Sister Mary Burke

Sister Mary Burke, OP

Sister Mary Burke died on November 23, 2020 in Siena Hall, Dominican Convent, Sparkill, NY. She was 78 years old.

Born in New York City on August 3, 1942, Mary Catherine was the daughter of Thomas and Catherine O’Malley Burke. She entered the Dominican Congregation of Our Lady of the Rosary in Sparkill on September 8, 1960 and received the name Sister Thomas Catherine. She professed her first vows in 1962 and final vows in 1967.

Sister Mary received a BS in Education from St. Thomas Aquinas College, Sparkill, NY, 1965; an MS in Business Education from Baruch College, New York, NY, 1973; and an MA in Religious Education/Youth Ministry from Fordham University, Bronx, NY, 1980.

Sister Mary served as a teacher at St. Gregory Barbarigo School, Garnerville, NY Sister Mary served as a teacher at St. Gregory Barbarigo School, Garnerville, NY (1963-1964); Thorpe Secretarial HS (1964-1966); St. Mary School, Fulton, NY (1966-1968); St. Edmund HS, Brooklyn, NY (1968-1972); and Msgr. Scanlan HS, Bronx, NY (1972-1975). From 1975-1978, Sister Mary was Youth Coordinator at Young Christian Students School, Brooklyn, NY (1975-1978) and Retreat Director at St. Francis Prep (1978-1988). Following a sabbatical year, Sister Mary began her ministry to immigrants and refugees at St. Rita’s Center, Bronx, NY, serving as the educational liaison at Theodore Roosevelt HS until 2003. She became Program Director at the Adult Learning Center, New Rochelle, NY, serving in that ministry from 2003-2014.

Sister Mary is predeceased by her parents Thomas and Catherine O’Malley Burke. She is survived by her twin brother William Burke (Virginia), her sister Eileen Considine, nieces and nephews and her Dominican Sisters and Associates.

Sister Mary Burke made a difference in the lives of countless children and adults in her ministry as teacher, retreat director, youth minister, and in her outreach to immigrants and refugees. She lived the goal of the Dominican Sisters in proclaiming the Word of God through ministry for justice and reverence for all creation for more than 60 years. We thank God for her life as she is welcomed into the fullness of God’s presence. Well done, good and faithful servant, Sister Mary Burke.

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