Maryknoll Sisters

Sister Janice McLaughlin, M.M. died on March 7^th, 2021 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY. She was born on February 13^th, 1942 in Pittsburgh, PA to Paul McLaughlin and Mary (Schaub) McLaughlin. She had one sister, Mary Ellen, who has pre-deceased her.

In 1960, Janice graduated from St. Lawrence High School, Pittsburgh, PA. She then attended St. Mary of the Springs College in Columbus, OH from 1960-1961.

On September 2^nd, 1961, she entered the Maryknoll Sisters Congregation, Maryknoll, NY (from St. Lawrence O’Toole Parish-Pittsburgh, PA). She made her First Profession of Vows on June 24^th, 1964 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY and her Final Profession on the same date in 1972 in Kitale, Kenya.

From 1964-1968, Sister Janice worked in the Maryknoll Sisters Communication Office, Maryknoll, NY.  During this time, she also organized the “War Against Poverty Program” in Ossining, NY. She continued her studies from 1967-1969 at Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI where she earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theology, Anthropology – Sociology. She later studied at the University of Zimbabwe and received a Master of Arts Degree and a PhD in Religious Studies in 1992.

Sister Janice received her first overseas mission assignment to Kenya, East Africa in 1969. There, she studied Kiswahili in Makoko, Tanzania. She then relocated to Nairobi, Kenya in 1970 and spent the next seven years serving as Communications Coordinator in the Catholic Secretariat Office for the Catholic Church of Kenya, Coordinator of the Communications Department of Episcopal Conference, and was responsible for radio, TV, press, film and audio visuals.

Sister Janice went to Rhodesia in 1977, in the midst of war, at the request of Rhodesian Catholic Bishops’ Justice and Peace Commission to serve as Press Secretary.  Later, that same year, arrested for publishing fact-papers about the war, imprisoned and in solitary confinement for 3 weeks, then deported to the USA.

While in the USA Janice held a 1-year position in Washington, DC Office on Africa.

In 1979, Sister Jancie returned to Mozambique where she accompanied refugees from Zimbabwe. In 1981-1992, Sister Janice accepted a new assignment to Zimbabwe, (formerly Rhodesia) and served in diverse positions there including:  Education Consultant to the President and Publications/Curriculum Development Officer with the Zimbabwe Foundation regarding education and communications and helped to form ZIMOFA (Zimbabwe Mozambique Friendship Association for Relief Aid).

In 1992, Sister Janice returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY for Congregational Service in the Communications Office. She also served on the Sisters Committee for the Conrad N. Hilton Fund until 1997.

She once again returned to Zimbabwe in 1998, this time to Harare. There, Sister Janice was involved in adult education and peace building until 2009.

In 2009, Sister Janice, elected as President of the Maryknoll Sisters Congregation for a six-year term and returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY.

On May 18^th, 2014 the Board of Trustees of Albertus Magnus College, New Haven, CT conferred on her the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters for “her work in Kenya and Zimbabwe for many years to promote peace and reconciliation and to advocate for the poor and for the rights of young girls to attend school.”

In 2015, after her term as President, she returned to Harare, Zimbabwe – volunteering in “Africans for Catholic Social Teaching” with a strong commitment to work against human trafficking.

In the Fall of 2020, due to health needs, she returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, NY.

Sister Janice generously donated her body to science. A Mass of Resurrection will be livestreamed on Friday, March 12^th, 2021 from the Annunciation Chapel at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, NY.  Her cremains will be interred at Maryknoll Sisters Cemetery, Maryknoll, NY at a later date.

Sister Marion Phillips, M.M. died on February 26^th, 2021 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY. She was born on November 28^th, 1934, in Jamaica, New York to Michael Phillips and Mary (Costello) Phillips. She is survived by her twin brother, Rev. Msgr. Michael Phillips of the Brooklyn Diocese, NY.

In 1952, Marion graduated from Our Lady of Wisdom High School, Ozone Park, NY. The following year she attended St. John’s University College, Brooklyn, NY.

On September 2^nd, 1953 Marion entered the Congregation (from St. Paschal Baylon Parish, St. Albans, NY). She made her First Profession of Vows on September 8^th, 1956 in Valley Park, MO and her Final Profession of Vows on September 8^th, 1962 in Japan.

Following her First Profession of Vows, Sister Marion worked at the Maryknoll Sisters Center Donor Relations Office, communicating with donors and recording gifts until she received her first overseas mission assignment to Japan in 1959. There, she studied the Japanese language and culture in Kyoto and Ueno until 1969, then began teaching English and catechism in Ise Shi.

In October of 1969, she returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY to join the Maryknoll Sisters Cloister (presently known as the Contemplative Community).  This prayer group is a very important part of the Maryknoll Sisters Congregation, which became a reality in 1932 and continues strong today. She committed to the contemplative way of life; which is simple, rooted in mission, and focused on prayer for those in active ministries and the needs of the world. The group mainly resides at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY, but has had a Contemplative presence mission houses in Thailand, South Sudan, New Mexico and Guatemala.   At present, only the Guatemala mission remains outside of the community in Maryknoll, NY.

From 1972-1984, Sister Marion relocated to Gallup, NM to join the Contemplative Community Group there and served as a prayer presence near the Navajo Nation. While there, she served as the Coordinator of the Gallup Contemplative Group and as a Regional Governing Board Member from 1979-1983. During that time, she also attended Kawai Art School, CA to study oriental brush painting and traveled to India to participate in an East-West dialogue on prayer and spirituality.

In 1985, Sister Marion returned to the Contemplative Community, Maryknoll, NY to serve as Coordinator for the group until 1990.

Her mission journey then took her to Thailand, to join the Contemplative Community there and study the language and culture. In 1992, she returned to the Contemplative Community, Maryknoll, NY where she remained until once again being assigned to Thailand in 2004. Sister Marion spent the next eight years as part of a collaborative contemplative prayer presence (with another Maryknoll Sister, Ursaline Sisters and Thai Jesuits) at Santi Wana Ashram, an Ecological Center among Buddhists and Christians.

In 2013, Sister Marion returned to the Contemplative Community, Maryknoll, NY.

A Memorial Service for Sister Marion will be held on March 5^th, 2021 and livestreamed from the Annunciation Chapel at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in NY. Interment in the Maryknoll Sisters Cemetery will follow.