Sister Barbara McCarthy papers, 1948 - 2012

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

1948 - 2012

Conditions Governing Access

Access is restricted.

Biographical / Historical

Sister Barbara was born Barbara McCarthy on June 12, 1931 in North Bangor, NY. She entered the Fall River Congregation on August 31, 1948 and received the habit on August 25, 1949 when she received the religious name, Sister Mary Gerald. (She began using the name, Sister Barbara after Vatican II). She pronounced first vows on August 30, 1950 and final vows on August 30, 1953. During her years in the congregation she served in the following schools: taught in the elementary division at Dominican Academy, Fall River, MA, 1948-1961, Dominican Academy High School,1961-1962. She was principal of both elementary and secondary levels at Dominican Academy, 1962-1970. Sister was a supervisor for the Fall River Diocesan School Department, 1970-1973, and assistant superintendent for schools in the Diocese of Fall River, 1973-1977. Sister Barbara was a member of the general council of the Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena, Fall River, MA, 1970-1978, and Prioress General of the Congregation, 1978-1986 . In addition, she has served on the Tupper Lake, NY Community Food Pantry Board, the Tupper Lake Disaster Preparedness Committee, and the Tupper Lake Alliance for Community Service. She has been Congregational Representative for the Ogdensburg Diocesan Council of Religious, a member of the Bishop’s Fund Committee for the Diocese of Ogdensburg, and CORE-Diocesan Organization of Parish Ministers. Sister Barbara has also sung with the St. Alphonsus parish folk Choir. Sister was a volunteer at Saint Alphonsus Parish in Tupper Lake NY, where she had been pastoral associate,1986-. Sister Barbara earned her BA in English from Regis College and her MA in English from Boston College. She moved to the Wartburg Assisted Living, Mt. Vernon, NY.