Sister Mary Rose celebrates 65th anniversary as a Dominican nun

HARRIMAN — Sister Mary Rose, who heads the St. Anastasia Education Program in Harriman, celebrated 65 years of service as a Dominican Sister of Sparkill this past May.

The surprise dinner with her many friends, family and co-workers on May 22 was a night to remember. The tribute included the dedication of the church’s education center as the Sr. Mary Rose Mullervy Faith Formation Center.

“Sister Mary Rose has provided a wonderful leadership and guidance to thousands of students and parents over the years,” said the Rev. Michael Keane, pastor of St. Anastasia.

Born in Queens, Sister Mary Rose joined the Dominican Sisters in 1948.

“I wanted to teach, and they were a teaching order,” Sister said. This led her to serve in Catholic schools in the Bronx, Long Island, Suffern, then in Walden.

When she realized that many parents were not able to afford a Catholic school education for their children, she accepted a position at St. Anastasia in 1978 to concentrate on its small one-room education center where they taught children in the public school system. The operation moved into the newly built education center in the early 1980s.

“Where did the years go” asked Sister when reminded that she had reached such a momentous milestone.

And with her typical good humor, she added: “The years just whip away.”

This story and photograph was provided by MJ Hanley-Goff.