Maryknoll Sisters

Maryknoll, NY: Sister Cecilia Santos, M.M. died on March 18^th, 2022 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY. She was 93 years old and had been a Maryknoll Sister for 75 years.

Cecilia was born in Paia, Maui, Hawaii on January 30^th, 1929, to Manuel Santos and Alexa (Gouveia) Santos.  She had one sister, nine brothers and a foster brother and sister; all of whom have pre-deceased her.

In 1947, she graduated from St. Anthony’s Girls High School in Wailuku, HI.  After graduation she entered the Maryknoll Sisters Novitiate at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY on August 18^th, 1947 from (St. Joseph Parish, Maui of the Honolulu Diocese, HI).

On March 7^th,1950 she pronounced her First Profession of Vows and her Final Profession of Vows three years later on March 7^th, 1953, at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY.

Sister Cecilia then earned a Bachelor of Education Degree from Maryknoll Teachers College (located on the property of the Maryknoll Sisters Center) in 1954 and later that year was assigned to teach in Maryknoll Sisters’ Schools in Hawaii until 1962. She then received her first overseas mission assignment to Chile, South America.

Her mission journey in Chile began with a year of studying the Spanish language in the village of Pucón. She then taught in grade schools subsidized by the government in very poor areas as well as parishes ministered by the Maryknoll Fathers. From 1963-1966, Sister Cecilia was in Santiago and then assigned to the rural town of Curepto where she served as Principal of a Parish School until 1968.  She then moved further south to the city of Chillán where she taught 4^th grade until 1971.  For a brief period from June 1971 through January 1972 she returned to Waikiki, HI and taught 4^th grade.  However, in 1972 she returned to Chillán, Chile to teach 6^th grade until 1976.  During those years spent in Chillán she also did home visiting, taught bible study classes and provided guidance to mothers who were preparing their children to receive their first Holy Communion.

In 1976 Sister Cecilia returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY to work in Supportive Services until 1978.  She then joined the Maryknoll Sisters Contemplative Community for one year until she returned to Chile once again in 1980. This time she was serving in the small town of Coelemu, where she served as a pastoral worker for the next 35 years! Her work included serving as: Chaplain of a 60 bed hospital, Director of the Parish Catechetical Department, Director of Basic Christian Communities, Coordinator of Eucharistic Ministers, leadership training, youth work, caring for the poor and needy, leading Sunday liturgies when the Parish Priest was elsewhere and much more.  In 1991 she was awarded the town’s citation of “Outstanding Neighbor” by the Mayor of Coelemu.

In 2015, Sister Cecilia returned to Maryknoll, NY and was assigned to the Central Pacific Region.  There she worked in the Sacred Heart Parish, in Honolulu, HI, volunteering two days a week in the parish food pantry and accompanying her elder sister who was ill.

In February of 2022 she returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY where she remained until her death.

Funeral Services:

Sister Cecilia generously donated her body to science.

A Vespers service will be held on Monday, March 28^th, 2022 at 4:15 p.m. in the Chapel of the Annunciation at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY.

A Memorial Mass of the Resurrection will be held on Tuesday, March 29^th, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. also at the Maryknoll Sisters Center.

Due to Co-vid 19, these services will be restricted to members of the Maryknoll Sisters Community.

Maryknoll, NY: Sister Jacqueline Dorr, M.M. died on February 19^th, 2022 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY. She was 92 years old and had been a Maryknoll Sister for 74 years.

Jacqueline was born in Boston, Massachusetts on November 22^nd, 1929, to Helen (O’Neil) Dorr and Paul Dorr. She had two brothers, Dr. Laurence Dorr and Paul Dorr and one sister, Mrs. Janice Giuliani all of whom pre-deceased her.

In 1947, she graduated from Boston Academy of Notre Dame, after graduation she attended Simmons College in Boston for one year.  Jacqueline then entered the Maryknoll Sisters Novitiate in Maryknoll, NY on September 4^th, 1948 (from St. Luke’s Parish in Boston, MA). She pronounced her First Profession of Vows on March 7^th, 1951 and her Final Profession of Vows three years later on March 7^th, 1954, both at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY.

From 1949-1953, Sister Jacqueline attended Maryknoll Teachers College (located on the property of the Maryknoll Sisters Center). In 1953 she was assigned to Boston, Chinatown where she worked with youth.

In 1959 she returned to Maryknoll Teachers College and completed her Bachelor of Education Degree.

In 1959 Sister Jacqueline received her first overseas mission assignment to Tanganyika, East Africa. There, she studied the Kikwaya language and did pastoral and office work until 1962. She then relocated to Makoko, studying the Kiswahili language and teaching at Makoko School for Aspirants

From 1963 – 1964, she assisted in opening the Kabanga Girls’ Middle School, (a boarding school for girls) and also taught there. Sister Jacqueline then served in Bukoba, Tanzania from 1965-1971 teaching at Rugambwa Secondary School a boarding school.

In 1972, she returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY to serve as a member of the secretarial staff until 1974. Sister Jacqueline then returned to Africa to the city of Nakuru in Kenya. There, she taught at Menengai High School until 1976. From 1977-1979, she was an active team member of the District Religious Education Team, doing on-going education seminars for Primary School Teachers and facilitated DELTA workshops for the Kenya Catholic Secretariat.

For a brief period from 1980-1982, Sister Jacqueline returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center to work in the Maryknoll Mission Institute Department. In 1983, she once again returned to Kenya, this time to the town of Nanyuki, working as a member of the Marsabit Diocese Development Education Team. She provided Educational Workshops for Nomadic Desert Peoples of Northern Kenya.

From 1987-1992, she was working in Nairobi, Kenya when she became Co-founder of RIZIKI Rehabilitation Program for women ex-prisoners. During this time she also took educational courses at Kangemi Women’s Centre; authored a resource book, “Choose Life” and did an Oxfam Project: “Women, Law and Development”.

Sister Jacqueline served as the Congregations’ Personnel Director from 1992-1996 and then returned to Nairobi, Kenya one last time to teach seminars, workshops and retreats from 1997-2004.

In 2005, she retired to the Maryknoll Sisters house in Monrovia, CA. In 2018, she relocated to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY where she remained until her death.

Funeral Services:

A Vespers service was held for Sister Jacqueline on March 3^rd at 4:15 p.m. in the Chapel of the Annunciation at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY.

A Mass of Resurrection was held on March 4^th at 11:00 a.m. also at the Maryknoll Sisters Center.