Honoring the Past.
Embracing the Future.

At the heart of SJNY are its founders, the Sisters of St. Joseph, who celebrate a 375-year legacy of success and excellence
Dean with the Sisters of St. Joseph in caps and gowns
By Christine Esposito
In May, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Brentwood were honored with the 2025 Trustees Award — one of the highest honors bestowed by the St. Joseph’s University, New York Board of Trustees. The award honors individuals and organizations who have made extraordinary contributions to the University, society at large or the advancement of academic knowledge. It is a description that fits the Sisters of St. Joseph to a tee.

The award was presented on stage during SJNY’s 2025 commencement ceremony to mark the 375th anniversary of the founding of their order, and in recognition of the enduring legacy, extraordinary efforts and profound influence that the sisters have had in the fields of education, ecology, justice and spirituality.

For nearly four centuries, congregations of Sisters of St. Joseph have left an indelible mark on the world and its people — including the nearly 49,000 alumni whose lives have been shaped by an education at St. Joseph’s University, New York.

the Sisters of St. Joseph smiling for group photo with the 2025 Trustees Award
Founded in Le Puy, France, in 1650 by six women and a Jesuit priest, the Sisters of St. Joseph set out to love God and serve the “dear neighbor” without distinction. They would plant the seeds for a calling that would expand through France until 1789. Revived after near extinction during the French Revolution, the number of congregations began to flourish again, including to the United States in 1836.

The Sisters of St. Joseph of Brentwood were founded in 1856 when Mother Austin Kean came to Brooklyn at the request of the Bishop of Brooklyn. This would one day lead to the opening of the St. Joseph’s College for Women in 1916, now St. Joseph’s University, New York.

The lives and careers of the Sisters of St. Joseph have been intertwined with the success of SJNY; they represent the past, are embedded in its present and integral to its future.

Over the course of St. Joseph’s history, three sisters have led the University as president: S. Vincent Thérèse Tuohy ’39, CSJ, Ph.D. (1956-1969), who was the first female in the role; S. George Aquin O’Connor, CSJ, Ph.D. (1969-1997); and S. Elizabeth A. Hill ’64, CSJ, J.D. (1997-2014). Countless other sisters have served — and continue to serve — as professors, administrators, committee and board members.

various pictures of the Sisters of St. Joseph, some older and black and white and some more recent
“As sisters of St Joseph we have a mission statement which reads in part: ‘We are called to give full expression to our giftedness as women in the church revealing God’s love and responding with courage and fidelity by undertaking whatever ministries may best bring about the union which is our purpose,’” said Sister Grace Edna Rowland, CSJ, Ph.D., while on stage at commencement as she accepted the Trustee Award on behalf of the congregation.

The sisters’ unique vision and lives serving the University reflect the SJNY’s five pillars — integrity, intellectual rigor, spiritual depth, social responsibility and service. This fall, as SJNY welcomes its newest cohort of students, the legacy of the Sisters of St. Joseph endures.

Celebrating 60 years with S. Elizabeth A. Hill and S. Loretta McGrann

S. Elizabeth A. Hill and S. Loretta McGrann
Aligning with the Sisters’ 375th anniversary are the diamond jubilees of former SJNY President S. Elizabeth A. Hill ’64, CSJ, J.D., and former Provost S. Loretta McGrann, CSJ, Ph.D., signifying 60 years of service to the Sisters of St. Joseph.

Both women have served as pillars for the University community, upholding the values bestowed upon them by the Sisters while using their experience to educate and push SJNY in bold new directions.

S. Elizabeth and S. Loretta took their vows in 1965, becoming Sisters of St. Joseph and embracing a life defined by love, service and unity, touching the lives of countless students, staff and faculty throughout the years.

As the University’s sixth president, S. Elizabeth A. Hill oversaw several key initiatives across its Brooklyn and Long Island campuses. Some include the establishment of the Council for the Arts, the procurement of St. Angela Hall Academy in Brooklyn and the unveiling of the Business Technology Center on the Long Island Campus, as well as overseeing the addition of two major facilities for student athletes — the Outdoor Field Complex in Patchogue and the Hill Center in Brooklyn, which was named in her honor.

Before becoming Provost of St. Joseph’s University, New York, S. Loretta McGrann served as director of student services, associate chairperson and chairperson of the English department, academic dean and vice president of academic affairs, in addition to being an English professor.

The University proudly congratulates S. Elizabeth A. Hill and S. Loretta McGrann on such a historic milestone.

SJNY Students Join 375th Anniversary Celebration

Eight people standing together indoors, smiling at the camera.
Students from the Long Island and Brooklyn campuses traveled to Kansas City in July to celebrate the 375th anniversary of the founding of the Sisters of the St. Joseph. The students met with sisters from congregations across the country, sat in on keynote presentations and performances, took part in breakout sessions and learned about the order’s rich history.

“Our SJNY students brought energy and hope for the future of our CSJ mission and charism to reseed among a new generation of young adults and a world that hungers for unifying love, justice and community,” said S. Marie Mackey ’84, CSJ, who leads the Brooklyn Campus ministry, and was in Kansas City for the celebration and as a student supervisor.

Several sisters from the SJNY community were also in attendance at the celebration, including S. Helen Kearney ’67, CSJ, Ph.D.; S. Angela Gannon, CSJ, M.A.; and S. Kathleen McKinney ’71, CSJ, Ed.D. (all of whom are members of the St. Joseph’s University, New York board of trustees); Senior Lecturer of Child Study S. Joanne Forker, CSJ, Ed.D.; and former University President S. Elizabeth A. Hill ’64, CSJ, J.D.

“Meeting different Sisters and getting the opportunity to have an actual conversation with them showed me how humble, gracious, kind and amazing this entire community is,” said Swornima Bhandari ’27, an SJNY student at the Brooklyn Campus. “Their loyalty to their mission of ‘loving your neighbor’ is one of the most inspiring things I got to witness in this trip.”

“This was a fantastic opportunity for us to attend and be able to represent SJNY,” said Jonathan Galo, director of campus ministry on the Long Island Campus, who traveled with the students to Kansas City. “We are so grateful for the Sisters of St. Joseph and all the work that they have done locally and across the world.”

— Malik Gay
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