Maryknoll, NY: Sister Patricia (Pat) Ring died on Thursday, April 11th, 2024 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY. She was 93 years old and had been a Maryknoll Sister for 73 years.
On June 14th, 1930, Patricia Catherine Ring was born in Wabasha, MN to Phoebe Elizabeth (McMillin) Ring and John Francis Ring. She had seven brothers and three sisters; all of whom have predeceased her except her sister Margaret and her husband Ron; and her sister-in-law Mary Pat.
From 1943-1947, Pat attended Mary E. McCahill Institute High School in Minnesota. She earned her Bachelor of Education Degree from Maryknoll Teachers College, Maryknoll, NY in 1954 and her Master of Arts Degree in Religious Education from St. Louis University, St. Louis, MO in 1974.
On September 6th, 1950 she entered the Maryknoll Sisters Congregation in Maryknoll, NY (from her home parish of Saint Peter and Saint Paul in Winona, MN). She pronounced her First Profession of Vows on March 7th, 1953 in Maryknoll, NY and her Final Vows on March 7th, 1959 in Chile.
In 1953, Sister Pat received her first mission assignment to the Bronx, NY where she served as a second grade teacher. She was then assigned to Chile in 1954, where she studied the language and culture for one year in Santiago. She moved to Temuco in 1955 to serve as a second and third grade primary school teacher. From 1960-1967 she served as Principal of the primary school.
In 1968, Sister Pat was assigned further north to Talcahuano at the large Maryknoll parish of La Asuncion. There she became the Assistant Principal in the elementary school as well as Religion and English teacher in the high school until 1972.
While on renewal in the United States, Sister Pat studied at St. Louis University from 1973-1974. She then returned to Chile to do pastoral youth work in San Miguel, Talcahuano Haulpencillo in 1975. She also served as the Archdiocesan Director of Christian Communities and as a member of the National Board of Directors of Christian Communities of Chile until 1980.
From 1980-1985, Sister Pat came home to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY for Congregational Services in the Admissions Department.
In 1986 Sister Pat returned to Santiago, Puente Alto, Chile where she worked as a parish minister and pastoral worker until 2007.
In 2007, she returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY for more Congregational Services; this time to work in the Treasury Department and as Eden Community Coordinator until 2013.
In 2013, Sister Pat was assigned to the Rogers Community as an active member, where she remained until her death on April 11th, 2024.
Funeral Services:
A Vespers Service was held for Sister Patricia Ring on Wednesday, May 1st, 2024, at 4:15 p.m. in the Chapel of the Annunciation at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY.
A Memorial Mass was held on Thursday, May 2nd, 2024, at 10:00 A.M. at the Maryknoll Sisters Center.