Sister Pamela Wagner (Formerly, Sister Mary Joseph)
Sr. Pam Wagner entered religious life after graduating from Preston High School in 1962. With a degree in English Literature from Good Counsel College, Sister was assigned to teach fourth grade at St. Joseph’s in Croton Falls. Sister was then assigned to St. Lawrence O’Toole in Brewster where she taught seventh and eighth graders for three years. Sr. Pam then became the Director of the Religious Education program for adults and children there. While earning her Master’s Degree in Religious Studies from Boston College, Sister was introduced to parish ministry. With a team of RDC Sisters, Sr. Pam served as parish minister 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. In 1990, with guidance from Sisters Alice Feeley and Lucille Coldrick, Sr. Pam and Sr. Fran Liston began to work with migrant farmworkers in the Black Dirt region of N.Y. They created the Mustard Seed Migrant Ministry, which provided a gathering place of support for migrant farmworkers and their children. The ministry grew. The farmworkers themselves took on leadership roles, and after 26 years, our Sisters retired; however, the ministry continues. Sr. Pam treasures the close friendships formed with religious and lay communities throughout her ministries, and feels blessed to be a part of the RDC Companions from its beginnings. In her “retirement,” Sr. Pam loves to walk, read, cook, be with family and friends and visit with neighbors. She loves to travel both near and far enjoys being a part of a non-denominational prayer group.
“I am grateful for my life’s journey with its twists and turns. I live in gratitude for the and lives in gratitude for all that is and has been.
