Sister Kathleen McDonnell

“Amen, Alleluia” was the motto Sister Kathleen McDonnell chose to guide her life when she entered the Sisters of Mercy six decades ago. “Amen means saying ‘yes,’ to whatever God wants and Alleluia means be happy about it,” she explained.

For Sister Kathleen, her “Amen” led her to traditional ministries including teaching and serving as a school principal. More recently, it meant she headed the school store at Mount Saint Mary Academy, Watchung, and now serves as director of the Mount’s Snack Shack.   

As for her “Alleluia,” “I’ve been happy,” said Sister Kathleen reflecting on her 60th jubilee. “I feel that my life has been enriched by the experiences I had, even though some were a little tough. I’ve always been enriched by the students, regardless of their age level, and the faculty with whom I came in contact.”

Born in Perth Amboy, Sister Kathleen was one of six children of John and Kathryn Conran McDonnell. She, her three brothers and two sisters were raised in Port Reading. While attending St. Joseph Elementary School, Carteret, she was taught by the Servite Sisters. At St. Mary High School, Perth Amboy, she came to know the Sisters of Mercy. Inspired by the spiritual example of the Mercy Sisters, who staffed St. Mary’s, Sister Kathleen joined their religious community in 1960 when she graduated from the high school.   

As a young religious, Sister Kathleen furthered her education at Georgian Court College (now University), Lakewood, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in education. During this time, she also began teaching. She served at St. Joseph School, North Plainfield; St. John School, Collingswood, and Sacred Heart School, South Plainfield.

She then became principal of St. Mary Elementary School, South Amboy, where she ministered for nine years. While teaching, she also earned a master’s degree in math education at Central Connecticut College (now Central Connecticut State University), New Britain.

Sister Kathleen’s next assignment began with her teaching at St. Joseph Elementary School. After two years,  the principal became ill and had to leave and Sister Kathleen was named to replace her. She then was tasked with merging St. Joseph and St. Mary Schools, both in Bound Brook. The new school was appropriately named Holy Family Academy. It was while Sister Kathleen was serving in Bound Brook that she received the Diocese of Metuchen’s Educator of the Year award for her longstanding achievements, enthusiasm and positive attitude.   

In the early 1990s, Sister Kathleen was asked to become head of technology at the Mount. It was a time, she said, when most people did not know much about technology.

“I worked with the Mount’s faculty until they learned basic technological skills” she said.

She then taught religion to sophomores at the Mount and headed the Student Council. For around the next six years, she was director of the School Store.   

About seven years ago, Mercy Sister Lisa D. Gambacorto, directress of the Mount, had a new request for Sister Kathleen. She asked her to head a Snack Shack she was going to establish. Sister Lisa knew Sister Kathleen, a certified food handler, sold snacks from the Student Council office in the St. Joseph building. Sister Lisa wanted a place where students could socialize, work together and of course grab a snack. She discussed her idea with Sister Kathleen, who said, “Amen” to her new position.

When she took charge of the Snack Shack, Sister Kathleen began working part time and still does. Under her leadership, the Snack Shack has become very popular with the students. As one individual wrote on Facebook, “I was amazed at how many girls were there!...One thing for sure. Sister Kathleen loves our girls and the girls love her and the Snack Shack!!”

In October 2019, another post on Facebook read, “Overwhelmingly, when prompted through an Instagram question about what makes the space [Snack Shack] so special, students responded: ‘Sister Kathleen!’”

Joanne Ward