‘Education can save a life,’ says retiring Sister Pat McGinley

Since 1960, St. Joseph Sister Pat McGinley’s heart has been deeply imbedded in education, following an example set by fellow Sisters.

“Education has always been an important value to women religious,” Sister Pat reflected as she neared retirement as pastoral associate in St. Ann Parish, Lawrenceville. “I believe education can save a life, can save the world.”

Whether in Catholic schools or parish religious education programs, Sister Pat has spent a lifetime imparting scholastic knowledge and knowledge of the faith.

“The most important aspect of [my] working anywhere in the Catholic Church has been connecting people,” she emphasized. “My life is all about relationship with God and others. It is these connections that have nourished my soul and given me the energy and joy to continue to serve the Lord with gladness all these years.”

RELIGIOUS EXAMPLES

Sister Pat’s formation began in St. Bernard School and St. Hubert High School, Philadelphia, where she encountered and came to admire the Sisters of St. Joseph of Chestnut Hill.

“What caught my attention and nudged at my heart was the passion and dedication I experienced from the Sisters who taught me,” she remembered. “I was inspired by their joy and caring spirit, and how much the Sisters enjoyed each other’s presence.”

She entered the community’s motherhouse at the end of her senior year and completed her novitiate with her final profession of vows in 1968.

“Catholic Sisters established 150 religious colleges for women in the United States, Chestnut Hill being one of them,” she said. “It is there that I received my bachelor of arts degree in education and then went on to receive a master of arts degree in theology from Villanova University,” Villanova, Pa.

FOLLOWING THE NEEDS

“From the beginning days of the community, the Sisters are missioned according to the needs of the day,” Sister Pat explained. “Bishop Kendrick of Philadelphia once wrote of the Sisters of St. Joseph, ‘They stand ready for any good work.’”

Her ministry followed that script, including as first grade teacher; director of religious education in Marlton; director of the North American Forum for Small Christian Communities, Newark; and work at Renew International, Newark. She served as a pastoral associate at St. Anselm, Wayside; St. David the King, Princeton Junction; and Our Lady Queen of Peace, Hainesport. She also served as vicar of faith formation, Diocese of Las Vegas; special executive assistant to the president of Iona College, New Rochelle, N.Y.; and pastoral associate for St. Ann Parish since 2014.

Sister Pat served was a consultant for Sadlier Book Company and the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, both in New York. She was a member of the Board of Trustees for Mount Carmel Guild, Trenton, from 2021-2024, and was a Mount Carmel Guild honoree in 2016 with its Community Service Award.

“Of all the things I have done, my work with the Guild holds a special place in my heart,” she said.

Sisters of St. Joseph who attended the celebratory Mass gather for a photo with Sister Pat, center front.
Mary Stadnyk photos

SERVICE IS ITS OWN REWARD

“I have enjoyed each place where I have ministered and the variety of age groups over the years,” Sister Pat reflected. “I have come full circle here in the Diocese, beginning my pastoral life in 1968 at St. Joan of Arc in Marlton and staying for nine years, and now after nine years at St. Ann’s in Lawrenceville, saying good-bye to the Diocese of Trenton.’”

Sister Pat firmly believes that the people are the Church, and that has informed her ministerial goals.

“We are all called to holiness … and we need to support each other along the journey,” she noted. “It is with the strength of community that we leave the Eucharist each Sunday to go out and serve the Lord, especially those less fortunate.”

Going forward, Sister Pat intends to embrace her same mission – a life of prayer and presence.

“The question changes from ‘what will I do?’ to ‘who will I be?’” she explained. “As C.S. Lewis reminds us, ‘You are never too old to set a new goal or dream a new dream.’”

That, Sister Pat pointed out, is an important part of her transition to retirement.

“My hope is to fill the days with deep meaning, joy, gratitude and compassion, daily asking myself how I can make the world a better place to live,” she said.

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