Msgr. Theophilus A. Joseph, a retired priest of the Archdiocese of Castries, Saint Lucia, who served in the Diocese of Brooklyn, was born March 22, 1948, was ordained to the priesthood in Saint Lucia on May 26, 1974, and died Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023, at age 75. This year he celebrated his 49th year in the priesthood.
Msgr. Joseph was a non-incardinated priest who served in the parishes of St. Peter Claver, Bedford-Stuyvesant, and St. Elizabeth, Ozone Park, and spent 15 years as parochial vicar of St. Ephrem, Dyker Heights.
“Msgr. Joseph loved being a priest, and he loved the people of our parish,” said Father Robert Adamo, the pastor of St. Ephrem, who coordinated the funeral Mass for Msgr. Joseph. “He was an enthusiastic preacher, and his homilies were filled with love, hope and joy.”
A funeral Mass for Msgr. Joseph was celebrated Monday, Nov. 20, at St. Ephrem Church. Bishop Robert Brennan was the main celebrant. Interment will be on the island of Saint Lucia.
Sister Teresa Agnes Rorke, CSJ, after a long and fruitful life of 95 years, died peacefully at Maria Regina Residence in Brentwood on Oct. 14, 2023. She was in the 76th year of her life as a Sister of St. Joseph.
Sister Teresa grew up in Brooklyn. She attended St. Thomas Aquinas School in Flatlands and graduated from St. Brendan’s High School in 1946. The following year, Teresa entered the Sisters of Saint Joseph and received the name Sister St. Thomas.
She began her educational ministry at St. Joseph School on Pacific Street and went on to teach at St. Athanasius, Sts. Peter and Paul, Our Lady of Victory, and Blessed Sacrament. For the following 15 years, Sister taught mathematics at Sacred Heart Academy, Stella Maris High School, and St. Angela Hall Academy, serving also as assistant principal. She earned a BS in math from St. John’s University, an MST in math from The Catholic University of America and then an MS in administration and supervision from Pace University. For the next 10 years, Sister Teresa served as principal of St. Joseph High School in Downtown Brooklyn.
Ever the student, Sister Teresa spent a year at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley where she earned a certificate in spirituality and worship. Returning to Brooklyn, she used her educational expertise to assist teachers in their professional development and then moved to the Rockville Centre Diocese where she ministered as a parish director of religious education, in the diocesan education office and in development at Sacred Heart Academy.
In 2012, as a vibrant participant in the daily spiritual and social activities, Sister Teresa began her retirement at Stella Maris Convent and then Maria Regina Residence. With family, friends, former students, Maria Regina residents and staff, and Sisters of St. Joseph gathered in the Maria Regina Chapel, Father Tom Poth celebrated the Mass of Christian Burial for Sister Teresa. Burial was in Calvary Cemetery in Brentwood.
Sister Dorothy Sagona, RSM, (formerly Sister Mary Gemma), age 97, a Sister of Mercy for 78 years, died peacefully on Oct. 27, 2023.
She attended Long Beach West Elementary School and Our Lady of Mercy Academy in Syosset.
She entered the Sisters of Mercy novitiate in February, 1945, and professed her final vows in September, 1950. “Dot,” as she was familiarly known, lived a life of dedication to her God as a Sister of Mercy, to her Sisters in community, her students and teachers, and her family.
Her many years of service in the field of education began at St. Therese of Lisieux (1947-48, 1958-62, and 1967-75 as principal), St. Agatha (1948-51), St. Patrick, Bay Shore (1951-53), St. Brigid (1953-58), Catherine McAuley HS (1962-65), Mercy HS, Riverhead (1965-67, 1975-1987).
After her retirement in 1996, she chose to live in Marian Woods in Hartsdale where she formed new relationships with the several communities of Sisters living there.
Her final days were spent at Maria Regina Residence in Brentwood, New York. A funeral Mass was celebrated at the Sisters of Mercy Convent in Whitestone. Burial was in Holy Cross Cemetery, Brooklyn.
Sister Patricia Maria Carroll (Sister Maureen Joseph) CSJ, a Sister of St. Joseph for 72 years, died on Oct. 15, 2023 at St. Joseph Convent, Brentwood, two weeks shy of her 91st birthday.
Pat grew up in a devoted Catholic family in St. Francis Xavier Parish. She graduated from St. Francis Xavier Elementary School and Bishop McDonnell Memorial High School and in 1951, entered the Sisters of St. Joseph.
From 1953 to 1959, Sister Pat taught the young children at Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Brooklyn), Queen of Peace (Kew Gardens) and St. James (Brooklyn). She was always interested in giving her students all they needed to succeed, and this became very obvious when Sister Pat decided to dedicate her life to the education of children experiencing hearing loss.
She earned a BA from St. Francis College and a master’s in education from Western Maryland University and spent three years at St. Mary School for the Deaf in Buffalo to prepare her for this mission. For seven years, Sister Pat taught at the St. Francis de Sales School for the Deaf, a new ministry sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph.
This was followed by 23 years of teaching at PS 47 School for the Deaf, for the New York City Board of Education. Sister Pat was well known and respected in her field as a guest lecturer and Hunter College professor, and her positive spirit and humor encouraged many student teachers and colleagues to follow her example.
In later years, she volunteered at Holy Name Parish (Prospect Park West). Resurrection Parish (Gerritsen Beach) also benefited from her volunteer services. When failing eyesight and other health challenges became part of her daily life, she was grateful for the support and assistance of the sisters and staff that accompanied her through her final journey.
Father Larry Ryan, pastor of Holy Name Parish, celebrated the Mass of Christian Burial for Sister Patricia on Oct. 23 in Sacred Heart Chapel, Brentwood. Her burial followed in Calvary Cemetery, Brentwood.