Sister Helen Wilkie papers, 1917 - 2007

Sub-Series — file_cabinet: 4

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

1917 - 2007

Conditions Governing Access

Unrestricted Access. Users have unrestricted access to documents unless stated otherwise.

Biographical / Historical

Sister Helen was born Helen Wilkie on April 23, 1917 in Bronx, NY. She entered the Newburgh Congregation on September 8, 1937 and received the habit on June 17, 1938 when she was given the religious name, Sister Mary Robert. (She began using the name, Sister Helen after Vatican II). She pronounced first vows on June 18, 1939 and final vows on August 21, 1945 . During her years in the congregation she served in the following schools: Our Lady of Victory, Mt. Vernon, NY, 1940-1944; St. Mary, Poughkeepsie, NY, 1944-1946; Cathedral Elementary, Raleigh, NC, 1946-1950; St. Mary, Gloucester, NJ, 1950-1955; Holy Rosary, Hawthorne, NY, 1955-1959; Our Lady of Lourdes HS, Poughkeepsie, NY, 1959-1961; Gloucester Catholic HS, 1961-1965; Mt. St. Mary academy, Newburgh, NY, 1965-1968; St. Mary, Passaic, NJ, principal, 1968-1971; and Passaic County Technical, Passaic, NJ, 1971-1991. Sister also served as substitute teacher at DePaul HS, Wayne, NJ, 1991-2001. Sister Helen earned her: BS in Biology from Fordham University; MA in Education from Notre Dame University; and MS in Home Economics from Columbia University. She died July 6, 2007