, (Superior General), 1983-1991. After completing a sabbatical year, Sister Patricia began work as a community organizer: first for the Industrial Areas Foundation in Bergen County, Elizabeth, and Trenton, NJ, 1992-1996; then for the Elizabeth Coalition to House Homeless, Elizabeth, NJ, 1996-1999. Sister was coordinator of community organizing at La Casa de Don Pedro, Newark, NJ, 1999-2007. In 2002, and assumed the role of deputy director, Community and Economic Development Division. She served on the Statewide Education Organizing Committee (SEOC) as associate director and lead organizer of ONEC, 2007-. Sister Patricia sat on several Boards, including: Newark Master Working Group; The Coalition for Our Children’s Schools; Community Schools Resource Team; and Boys’ and Girls’ Advisory Board. In 2000, she received the Inter-Community Justice and Peace, (ICJP), Congregational Award for Justice and, in 2006, the ONEC Award for Advancing Public Education. Sister Patricia earned: an MA in Counseling Psychology from Manhattan College; certification in administration in New York State, and community organizing (IAF).