Sister Doreen Longres

Current Ministry Location – Peru

Doreen Longres was born June 22, 1945 to Mary Longres and Joaquin Longres in New York City’s the Bronx and grew up in Ozone Park.  She had one brother. Doreen graduated from Bishop McDonnell Memorial High School, Brooklyn, NY in 1962.

Doreen joined the Maryknoll Sisters at their Center in Ossining, NY September 2, 1963. She pronounced First Vows at the Center June 24, 1966 and Final Vows May 18, 1975 in Peru. After earning a bachelor’s degree in Community Service from Rogers College, Maryknoll, NY, she was assigned to Peru in 1970.

After language study of both Aymara and Spanish, she went to the town of Huancane in the Prelature of Juli, nestled in the Andes Mountains on the shores of Lake Titicaca, 12,000 feet above sea level. In the Institute of Rural Education in Juli she assumed the responsibility for the formation of leaders of the indigenous communities spread throughout the area. She was a member of a team in Mocachi in both pastoral ministry and community development. In addition, Sister Doreen was Coordinator of the Maryknoll Sisters in Peru for 3 years.

From 1996 to 2003, Sister Doreen was assigned back to NY to the Center clinic Special Needs. From 2003 to 2012, at the request of the Congregational Leadership Committee (CLT), she began a Special Projects Desk which became The Maryknoll Sisters Environmental Office. She became Co-Director of the office.

In her twenty-one years in Peru, she had learned ecological practices and the sacredness of the earth from the Aymara indigenous people. She translated that learning into holding up the integrity of creation.

In order to live harmoniously on the land for which they, the Maryknoll Sisters, have been entrusted, the Maryknoll Sisters commissioned an environmental resource assessment and then weighed what decisions could be taken for land use, energy use, wildlife management, water. “Woods women” from among the Sisters cleared an overgrown mile and a half walking trail through the woods on the property. Energy efficient light bulbs, broader recycling, and green house cleaning measures were part of the education efforts. Greater care has been provided to the wetland buffered by the property. The office has joined with other Sisters Congregations along the Hudson and others in NY with an environmental priority.

In 2013 Sister returned to Peru where she continues work with the Aymara indigenous people.