Sister Mary Catherine Young, OP
- Aristocrat
- Scholar
- Musician
- Dominican Sister
- Founder
Catherine’s heritage stretches back to the earliest days of British Colonialism in the Americas. She was a child of privilege. Her family donated a part of the land that became the nation’s capital; she counted among her relatives the earliest leaders of the U.S. Catholic Church. Catherine freely chose to dedicate her life to gospel living through teaching, music, and guiding a fragile new Dominican community toward its uncertain future.
Sister Catherine’s dedication to study lives on in the Dominican Sisters of Springfield. Does it live in You?
Sister Beth Murphy, OP
I’m no aristocrat! And I have no musical skill. But I still take encouragement from the life of Catherine Young. The privilege that I inherited from my family was the example of their lives of public service. Parents, aunts, uncles, cousins and siblings: There seemed to be among my clan a sense of responsibility for giving back to the community which gave them so much. For some, that meant life in public office, for others, leadership roles on community boards or in the parish. For one of my brothers and for me, it has meant religious life. Like Catherine, I value the Dominican focus on study as the foundation from which to make a prayerful response of service to the needs of our world. I am grateful to be able to benefit from her example and encouragement.
Sister Beth Murphy is the communication coordinator for the Springfield Dominican Sisters.
Back Next |
