New York News

Sister Margaret’s Joy: Ministry to Immigrants

by Gregory A. Shemitz

RIVERHEAD, N.Y. (CNS) – At a stage in life when most people her age have eased into retirement, Sister Margaret Smyth shows no signs of slowing down.

Nearly six decades after answering the call to religious life in Queens, Sister Margaret, 75, is still going strong, ministering to a large population of Latin-American immigrants who live and work in the eastern region of Long Island.

A member of the Sisters of St. Dominic of Amityville, L.I., Sister Margaret is director of the North Fork Spanish Apostolate, a position she has held since 1997, when the Diocese of Rockville Centre hired her to provide outreach to a rapidly growing number of foreigners arriving from Central and South America.

Having previously worked as a teacher, principal and religious education director in schools and parishes in the Brooklyn Diocese, Sister Margaret enthusiastically embraced the opportunity to use her Spanish-language skills to welcome and work with immigrants settling on the East End.

Sister Margaret reviews paperwork in her office at St. John the Evangelist Church, Riverhead, L.I. (Photo by Gregory A. Shemitz)
Sister Margaret reviews paperwork in her office at St. John the Evangelist Church, Riverhead, L.I. (Photos by Gregory A. Shemitz)

“It was up to me to figure out what to do,” recalled Sister Margaret. “It was different. The people needed somebody. It was a challenge.”

Sister Margaret faced the challenge head-on and over 18 years, built a faith-based support system that has tended to the spiritual, material and emotional needs of thousands of immigrants.

Operating out of an office in the former school building of St. John the Evangelist parish, Riverhead, she works six to seven days – and evenings – a week. Her wide-ranging responsibilities fall under two categories: church ministry and social services.

Her church work includes coordinating a Spanish-language Mass at St. Agnes Church in Greenport on Saturday evenings, and another at St. John the Evangelist on Sunday nights. Additionally, she directs faith formation, teaches classes for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, runs Bible studies, oversees youth ministry and helps families prepare for sacraments. She also directs retreats and trains extraordinary ministers of holy Communion, lectors and ushers.

As a social worker, Sister Margaret assists and counsels individuals and families struggling with income, immigration, legal, language, employment, housing, education and substance-abuse issues.

Despite her heavy workload, Sister Margaret said her ministry continues to give her joy and satisfaction.

“Sometimes I say to myself it would be nice not to run out every single night,” she told Catholic News Service.

“But on the other hand, when I get to where I’m going, I see the growth in the community. I see things that I can do a little bit less of, because I’m teaching people to do things for themselves.”

A Welcome Connectionsmyth7

Christopher Worth, a Riverhead-based attorney specializing in immigration law, has worked with Sister Margaret and sees the connection she has with the people she serves.

“From everything I’ve witnessed, people trust her very much with all types of things,” Worth said. “She teaches people how to save money, how to find work, how to stay (in the U.S.) legally, and how to stay out of trouble. One of the biggest things she does is to make them feel welcome and feel part of a community.”

Recipients of Sister Margaret’s support include, among others, farm, vineyard, restaurant, landscaping and construction workers, and people who assist with child and elder care.

Consuelo Ludlum, a retired teacher who has volunteered in Sister Margaret’s office for 10 years, has seen the Dominican sister confront employers who have tried to take advantage of immigrants by denying them just wages, or have used the threat of deportation to intimidate them. There also have been incidents where workers were victims of sexual harassment.

“People have come up to her face and swore at her because of her defense of the day laborers,” Ludlum said. “When she has helped men and women file complaints for unfair wages, we have gotten serious calls.”

They also have tried to intimidate Sister Margaret by threatening harm to her, according to Ludlum. “They will say, ‘Something will happen to her,’ or ‘These people aren’t worth her time.’ Sometimes those situations can be very volatile.”

Sister Margaret has the ability to diffuse many difficult situations during the day. However, the most challenging part, she said, is to remain “patient” with everyone who seeks her counsel.

