Maryknoll Sisters

Sister Mary Doretta Leonard died on November 27^th, 2018 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Maryknoll, NY. She was 93 years old and had been a Maryknoll Sister for 73 years.

Mary was born in New York City on June 26^th, 1925 to Mary (Burnell) Leonard and Anthony Leonard; she was baptized as Anne Therese. She had one brother, Edward who has predeceased her.

In 1943, Mary graduated from Bishop McDonnell Memorial High School in Brooklyn, NY and then studied at Fordham School of Education from 1944-1945. She entered the Maryknoll Sisters Novitiate in Maryknoll, NY on September 6^th, 1945 from St. Francis Assisi Parish in Astoria, NY (Diocese of Brooklyn). At her Reception into the Congregation she received the religious name, Sister Doretta. She made her First Profession of Vows on March 7^th, 1948 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in NY and her Final Profession on March 7^th, 1951 in China.

In 1948, Sister Doretta received her first overseas mission assignment to China, not knowing she would serve there for the next 50 years on and off. She first arrived to Wuchow, China to study language for one year and then began her ministry in catechetical work in 1950.   The political situation in Wuchow required Sister Doretta to transfer to Hong Kong, there she continued her work as a catechist until 1968. She then returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center in NY to study at Mary Rogers College, earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Adult Education in 1970. After earning her degree, Sister Doretta returned to Hong Kong to continue doing catechetical work until 1977.  From 1977-1980, she was assigned to the Development Department at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in NY.

In 1980, Sister Doretta became a parish team member at St. Stephen’s Church, where she did Pastoral ministry in Hong Kong for the next nine years. In 1989, she was assigned to do congregational service at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in NY, serving as receptionist and working in the Congregational Archives Department.

Sister Doretta once again returned to China in 1992 to do pastoral work; first in Macau until 1995 and then transferring to Hong Kong where she did part-time volunteer work visiting the sick and elderly.  In 2005, she returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center in NY to retire, but remained an active volunteer serving as a member of the Pastoral Care Team.

A Vespers service will be held for Sister Mary Doretta at 4:15 p.m. in the Chapel of the Assumption on Thursday, November 29, 2018 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center.

 A funeral Mass will follow on Friday, November 30, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. also in the Main Chapel at the Center.

 Interment will follow in the Maryknoll Sisters Cemetery on the Center grounds.

Sister Josephine Lo Presti M.M. died on November 13th, 2018  at  the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Maryknoll, NY.  She was 93 years old and had been a Maryknoll Sister for 69 years.

Josephine was was born on October 10th, 1925 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada to Augustine (Rinella) Lo Presti and Joseph Lo Presti.  She had four brothers, and three sisters.  All have predeceased her except two of her sisters, Margaret Lo Presti and Pearl (Mrs. Pearl Zucchero).

In 1944, Josephine graduated from St. Joseph’s College High School in Toronto. She remained in Toronto and attended St. Michael’s Hospital School of Nursing; she graduated as a Registered Nurse in 1947.  She later attended nursing courses for one semester at The University of Western Ontario in 1969.  

Josephine entered the Maryknoll Sisters Novitiate at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Maryknoll, NY on September 6th, 1949 from St. Basil Parish in Toronto, Canada.  She made her First Profession of  Vows at The Maryknoll Sisters Center on March 7th, 1952 and her Final Profession of Vows in Arequipa, Peru on March 7th, 1955.

Sister Josephine remained at the Maryknoll Sisters Center after making her First Profession of Vows, there she worked in the Center Infirmary until 1953. She then received her first overseas assignment to the Bolivia/Peru region to attend language school in Cochabamba, Bolivia; after a year of studying she began teaching second and third grade in Puno, Peru from 1954-1957.

From 1957-1967, Sister Josephine was assigned to Riberalta, Bolivia where she initiated and directed the Practical School of Nursing; which provided practical nurses to staff the hospital in Riberalta and clinics in the distant river communities.

In 1967, she was assigned to the Catholic University of Santa Maria in Arequipa, Peru, where she joined the Faculty of the School of Nursing. There she trained nurses, taught clinical education and developed training modules. In 1970, the Catholic University of Santa Maria, in Arequipa, Peru, granted her a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing in recognition of her work experience in Medicine and Public Health, and a thesis of such merit that the University canceled all need for additional courses and requirements.

Sister Josephine returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, NY to serve in the Center Infirmary from 1972-1974. She then returned to Arequipa, Peru to serve people in community health & rehabilitation and founded a Family Life Center (CORFAM).

In 2001, she returned to the United States and joined the Sisters Community in Monrovia, CA. After a few years, due to declining health, she had to return to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, NY; where she remained until her death.

A Vespers Service will be held on Monday, November 19, 2018 at 4:15 P.M. in the Chapel of the Annunciation at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY. A Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated on Tuesday, November 20, 2018 at 11:00 A.M., also in the Chapel of the Annunciation. 

Interment will follow at the Maryknoll Sisters Cemetery on the Maryknoll Center grounds.