Keeping the Sisters at the Heart of St. Joseph’s
Long Island Campus honors the women religious who made the University the outstanding place it is today
By Samantha Cheyenne Miller ’13
St. Joseph’s University, New York honored the women religious during the dedication and blessing of the Sisters of St. Joseph Chapel inside the Long Island Campus’ new Student Center.
The Feb. 28 Mass took place during common hour, with Fr. John Sureau of Westbury’s St. Brigid’s Church presiding.
“I’m honored, as we all are today, to celebrate the sacred space recognizing that it’s not just a chapel, it’s not just a university; it’s ultimately the work of the Sisters of St. Joseph, who have encouraged, empowered and really inspired many to go from this place and transform the world and fill it with God’s love,” said Fr. John, a 1997 graduate of SJNY.
Founded in 1650 in the small village of Le Puy in France by a young priest and a group of women touched by the Spirit of God, the Sisters of St. Joseph shared a vision of union with God and the dear neighbor, which they sought to achieve through prayer, service and love.
When the Sisters first arrived in the United States in 1836, they continued living their mission of loving the dear neighbor without distinction by educating deaf children and Native Americans. They eventually founded nine U.S. colleges and universities, including St. Joseph’s University, New York — then called St. Joseph’s College for Women — in 1916.
S. Elizabeth Hill ’64, CSJ, J.D., the institution’s sixth president who led from 1997 to 2014, spoke on behalf of the leadership of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph.
“I wonder what the founders of St. Joseph’s College for Women would think if they saw us here today,” she said. “I was thinking of all the Sisters who helped make this place what it is, and we couldn’t go through all the names, there’s just so many.
“But I do have to mention three specifically: S. George Aquin O’Connor (O’Connor Hall), S. Virginia Thérèse Callahan (Callahan Library) and S. Mary Florence Burns (Burns Hall),” S. Elizabeth continued. “Without that triumvirate, this school would not be here today.”
Donald R. Boomgaarden, Ph.D., current president of the University, thanked the donors who gave to the University for the construction of the Student Center with the chapel in mind.
“This building, the students in it and those that are gathered here today have a special thanks to offer to the Sisters, because it was your dream and your vision that made this whole place possible,” Dr. Boomgaarden said. “While this building is a focal point, on both campuses you can really feel a sense of energy, joy and mission, and a connection to the great legacy of the Sisters of St. Joseph.
“So for the Sisters in particular today, I want you to come to the campus and the chapel as frequently as you can,” he added. “Remain as connected as you possibly can to us, because that connection is our life … it’s the legacy that you’ve provided and the models that you provide even now.”
S. Mary Florence Turns 99
S. Mary Florence’s journey has been intertwined with SJNY for over 80 years, first as a student in the early 1940s, and then as an educator, administrator and beacon of inspiration. Her dedication to academic excellence and to SJNY’s mission helped set a leadership standard that continues today.
Before serving as vice president of academic affairs, she was an associate professor of English, imparting knowledge and wisdom to generations of students. Her expertise in medieval literature, Dante, Shakespeare and 18th-century English literature enriched St. Joseph’s academic landscape. Reflecting on her transformational influence, Raymond D’Angelo, Ph.D., chair and professor of sociology, remarked, “She established a standard of excellence in leadership that will outlast all of us. She was St. Joseph’s North Star, providing strong leadership, which guided the University to its current state.”
In 2003, St. Joseph’s renamed the Brooklyn Campus’ esteemed Burns Hall in her honor.
Kennedy Chapel Turns 100
Honoring a University Hero
More than 100 members of the St. Joseph’s community, including S. Jane’s family and alumni who learned from the Sister during her 37 years as an educator at St. Joseph’s, attended the event, held on the Business Technology Center’s ground floor.
“She started our department and she taught almost everything in the computer science curriculum,” said Victoria Hong, chair of the campus’ Mathematics and Computer Science Department and director of the M.S. in Cyber Security program.
“Teaching and working with students was always her greatest passion. She worked tirelessly to attract women to the field. It was very important for her to have the underrepresented group of women be in computing,” added Hong, reflecting on her longtime colleague S. Jane, who passed away in 2022.
The new center dedicated to S. Jane features a computer lab that includes a colorful, wall-length mural of a beach scene, paying homage to S. Jane’s love for spending time relaxing at the beach. There is also an area just outside of the lab that offers a creative glimpse at the history of computer science.
S. Jane’s accomplishments were many; her positive affect on SJNY was astounding. Here are some examples:
- Developed a partnership between the University and Brookhaven National Laboratory.
- Founded the campus’ Computer Honor Society and the computer and math clubs.
- Co-authored papers on mathematical thinking and computer programming, as well as textbooks.
- Influential in securing millions of dollars in grant money for the University.
- Served as a mentor to many faculty and staffers.
In 2022, the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph established the S. Jane Carolyn Fritz Scholarship in Computer Science. The scholarship is awarded to full-time Long Island Campus undergraduates majoring in computer science, who demonstrate a need for financial aid and have at least a 3.0 GPA.