On Wednesday, March 6, 2024, Sister Ursula Joyce received a well-deserved tribute for her founding and forty-three years of dedicated service to those living at Thorpe Village and Dowling Gardens in Sparkill. In fact, it would be more accurate to note that through her diligent efforts, begun in 1972, Sister Ursula gave 50 years of service to this ministry. Hers has been a labor of love always focused on service and mission. She remarked that this award was really for the whole community because everyone was a part of it.
Among those in attendance were past colleagues, community partners, and the Sparkill Dominicans’ Leadership Team Sisters. While the event took place at Dominican Convent, it was sponsored by the current Leadership Team from the Sisters of Charity Housing Corporation who now run Thorpe Village and Dowling Gardens. Sister Ursula was delighted to mingle with and greet all who braved the inclement weather to attend the gathering. There was a great sense of reunion between those who had not seen each other in a long time.
Matt Janeczko, CEO / Executive Director of the Sisters of Charity Housing Corporation and Executive Director of Thorpe Village, Inc., opened a time of reflection by recalling the awesome legacy of service that Sister Ursula began, built up, and which now continues. Dan Semenza, Executive Chef at Dowling Gardens, also shared his personal experience of being hired by Sister Ursula and working at Dowling Gardens for the past 26 years.
Sister Irene Ellis, Prioress of the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill, also expressed her admiration and gratitude for Sister Ursula’s fulfillment of this mission. Some excerpts from Sister Irene’s thoughts as she spoke about what it means to be a founder, such as Sister Ursula, follow:
How does a person become a founder of a service organization or a ministry?
- See the need
- Envision a creative response
- Research the possibilities
- Engage and partner with many different participants
- In our case, work with the members of the Congregation to help them see and support your vision
- Work with the Town Board and Planning Board / Zoning Changes
- Listen to the local residents and gain community support
- Overcome obstacles
- Pray and surrender. Start from scratch; revise site plans
- Obtain funding
- Learn patience and flexibility
Sister Irene continued:
In her 2021 book, We Walk by Faith, Sparkill Dominican, Sister Mary Dunning says: ‘The Housing Ministry of Thorpe Village and Dowling Gardens is a significant part of the history of the Dominican sisters of Sparkill. It enfleshed in a new moment the original work of the congregation.’
The motivation behind the creation of Thorpe Village and Dowling Gardens was service. The development of this housing was about living the mission of the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill. It was about Ursula’s and the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill's faithful reading of the signs of the times and their moving in faith to respond to the needs of the vulnerable.
The Housing Ministry of Thorpe Village and Dowling Gardens would not be real today were it not for the unique heart, mind, and spirit of our Sister Ursula Joyce who had:
- Broad knowledge of the needs of the community, especially the people of Rockland
- Exposure to what other religious women of that time were doing to respond to the Gospel and the call of Vatican II
- A sense of mission and vision
- Extraordinary intelligence and competencies
- An ability to work in partnership with others, many of whom are here this evening
- Faith and perseverance
Sister Irene concluded: “Ursula, we are so very grateful to you and for you. We honor You this evening, and we thank you for the gift you have given to your congregation and so many, the Gift of Thorpe Village and Dowling Gardens.”
Sister Irene and Matt Janeczko presented Sister Ursula with tribute plaques. Sister Ursula thanked everyone for their presence in her life and their collective efforts and contribution to Thorpe/Dowling. She encouraged all to be persistent in the mission and said, “If you see something that needs to be done, KEEP AT IT, KEEP AT IT, KEEP AT IT!”