In Loving Memory...

Sister Kathryn Mulligan, CSC
(Sister M. Bernita)
Birth: December 26, 1923
Profession: February 2, 1944
Death: November 27, 2007

In her typical practical and realistic pattern of decision-making, Sister Kathryn Mulligan came home to Saint Mary’s to die and to rest with her ancestors and friends in Holy Cross. Her sister, Sister Ann Catherine; her aunts, Sisters Helen Rose and Coaina; her great-aunts, Sisters Romula, Alexis and Bernard; and her dear friend Sister Angela Marie preceded her in death.

At the age of 3 when she saw sisters for the first time, Sister Kathryn told her mother that she wanted to be a sister; she never wavered from that desire and entered Holy Cross in 1941.

Sister Kathryn had ministered to the poor and elderly of Sacred Heart Parish, Covina, California, from 1985 until she left in 2007. As her health waned, she chose to come to Saint Mary’s traveling a route that allowed her to visit friends and relatives along the way. The trip also included time to appreciate the beauty of nature and different parts of the United States. Those days of transition from California to Indiana were shared with her sister, Sister Mary, and treasured by both.

Sister Kathryn’s intellectual curiosity was fed by her study and teaching of science and math. She ministered to students and faculty for over 30 years. She served as principal and teacher in schools in Fresno, Ventura, San Mateo, Redwood City, Salt Lake City, Idaho Falls and Tucson.

During her years in the school setting she earned the nickname “Hawkeye” because her keen powers of observation allowed her to be ever watchful over the behavior of students and the classroom itself. The loving demands she placed on students guided them to be better persons. She also maintained contact with some teachers and parents. She appreciated those relationships and was always pleased when she learned of the accomplishments of those she had taught.

Her next phase of ministry centered on the elderly. She earned a master’s degree in gerontology from the University of Southern California. She used the knowledge she gained in that program to serve as a research consultant, the head of nursing service and the coordinator of parish ministry for the elderly. She encouraged others to work in this ministry along side her by designing programs, recruiting and training volunteers to serve the elderly.

Throughout her religious life she always made time to serve the poor in a variety of ways and encouraged the youngest to the oldest to join in that ministry with her. She established a food pantry in Covina. Thanksgiving time was particularly busy as she coordinated the distribution of meals to the parish homebound seniors and to senior centers of the area. Another project dear to her heart was collecting clothing for the poor of St. Agnes Parish, Los Angeles. That was her parish as she grew up and where other Holy Cross sisters continue to minister.

Her love of nature was manifested in her choice of camping vacations, her willingness to serve as a nature interpreter for children at the Santa Ana Botanical Gardens, and her painting on china. She would say all her work and play was directed by the Holy Spirit. It was a source of her daily prayers of gratitude to God for all the gifts of nature.

Genealogy was an avocation of Sister Kathryn. She spoke readily of her family history and was proud of her family’s connections with Holy Cross at Saint Mary’s and Notre Dame. Trips to Le Mans and Montreal were highlights for the three Mulligan sisters as they gloried in their Holy Cross heritage.

Most of Sister Kathryn’s life was spent making sure she was not given any honors or recognition for her contributions to the community, school or parish. She liked anonymity and most likely would even frown on this memento identifying her widespread ministry to others. She would probably say, “It’s nothing.” For truly it was her pleasure to be of service to anyone and everyone.

We shall miss her presence among us. Her time here at Saint Mary’s was brief but filled with the usual intensity of joy associated with living life according to God’s will.

Written by Sister Maureen Rooney, CSC

Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of the Holy Cross Ministry With the Poor Fund, Saint Mary’s, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556.