Sister Catherine Halpin (Formerly, Sister Mary Paula)
Sr. Cathy celebrates her 60th jubilee this year, having entered religious life in 1962. Her early ministry in education began at St. Anthony’s school in West Harrison, followed by St. Lawrence O’Toole in Brewster, NY. Sister transitioned to administration, initially as the Director of Religious Education for St. Columbanus in Cortlandt, NY. She was appointed to her first Parish Minister position in 1975, where she served with a team of RDC Sisters at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church in Mansura, Louisiana, followed by St. Peter’s Parish in Minnesota, and Sacred Heart and St. Francis Xavier in northern New Hampshire.
For 15 years, Sister served as a chaplain, initially in Boston, and then in Knoxville, Tennessee at the University of Tennessee Medical Center. Sister then became the medical center’s hospice chaplain. Sr. Cathy and a co-worker started Kids in Crisis (KICS), a nonprofit organization in eastern Tennessee for children and families who were grieving loss of all kinds. After six years, the ministry was acquired by
the largest mental health corporation in eastern Tennessee, and Sr. Cathy became an advocate for sexual assault survivors. Now retired, Sister volunteers with a program that teaches English as a second language to immigrants from all over the globe. Sr. Cathy is an avid reader. Sister enjoys time with her friends and daily walks with her dog, Bodhi.
