Sister Elizabeth McCormick papers, 1869 - 2014

Sister Elizabeth, (Beth) was born Elizabeth McCormick on September 14, 1928 in Dobbs Ferry, NY. She entered the Newburgh Congregation on September 8, 1949 and received the habit on June 16, 1950 when she was given the religious name, Sister Mary James. (She began using the name, Sister Elizabeth after Vatican II). She pronounced first vows on June 18, 1951 and final vows on August 24, 1954. During her years in the congregation she served in the following schools: Casa San Jose, Newburgh, NY, 1949-1950; Bishop Dunn Memorial School, Newburgh, NY, 1952-1953; and Mt St Mary Academy, Newburgh, 1 953-1961. She was Dean of Students and taught English at Mt St Mary College, Newburgh, 1964-1969. Sister was an ACE Fellow at Chatham College, Pittsburgh, PA, 1969-1970. She served in administration and taught English at Mt St Mary College, Newburgh 1970-1971. Sister Beth served on the council of the Dominican Sisters of Newburgh, NY, 1971-1979, and was major superior, 1979-1983. She was a member of the Catholic Chaplaincy Team at Massachusetts State Prisons for men, in Boston, 1984-1989; and was a member of the Catholic Chaplaincy Team at MCI Framingham State prison for women in Framingham, MA, 1989-1991. In 1991, Sister Beth was again elected to the Council of the Dominican Sisters of Newburgh. Sister has done spiritual direction and retreat work at Mariandale Retreat and Conference Center, Ossining, NY, 1995-, coordinated the Preaching Institute, Ossining, NY,2004-2006, and continued spiritual direction and retreat work there and other locations upon request. Sister Beth has also been involved in ESL instruction both in Newburgh and Ossining. Sr. Beth earned: her BA in English from Trinity College; her MA in English from Catholic University; and her PhD in English from Fordham University. She did post-graduate study at the Jesuit Weston School of Theology, Cambridge MA.