Sister Kathleen Mulchay

(Sister Mary Patrice)

If you ask Sister Kathleen (Sister Mary Patrice) Mulchay what ultimately drew her to religious life, she will tell you that a big influence was from spending her years of education in Catholic Schools staffed by Sisters. She watched as they went about their work for the church in a happy, busy professional manner and she found this very attractive. When it came time for high school, Kathleen wanted to continue in a Catholic school environment. Her priest uncle offered his help by writing to several boarding schools. He received an immediate call from Sister Paul-Marie Lafond, sscm, who was the principal of Holy Family Academy at that time. After paying a visit to the boarding school in Beaverville, Illinois, he brought Kathleen to determine if she would be interested in attending and she immediately felt a connection. She noticed the Sisters had a unique characteristic of inclusivity. They were happy and forthcoming and she saw them as ‘real’.

Although Kathleen had no vocational certainty when first arriving at Holy Family Academy, after having the opportunity to live and observe the life of the Sisters, her future became more clear. She spent time conversing with Sister Loretta Finn (Sister Francis Regis) about her interest and it was during her senior year she found clarity in these conversations and decided to enter the novitiate.

Early on in religious life, Sister Kathleen and other Sisters met for prayer, discussion and friendship. Sister Agnes Cunningham frequently joined the group to share conversation on charism, spirituality and new theology of religious life after Vatican II. She found these gatherings as wonderful support to the young women for years to follow. It reflected the family spirit that was a true testament to the Congregation’s charism.

In reflecting on her most fulfilling ministry assignment, Sister Kathleen feels that every experience has given her rich relationships and the skills and confidence to greet the next. She has a wide range of educating others from elementary school to leading a program for students with learning disabilities. From there, she offered novitiate formation within the Congregation and seminary formation at University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Illinois. She served as the United States Province Leader for nine years and was elected as the first American Superior General for the Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary!

Family Spirit directs her life as she focuses on fulfilling Christ’s prayer “that they may all be one, as you, my Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be one in us, that the world may believe that you sent me.”

Self-Giving. Sister Kathleen finds that “communion with others is her life goal and that it takes a lifetime to come to its fullness”.

Faith, as Sister Kathleen witnessed from childhood growing up in Michigan City, Indiana in her extended Irish and Polish family, was a joyful and loving way of life.

A life of pure grace lived daily.

After 11 years of dedicated service as General Superior, Sr. Kathleen returned to the United States in August, 2022. She is currently a member of Holy Heart of Mary Community, Batavia, Illinois and is enjoying a well-deserved sabbatical year.

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