Sr. Catherine Quinn, SHCJ

Catherine Quinn, SHCJ

July 19, 1934 – August 24, 2024

Educator, Formation Director, Spiritual Director

Rosemont, Pennsylvania – Catherine Quinn, SHCJ, a Sister of the Holy Child Jesus for 69 years, died peacefully on August 24, 2024. She was 90.

As a high school student, Sister Catherine travelled more than one hour from her home in the Mount Airy section of Philadelphia to Saint Leonard’s Academy, where she was taught by the Holy Child Sisters. Sister Catherine recalled that within the first few days of school, she shared with her family that “these Holy Child Sisters really care about us!” In 1952, after struggling with God over her call to religious life, Sister Catherine entered the Society of the Holy Child Jesus. She made her first and final vows in 1955 and 1960, respectively. She became well known by her religious name Mother Ignatius Mary.

For the first 11 years of Sister Catherine’s professed life, she served as a teacher in the Philadelphia area, including at Saint Edward School in (1955-59), Holy Child Academy in Drexel Hill (1959-61), Saint Lucy School (1961-65), and Archbishop Prendergast Catholic High School (1965-66).

In 1966, Sister Catherine was appointed the American Province’s postulant director. For the next five years, she immersed herself in the study of scripture and the spirituality of the Society’s foundress, Venerable Cornelia Connelly. After one year of teaching at Saint Leonard’s Academy (1971-72), she pursued a certificate in spirituality at St. Louis University in Missouri. Thereafter, Sister Catherine continued to work with the Society’s formation program. She also served as superior and area superior during a changing time for the Church and the Society.

In 1977, Sister Catherine founded the Rosemont Spiritual Center in Rosemont, Pennsylvania. She created a place of peace and harmony for the Sisters, religious communities, and individuals of all denominations. As the center’s director, she led workshops, prayer groups, and retreats. During this time, she also became the “resident” interior decorator. Her design talents were widely utilized, including for the Provincial Offices and Main Building on New Sharon’s campus and other province-wide community residences. 

In 1995, Sister Catherine resigned as the director of Rosemont’s Spiritual Center and embraced apartment living. She began a ministry of “hallway, elevator, and laundry room” spiritual companionship with her neighbors. 

In 2002, she joined with lay women and men and other Sisters to formally organize the American Province’s Holy Child Associates program. For years, Sister Catherine served on the Associates’ core team. Judy Talvacchia recalls, “Catherine was one of our foremothers, who recognized the value of Associates and was a constant source of support and advice. We will honor her memory by faithfully living the SHC charism and mission in our daily lives. 

Beginning in 1998, Sister Catherine served as a spiritual director, guiding Sisters, religious communities, and women and men of all religious backgrounds. Her intelligence, deep faith, practicality, listening skills, wisdom, and sense of humor made her a sought-after spiritual director. Sister Catherine remained a spiritual director for many vowed religious and the laity until her death.

In 2024, Sister Catherine moved to Holy Child Center in Rosemont, Pennsylvania. Never one to sit still, she contributed to province-wide planning, discussions, and events. She added her decorative flare throughout the center’s rooms and hallways. 

Sister Catherine earned a Bachelor of Arts from Villanova University in 1962, a Master of Arts in Theology from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and a certificate in spirituality from St. Louis Divinity School in St. Louis, Missouri in 1972.

She joins her parents, Ignatius and Mary (Suermann) and her siblings, Ignatius (Nash), Charles, Mary (Sissy), and Theresa (“T”). She is survived by many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.

Friends and family are invited to a Prayer of Remembrance on August 30, at 4:00 p.m., and a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. on August 31, at Holy Child Chapel, 1341 Montgomery Avenue, Rosemont, Pennsylvania 19010. Preceding Mass, friends and family are welcome to attend the viewing at 10:00 a.m.

 In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the Society of the Holy Child Jesus – American Province, 1341 Montgomery Avenue, Rosemont, PA 19010, or made online at www.shcj.org/american/donate.