Sister (Mary) Kathleen Washington, ASC, celebrated 70 years as a vowed member of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ at St. Anne Chapel in Columbia, PA on August 2, 2025. She made her first profession on Aug. 12, 1955, and her final vows on Aug. 12, 1959. She marked her anniversary with the Eucharist and a reception.
Sister Kathleen was born in Johnson City, NY. She was one of four children born to John Robert and Dorothy (Mead) Washington. Her sister Margaret is also an ASC.
She received her bachelor’s degree in history from Mount Mercy College in Pittsburgh, PA in 1962. She earned her master’s in history in 1970 and her doctorate in History and Fine Arts in 1991, both from Catholic University in Washington, DC. She also took continuing education courses at universities in PA, Ohio, NY, and MD.
Sister Kathleen’s ministry as a lifelong educator included teaching students at the elementary, secondary and university levels. She taught middle grades at St. Mary in Steelton, PA; Christ the King in Kinston, NC, and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Niles, Ohio. Her ministry in secondary schools was primarily at St. Joseph Academy in Columbia, and Lancaster Catholic in Lancaster, both in PA. At Lancaster she also served as Assistant Director of Curriculum.
Her university service included Villanova, York, and Immaculata in PA; the University of Dayton in Ohio; Mt. St. Mary in Emmitsburg, MD; St. John on Staten Island; and Iona in New Rochelle, NY.
Sister Kathleen’s community service focused on research, both of the former province of Columbia, PA, and also of the ASC General House in Rome.
Sister Kathleen is now Living Mission in Later Life at St. Anne’s Retirement Community in Columbia, PA.