70th Jubilarian
The expression, “She is a child’s delight,” could aptly describe Sister Betty Ann Clifford, known to many as Sr. Mary Kenneth, as she celebrates her 70th Jubilee as a Sister of the Divine Compassion (RDC) this year.
Originally introduced to the RDCs when she was a student at Preston High School in the Bronx, Sr. Betty Ann fondly remembers her days there, especially the love and support from the Sisters of the Divine Compassion, as well as the close friends she still has from those days.
Sr. Betty Ann earned a Bachelor’s degree in education from Good Counsel College and later a Master’s degree in education from Indiana University. Sister also holds certifications in education from Fairfield University, Kutztown University, College of New Rochelle and New York State.
Sr. Betty Ann began her ministry in education, which she refers to as “a glorious gift in her life,” teaching second grade at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (OLMC) in Elmsford. Following OLMC, Sister taught first and fourth graders at St. Mary’s in Katonah. There she met, taught and remains friends with numerous students and their families from her time there.
For Sr. Betty Ann, returning later to Preston High School to teach was an incredible joy. While at Preston, Sister taught ninth graders and prepared juniors for the PSAT testing. During that time, Sr. Betty Ann also taught 5-year-olds at the Cardinal McCloskey Center, which later became Catholic Charities.
For several years, Sister also served as the RDC Vocation Director, helping interested young people to consider joining the Sisters of the Divine Compassion. While living at St. Frances de Chantal, she began a community program for the elderly. After 10 years in her beloved Bronx community, Sr. Betty Ann transferred to Green Chimneys, a school in Brewster, NY, widely recognized as a worldwide leader in animal-assisted therapy and in educational activities for children with special needs.
In addition to her wonderful years in the classroom, Sr. Betty Ann also spent summers in Harlem, New York, as a participant in Summer in the City, an Archdiocesan anti-poverty program for people in need. Working in Appalachia was another highlight in Sr. Betty Ann’s life. In the hollows of Williamsburg, Kentucky, Sr. Betty Ann, along with other Sisters and teens from our high schools, spent several summers interacting with the hard-working mountain people. Through daily prayer, planned lessons and a variety of organized activities, their goal was to enable the rural teens and children to realize that there could be a better life for them.
Sr. Betty Ann is a talented guitar player and photographer. She thoroughly enjoyed teaching her students pop hits of the 1960s and 1970s, including the musical soundtrack from Sound of Music, one of her favorite movies.
Sr. Betty Ann is grateful to God for her family, her calling to religious life, and for the countless memories of “her children and their families” at Divine Compassion schools. Reflecting upon her entrance into the Convent, Sr. Betty Ann remembers thinking that she would know whether or not it was the right decision for her within a few weeks. That was 70 years ago. Today Sr. Betty Ann feels blessed and privileged to be a Sister of the Divine Compassion.
