Sr. Pat Sullivan was born on January 24, 1949 in Manhattan, New York, to Thomas and Vera Sullivan. She grew up in Queens, in a close-knit family alongside her three siblings: her older sister, Sheila, and her two brothers—Brendan, her older brother and her “Irish twin,” Dennis, her younger brother. Her parents were longtime members of the Missionary Cenacle Apostolate (MCA). Pat knew many in the Cenacle Family at Resurrection-Ascension Parish and often helped the MSBT with various church activities.
Before entering the Missionary Servants’ Formation Program, Pat was a Vista Volunteer in Salem, AL, worked as a bank teller for a time, then worked as a staff nurse at Roosevelt Hospital in New York City for three years. She entered the Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity on October 7, 1979 and made Perpetual Profession on March 25, 1988.
Pat’s nursing background served her well in her ministries at St. Margaret’s Hospital in Montgomery, AL and St. John’s Pre-natal Clinic in Camden, NJ from 1982-1985. Pat was very active in the pre-natal clinic and learned to really enjoy the work there, especially as it touched upon the lives of the poor.
In 1985, Pat transitioned from nursing to serve as a Parish Social Minister at St. Hugh of Cluny Parish in Kensington, Philadelphia for a couple of years. She was effective in her ministry and the pastor and staff held her in high regard. Following her time at St. Hugh’s Parish, Pat served as a case manager for homebound seniors at St. Rita’s Senior Center, also in Philadelphia. During this time Pat’s artistic side bloomed and she developed some wonderful skills in working with stained glass.
While working at St. Rita’s Senior Center, Pat earned her BA in Social Work from Temple University in 1990, graduating Magna Cum Laude. In her senior year she balanced a 12-credit course load with ministry exceptionally well, proudly proclaiming to all who would listen, “All without a typist!” At the time of her graduation, her caseload at St. Rita’s Center had reached 100 clients! The following year Pat received an MA Social Work in Mental Health, with a concentration in Gerontology, from the University of Pittsburgh.
In 1992, Sr. Pat was appointed Motherhouse Coordinator, overseeing the care, services, and activities for the Sisters living at the Motherhouse and acting as a liaison to other MSBT communities on the grounds. It truly was an awesome responsibility and a daunting mission. Sr. Jane O’Connor, who was the Councilor assigned to the Motherhouse and accompanied Pat during her two years as Motherhouse Coordinator, remarked, “Sister Pat worked very hard in her ministry and instituted several positive changes, evidence of her commitment and sensitivity to our sisters at the Motherhouse.”
In September 1994, Pat was missioned to Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in Birmingham where she ministered to the sick, elderly and homebound. Just three months after her arrival, she broke her shoulder during a retreat weekend – flying a kite, no less. Undeterred, and with a strong sense of commitment, Pat carried on. In between bouts of therapy and a somewhat long recuperation period, she continued to minister to those in need.
Pat truly found her calling at OLS. She derived a great deal of satisfaction and fulfillment in the ministry and the pastor, and the parish deeply valued and depended on her. Fr. Muller, who later became Monsignor Muller and whom Pat worked with during the entire time she was missioned to OLS, said it just seemed Pat was in the right spot at the right time. In a note Pat wrote to MSBT leadership she mentioned she found the people in her ministry to be faith filled and inspiring to her. Pat enthusiastically and with a great missionary spirit served the people of OLS Parish. Pat had the wonderful gift of listening well to those in her care, and a special gift of ministering to the elderly.
Pat brought many a smile to the people of the parish, not only through her faithful visits to the elderly and infirmed but to others as she organized numerous outings to the Mississippi casinos or as Pat called them trips to support the Indian Missions.
In Fall 2002, Pat was considering stepping away from her ministry at OLS to help care for her aging parents. A few months later, still discerning options and processing her journey, Pat wrote in a letter to an MSBT Councilor. “I am reflecting on wear and tear. In my time here (OLS) I have had 4 surgeries, 3 broken bones, a fire and the death of Lucy, T.J. and Catherine. I am still of sound mind because of our Sisters, a powerhouse of prayer in the people I visit, my family and friends. I have come to believe all is possible if I am in the right relationship with God. It just takes time and patience.”
As a testament to Pat and the relationships she developed and nurtured at OLS, the parishioners and pastor were eager to help our congregation. During the last three years of her time in ministry the pastor/parish donated over $150,000 to support ministries in Mexico, youth programs in South Philadelphia and California and renovations of our former Generalate here on the grounds, to offer women seeking to live in a Catholic community.
Pat faced serious health challenges in 2016 and 2017, including brain aneurysm surgery and a severe infection. By October 2017, she was no longer able to continue her beloved ministry at OLS and moved back to the Motherhouse.
In the OLS parish bulletin of October 15, 2017, Monsignor Muller wrote:
“After 23 years, Sister Pat, our marvelous Minister to the Sick has resigned her position at OLS. If ever there was a dedication to the job of ministering to the sick, we found that absolute dedication in Sr. Pat Sullivan. Thank you, Sister Pat, for the enormously effective work with the sick, the bereaved, and the great VIP people–and for keeping me administering the Last Rites to those you felt were in need. Sister herself brought Jesus in the Eucharist to more people than we can count.”
In December 2023, Pat was missioned to the Mother Boniface Missionary Cenacle at Wesley. She maintained her independence as much as possible, enjoyed birdwatching, and watching a variety of sports, especially when her favorite team, Notre Dame, was on TV.
In her Vow Formula for her Perpetual Profession Pat wrote:
“My prayer is that my life will reflect the love of the Father, trust of the Son, wisdom of the Holy Spirit and courage of Mary.” Through her lifetime of loving service and her courage in the face of illness, Pat truly lived the words she wrote in her Vow Formula. May we, too, following her example, be granted the grace to live with the love of the Father, the trust of the Son, the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, and the courage of Mary.
Sr. Patricia Sullivan of the Healing Power of Jesus may you rest in peace in the arms of our loving God.