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 Sr.
Loretta Sullivan, OP
(Sr. Mary Neil)
Golden Jubilarian
50 years (July 9, 1956)
When Sr. Loretta Sullivan encountered the Springs Dominican Sisters as her teachers at St. Mary High School (New Haven, CT), she was drawn to their joyful, down-to-earth spirit, as well as their faith and commitment. A school trip to the Columbus motherhouse over Easter break one year introduced her to more Sisters who further made a positive impression. "Even though my Dominican vocation was a gift from God
and remains a mystery to me," she shares, "I thank these Sisters for their role."
Early in her religious life, Sr. Loretta earned a Bachelors degree in Education and taught gradeschool in Ohio, Connecticut, and New York for 12 years. In 1968, she earned a Masters degree in Theology and had the opportunity to begin a ministry both new to Sr. Loretta and in its infancy in the greater Church. At that time, the Chruch recognized an increasing need for parish religious education programs in the US as public school attendance began to increase and that of Catholic schools waned. When St. Mary's parish in Marietta, Ohio, announced that it would be closing its high school that year, Sr. Loretta was assigned to initiate a religious education program for the entire parish, adults and children alike. Working in Religious Education allowed her to combine her flair for teaching and her love for theology in one ministry.
In 1971, Sr. Loretta joined the staff of the Archdiocese of Hartford, serving for nine years in the Religious Education office, where she was able to work in parish education on a much larger scale. Her broad skills transferred well into new areas of ministry, as she served in positions in human resources, therapeutic recreation and pastoral care in later years. In 2003, Sr. Loretta began a prison ministry at the Hartford
Correction Center in Connecticut, encouraging and nourishing the spiritual lives of inmates. She continues in this ministry today and finds great reward in her work, seeing the face of Christ in all she encounters.
Last year, Sr. Loretta was honored in the "Women:
Builders of Communities and
Dreams" program of
UCONN Health Center during Women's History Month. The substance
abuse/HIV counselor that submitted her name for consideration wrote high praise of her and her work:
"All in all, she is a professional (spiritually healing) woman who creates community, building bridges across the diverse communities of the inmates and their visitors as well as the custodial, treatment, and pastoral staffs at HCCC. She fosters and sustains the dreams of these varied peoples for recovery, healing and growth, including providing strength and support to many in times of tragedy and death." |
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