Who was Sr. Mary Vincent…

Sr. Mary Vincent was a Jersey girl born in Newark, NJ. She made her first vows as a Missionary Servant of the Most Blessed Trinity when she was 21 years old. She served as a teacher in Canton, MS and in Ponce, Puerto Rico. In 1961, Sister was sent from Puerto Rico to Catholic Social Services in Philadelphia, picking up her Masters in Social Work along the way. In 1970 she became the director of Casa del Carmen, a family service center in North Philadelphia. She continued to serve the Hispanic population when she moved to Catholic Social Services in Camden, NJ. She served there for 25 years, mostly in an outreach center called El Centro.

Public Recognition

Sr. Mary Vincent saw her love for God and her service to the poor as the same thing. “I wanted to serve the poor and live my whole life for God.” In 2002 her many years of outstanding and tireless service were recognized when she received the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Cross. This is the highest recognition that the Pope can bestow upon a lay person. It is given for special service to the Church and to the Pope.

This is what Missionary Servants do…

… Sr. Mary Vincent poured her life out in service to the poor because of God’s Love. She always wanted to be a missionary. In her own words, “I loved the spirit I saw in the Missionary Servants. I admired them because they just did the good that was needed without a lot of fuss.”