“It’s a challenge to remain upbeat after a day of going nonstop,” said Sister Margaret, who, in addition to her apostolate work, oversees St. John’s parish social ministry, which includes a busy food pantry.

God-Given Energy

Ludlum marvels at how Sister Margaret seems to effortlessly manage her workload. “I don’t know where she finds the energy, other than to say it’s God-given,” the volunteer said.

Sister Margaret credits her bloodlines for the energy she maintains. “It’s genetic,” she said. “My mother was jumping rope when she was 69.”

One of three siblings born to immigrant parents from Ireland, Sister Margaret grew up in Queens, where she learned that people from other countries weren’t always welcomed with open arms. Her own family was forced to move from their apartment after being harassed by their landlady.

And the immigrant experience hasn’t changed dramatically over the years, Sister Margaret noted.

“All immigrants share basic situations,” she noted. “It doesn’t matter what country you come from, people come with common reasons. People come to escape poverty, oppression and persecution. They come because of total lack of opportunities. No health care, no anything.”

Sister Margaret’s ministry isn’t limited to Long Island.

In recent years, she has joined a team of doctors, nurses and volunteers on mission trips to Honduras, where they provide medical care to the poor. Sister Margaret facilitates communication between the medical team and the families.

Dr. Joseph Farrell, 87, a retired orthopedic surgeon and participant in the mission trips, said Sister Margaret’s assistance is invaluable. “We go up into the mountains and seek out children with orthopedic problems,” he explained. “She acts as a liaison. Being a nun down there is big stuff.”

Sister Margaret Smyth, North Fork Spanish Apostolate director, teaches an R.C.I.A. class.

Sister Margaret with Jacqueline Secaida, 15, following the girl's quinceanera Mass June 27.

Sister Margaret speaks at an information session on immigration reform in Riverhead, L.I.

Sister Margaret assists a man following an information session on immigration reform.

Photos by Gregory A. Shemitz.

Queens Roots

Sister Margaret said her religious vocation was nurtured at home, in church and in high school. Being raised in a strong Catholic family, she had strong role models. Her father’s brother was a priest in Ireland and England. She had three cousins ahead of her in her religious community.

Her family belonged to St. Sebastian Church, Woodside, where she attended the parish school before going onto St. Agnes A.H.S., College Point, which was then-sponsored by the Dominican Sisters of Amityville.

She entered the congregation in 1957, and professed final vows two years later, receiving the religious name Sister Noella. Her first ministry was as a school teacher at St. Thomas the Apostle, Woodhaven, 1959-63, and St. Catherine of Sienna, St. Albans, 1963-69. She taught Spanish at Bishop McDonnell M.H.S., Crown Heights, 1969-73, before serving as principal of St. Catherine of Sienna, 1973-81, and then Our Lady of Solace, Coney Island, 1981-85.

From 1985-96, she served in St. John Cantius parish, East New York, where, among other responsibilities, she taught religious education.

Sister Margaret calls her current work “a ministry of prayer,” saying she begins and ends each day with prayer. She tries to make every encounter with another person a prayerful experience, adding that stopping to spend time with God mustn’t be underestimated.

“You can’t do a ministry of prayer, unless you also have lots of formal prayer, ” she said.

Dr. Farrell, who has known Sister Margaret for over 20 years, admires her tireless dedication. “There’s an old Irish expression: ‘We work while the light lasts.’ And that’s exactly what she’s going to do.”

At this point, Sister Margaret isn’t contemplating retirement. “Right now (the ministry) still gives me joy. I enjoy helping people, getting them to laugh, or giving them a solution to a problem. That keeps life very electric.”

Contributing to this report was Antonina Zielinska of The Tablet.

One thought on “Sister Margaret’s Joy: Ministry to Immigrants

  1. Sister Margaret embodies every ideal we were taught at St. Agnes. I’m sure she is praying for all her former classmates and I will pray in a special way for her and for the work that she does. Love and prayers, Connie Carroll Gehnrich 57. P.S. Looking forward to to Nov.