Religious Milestones: Mercy Sister Rosemary Hudak, 60 years

Sister Rosemary Hudak says she did not get the calling for religious life until she was inspired by the Sisters of Mercy as a student at St. Mary’s High School, Perth Amboy, where she was born and raised. “I had a nudging from God that wouldn’t quit [for a call to religious life],” Sister Rosemary said. 

After high school, she worked three years as a bank teller at Perth Amboy Savings and Loan, Perth Amboy. However, while she was happy at her job she sought direction in her life from God through prayer while attending daily Mass at Holy Triinity Church, Perth Amboy.

“I was raised in a family where faith was nourished, but I was going to get married and have all these kids,” she said. “It just was this… strong feeling, pull I guess [to become a religious.]

“In those days, when you had a calling from God you didn’t ignore it,” noting that she entered the convent in 1963 at the age of 20.

Sister Rosemary earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education at Georgian Court College, now University, Lakewood, and was later certified as a bereavement counselor and chaplain. Her first assignments were teaching at various elementary schools for 10 years in the Diocese of Trenton.

Sister Rosemary’s first administrative post was at Bayshore Senior Center, Keansburg, where she was assigned for several years as the center’s assistant administrator. She then worked for four years as a chaplain at Saint Cabrini Nursing Home, Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., while living with the Sisters of Mercy community in Yonkers, NY. “That was a wonderful experience for me. I loved it,” Sister Rosemary said.

When she returned to New Jersey, she spent 10 years ministering at St. Joseph Parish, Toms River, and then took a sabbatical before she started working at Meridian Hospice, Wall, as their bereavement coordinator for three years.

Sister Hudak then returned to the Bayshore Senior Center for several years as its program director.

Next, she was asked to take an assignment at the McAuley Hall Healthcare Center, Watchung, as its life coordinator. McAuley is a 74-bed state licensed nursing facility sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy.

“I was drawn to it [McAuley Hall Healthcare Center] because it was pastoral ministry with my sisters. It was a hard move because I went from living in this lovely house [and small community of sisters] that they [the sisters] still have in Bradley Beach,” to a large community with 40 sisters at Mount St. Mary Academy, Sister Hudak said.

Now retired, Sister Rosemary lives in residence with the Sisters of Mercy, which is part of the Mount Saint Mary Academy building. She said her days are kept busy visiting sisters at the health center and doing other chores as needed to help her Sisters of Mercy community.

“Whatever little things I can do for others I do,” she said.

Sister Rosemary said she would encourage those considering religious life to “just keep an open heart and listen to where God is leading you because even when you become a sister you’ll still want to go where God is really leading you.”

Sister Rosemary said she looks back fondly on her vocation to consecrated life.

“The most important thing is that it has been 60 blessed years meeting wonderful people, living with wonderful sisters, mentors. That’s why I’m celebrating on my 60th – the people that I met in my ministries,” Sister Rosemary said. “They taught me things and supported me. That’s what I want to celebrate, too.”