SAINT ANTHONY'S HIGH SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT ALUMNI ...

As a Friar, Margaret Devlin, Class of 1992, was driven. NHS Vice President, Cross Country
Captain, SADD member, Symphonic Band President, Latin and Spanish NHS member,
Friar Scoreboard writer. Today, Margaret is driven in a different direction. Now Sister Mary
Gabriel Devlin, S.V., she is focusing her attention on her vocation as a Sister of Life. The
Sisters of Life are based in New York but also have missions in Connecticut and Canada.
Sister Mary Gabriel currently resides in a Staten Island convent with her fellow sisters.
On October 11, 2011, the Saint Anthony’s Faculty and Staff gathered at the Immaculate
Conception Seminary for their Annual Faculty Retreat. This year’s retreat was graced by the
presence of Sister Mary Gabriel Devlin and her fellow Sisters of Life. The retreat began with
a prayer service in the Seminary’s chapel followed by Sister Mary Gabriel’s keynote address.
The faculty assessment was that this was one of those moments when the teachers are
taught by the student.
Sister Margaret, who has been serving as Novice Director since 1999, spoke of her decision
to become a Sister of Life. Like many of our students, Sister Mary grew up in a Catholic
family that always attended Sunday Mass. As their children got older, Mr. and Mrs. Devlin
began attending daily Mass. Their daughter was always moved by what she
called their “humble and sincere faith”. While attending college,
Margaret began feeling that she had a vocation. Her final
surrender to God’s call was remarkable. In speaking
of the evening when she opened the door to life as
a Sister, Sister Mary states, “It was an exhilarating,
beautiful, freeing feeling. I knew I was loved forever.”
She said, ”The greatest gift of my life is my vocation.
This is the fact of our existence. We are called.”
Sister Mary told the Faculty that they must be willing
to “write on the souls of the students they serve.” She
cautioned about spiritual amnesia where we reduce our lives
by what we do, what we earn and what we own. Sister Mary reminded
us that each of us was willed and loved into existence by God. She spoke of
the simplicity of love of God as demonstrated in Mother Teresa’s prayer -”Here
I am, Jesus. Love me.” She spoke of how sin never delivers what it promises and
how God never discourages.
The retreat was a very inspiring one for the Faculty. Sister Mary Gabriel’s sincerity and
simplicity captivated her audience.
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