SISTER CATHERINE MARIE MURPHY, CSJ
1917 – 2009
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
May the rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
Irish Blessing
Winter snow-white loveliness was at its height on that January 13, 1917 day Veronica was born, the third daughter of William Murphy and Anna McCoy. Veronica was welcomed and loved by her two older sisters, Marie and Berenice. Their father was a farmer in Faribault, Minnesota, and their mother, Anna McCoy, had come to America from Ireland. When Veronica was only three years old, her father died, and Anna decided to leave the farm and move to St. Paul.
Veronica first attended St. John’s School in East St. Paul, and later, St. Cecilia’s School in Midway. At that time St. Cecilia’s was a small parish community and the neighborhood was a friendly place with several Catholic families. The Murphy’s lived just a block from the church and school which was staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph. Following her graduation from St. Cecilia’s, Veronica attended St. Joseph’s Academy where she continued to experience Catholic education with the Sisters of St. Joseph. Although she would never admit it, Veronica was the prettiest girl in the neighborhood and every child’s favorite babysitter.
God had plans for Veronica. On September 8, 1934, the feast of the Nativity of Mary, Veronica entered the postulate of the Sisters of St. Joseph. On the feast of St. Joseph, May 19, 1935, she received the habit and was given her religious name, Sister Catherine Marie. On August 15, 1940, Sister pronounced her final vows.
With her first mission to St. Mary School in Morris, Minnesota, Sister launched an engaging ministry in Catholic education for over fifty years. As an enthusiastic and dedicated professional, Sister Catherine Marie taught at St. Columba, Cathedral, St. Pascal Baylon and St. Patrick in St. Paul; St. Pius X and St. Mary in White Bear Lake; St. Mary, Morris; St. Eloi, Ghent; St. Mary, LeCenter. As school librarian, Sister served at St. Patrick and at Trinity Catholic School. Everywhere she found joy in the teaching/learning situations, challenge in the multiple preparations, and delight in the daily interactions with wonderfully creative children.
All through their years of teaching in the Catholic elementary schools the Sisters of St. Joseph were visited annually by the community supervisors, Sister Mary Ellen and Sister DeLourdes. Written evaluations of Sister Catherine Marie’s classroom teaching identified several areas of excellence: a recognition of the individual needs of each child; a supportive atmosphere for the teaching/learning experience; an appreciation for children’s gifts, talents and accomplishments. Classrooms were alive with the beauty and simplicity of children’s arts. Most of all, young students were learning basic skills for lifelong growth and development. Sister Catherine Marie knew the value of praise and motivation as well as a daily recognition of the dignity of each child within a peaceful joy-filled classroom.
As for her formal education, Sister Catherine Marie was graduated from the St. Paul Diocesan Teachers College in 1943. In 1954, she received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of Saint Catherine, with majors in History, Education and Science. To enrich her teaching experiences, she also took summer courses in Sacred Scripture, Theology, Literature, Human Relations, Music, Sacred Art, Mathematics and Science. These advanced educational opportunities brought her to Marist College, Poughkeepsie, N.Y.; St. John’s, Collegeville, MN; St. Scholastica, Duluth, MN; and St. Norbert College, DePere, WI. In alternate summers Sister Catherine Marie taught religious education classes to children in Hugo, Green Valley and Ghent, MN, and in Hingham, MT. In 1976 came the most enjoyable and enriching educational opportunity—a trip to Ireland, the beautiful home of her mother.
In 1999, Sister moved to the Provincial House and continued her community service as Receptionist at the Administration Center. Finally in 2002, she happily joined our Bethany community. Here Sister daily shared her ministry of presence, graciously supporting sisters, staff and caregivers with her encouraging words, delightful sense of humor and smiling Irish eyes.
Sister Catherine Marie died unexpectedly at Bethany on Monday, November 23rd.
May she rest in peace.
The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated in the Bethany Chapel on Friday, November 27, with Father Patrick Casey, Consociate, presiding.
Sister Catherine Marie is survived by her beloved sister, Berenice, her niece Elizabeth, her nephew Leo, two grandnephews Max and Connor, the Sisters of St. Joseph, Consociates, and the staff and caregivers at Bethany.
