Current Ministry Location: Korea
Sister Dolores was born January 19th, 1939 in NYC. She joined the Maryknoll Sisters at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY on September 2nd, 1959 from Holy Child Jesus Parish, Brooklyn, NY. She pronounced her First Vows June 24th, 1962 in NY and her Final Vows June 24th, 1968 in Korea. Her first assignment was to assist with Congregational Service, providing clerical assistance for the Maryknoll Society Fathers and Brothers from 1963 – 1966.
Sister Dolores received her first overseas assignment to South Korea in 1966 when Park Cheong Hee, a military general turned civilian, was president of a police state. While she was in language school, North Korea held captive the crew of the U.S. Puebla for over a year. Resulting military tensions brought back all the fears of the Korean War. So, Sister was given the choice of returning to the States. “I stayed because I was already in love with Korea and her people.”
Sister Dolores’ first assignment in Korea was to the rural island of Kang Hwa. “I knew as much about farm life as anyone born and bred in NYC b but God smiled on me and put me into the hands of two wonderful women Catechists.” With them she visited the farm families in the parish. Young Christian Workers whom she met insisted on humane working hours and just wages. They put living flesh on the Church’s social teachings.
Later in Seoul, Sister Dolores worked in a ministry to women involved in prostitution, called Magdalena House, a place of rest, recuperation, renewal and friendship.
Sister Dolores took some time earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Guam, Mangilao in 1973.
Returning to Korea she served as Bookkeeper in Seoul from 1974 – 1977 for the Korea Region. During this time, Sister served on the Maryknoll Sisters Regional Admissions Team from 1974 – 1979. From 1979 – 1981 she was the Sisters’ Regional Coordinator. And, from 1974-1982 Sister Dolores taught English at the Jesuit Sogang University in Seoul, during the most tumultuous years. Riot police didn’t stop at the gates; they marched in to attack the students. “My role as a faculty member was to stand between the students and the riot police to protect the students. My anger over the injustice and love for the students would not let me leave.” Maryknoll Sisters and the Korean church protested human rights violations.
From 1983 Sister Dolores became a full time student at St. Louis University’s Institute of Religious Formation at St. Lois University, MO where she earned a Certificate in Religious Formation in 1984.
Returning to the States, in 2000 she studied Creation Spirituality in Oakland, CA, then served for several years at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in the Development Department. During that time, she earned an MA and D. Min at the University of California, Berkeley.
In January, 2011, Sister Dolores returned to Korea. She is enjoying contacting former Sogang University students and the women at Magdalena House as well as testing hotel workers English proficiency.