Exclusive Interview - Trinitas Hospital

Sisters of Charity Bring Thoughtful
Caring to Special Ministries
by Kathryn Salamone and Rena Sandberg
(Editor’s Note: This is the second article that profiles members of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth
who have devoted their lives to religious service within the community.)
Sister Mary Corrigan
The only girl among six brothers,
Sr. Mary Corrigan was born and raised
in Jersey City. Religion was always paramount
in her home where her parents
instilled in her and her brothers the
value of a strong faith and love of God.
There was an emphasis on charity, she
explains. “There was always someone
less fortunate than we were,” says Sr.
Mary. “Service to others was encouraged.
Out of this came my desire to
serve God and love God more by
reaching out to those in need.”
As a student, she observed her
teachers who were members of the
Sisters of Charity. Their dedication and
outreach to others appealed to her.
She felt a calling to enter the Sisters of
Charity of Saint Elizabeth in 1961.
Sister obtained a Bachelor’s degree in
Education from the College of Saint
Elizabeth, a Master’s in Education from
Fairfield University in Connecticut, and
a Supervision in Administration
Certificate from Seton Hall University as
well as Certificates in Spiritual
Development and Pastoral Care.
For more than 30 years, Sister’s primary
ministry was in education and
she could be found teaching in schools
in Northern and Central New Jersey as
well as in Pensacola, Florida. While an
educator and school administrator,
Sister became involved in Social
Concerns Committees, helping to
house the homeless, partnering with
inner city schools, serving at soup
30 HEALTHYEDGE
kitchens. In the mid 1990’s
this led to a visit to Mexico
where she saw first hand
the abject poverty of
one room dwellings
for several families
and very visible
community
outreach to
help the poor.
“People I met
took pride in
what they were
able to accomplish
and willingly
shared with others
the little they had,”
Sister recalls.
She began the next
phase of her vocation —
Pastoral Care — although she
readily admits that she wasn’t sure who
wanted to minister to the sick. Since
2003, she has been the Director of
Pastoral Care, where as chaplain at
Trinitas, she addresses the emotional,
physical and spiritual needs of the
patients, family members and the staff.
“While it is difficult at times, it certainly
is a rewarding, enriching and spiritual
experience,” says Sister Mary. “It is an
honor and a privilege to be with people
when they are most vulnerable.”
As Vice President of Mission
Effectiveness at Trinitas, Sister Mary
provides leadership, guidance and
direction to carry out the mission and
values of Trinitas through educational
Sister Mary Corrigan
programs that work interdepartmentally
to develop and maintain a culture
that reflects the Mission of Trinitas.
“There are many challenges in
healthcare today — government
regulations, changes in the practice of
medicine, legal issues, uninsured and
underinsured patients, homelessness,
undocumented persons, behavioral
mental health, end of life issues, the
quality of life, charity care reimbursement,
needs of the elderly, palliative
care. All of this calls me to serve the
people of God, to change hurt into
hope,” concludes Sister Mary.