Sister Margaret Washington, ASC, celebrated 70 years as a vowed member of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ at St. Anne’s Retirement Community in Columbia, PA, on Saturday, September 9, 2023. She made her first profession on March 4, 1953 and her final vows on July 1, 1958. She marked her anniversary with the Eucharist, followed by dinner with the ASC community.
Sister Margaret was born in Johnson City, NY, to John and Dorothy May (Mead) Washington. She earned a bachelor of science degree in Education in 1966, and a bachelor of arts in History in 1967, both from Mount Mercy College in Pittsburgh, PA. She received her certificate in Educational Administration from St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkhill, NY, in 1972. She held teaching certificates in the states of Ohio, North Carolina, Georgia, and Pennsylvania. Her Chaplaincy certificate was earned through the National Association of Catholic Chaplains, Milwaukee, WI, in 1992.
Sister Margaret’s ministry in education covered 35 years and six states. She taught elementary grades in Pennsylvania, Illinois, Missouri, Ohio, Georgia, and North Carolina. During thirteen of these years, she was both teacher and principal.
Her ministry as a Pastoral Assistant at Seven Sorrows BVM in Middletown, PA and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Niles, OH, encouraged Sr. Margaret to study for service as a chaplain. After receiving her certification, she served as the Director of Pastoral Care at Holy Spirit Hospital in Camp Hill, PA for more than 20 years.
Her community service included being secretary to the provincial of the former Columbia province. Now in retirement at St. Anne’s, Sr. Margaret has a ministry of writing letters in which she discusses and shares ideas from spiritual books.
Well done, dear Sister Margaret! Congratulations!
I am blessed to have known her and am glad that her ministry works continue. Well done, Sister Margaret.