Religious Sisters Mark Jubilees with Bishop Loverde

Herald Staff Report
(From the issue of 5/15/03)

Sister Anita Rosaire Fay, O.P.

Dominican Sisters of Hope Sister Anita Rosaire Fay entered the Dominican Sisters of Hope in New York on Sept. 28, 1928, at the age of 19. She made her first profession of vows on June 19, 1930, and her final profession on Aug. 20, 1936.

Sister Fay was born in New York, N.Y. on Nov. 14, 1908, to Mary Agnes Ledwith Fay and James Francis Fay, now deceased. Her six brothers and two sisters are also deceased.

Sister Fay graduated from St. Boniface Elementary School in New York City, and from St. Agnes Academy at College Point, N.Y. She earned a bachelor of arts degree in history from Fordham University and a master’s degree, also in history, from Villanova University in Pennsylvania.

Sister Fay has enjoyed many years of service to God’s people both in education and government. She taught elementary school, as well as high school history and political science. Later, from 1966-75, she taught history and political science at Mount St. Mary College in Newburgh, N.Y. In 1975, Sister Fay moved to Washington, D.C. and spent more than 23 years on the congressional staff of the House of Representatives as special projects director for New York’s Benjamin A. Gilman.

Sister Fay, currently retired, remains active in the ministry of Christian hope.

Sister Eloima Alvarez

A native of Argentina, Poor Sisters of St. Joseph Sister Eloima Alvarez was born to Geronima and Juan B. Alvarez on Jan. 7, 1937. She entered the Poor Sisters of St. Joseph, where she made her first profession of vows on Dec. 3, 1953. Sister Alvarez made her final profession on Feb. 27, 1959.

She learned English at Georgetown University and studied early childhood education at Northern Virginia Community College in Alexandria. Sister Alvarez taught both elementary and secondary school in Argentina before leaving her native country. She served as teacher in St. Gabriel’s Day Care in Alexandria from 1970-78, and again from 1990-97. She also did apostolic social work from 1978-90 for Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Arlington, and in Reading, Pa., where she did social outreach to Spanish families and organized activities for Spanish young people.

Sister Alvarez is well known in Arlington for her outreach to Hispanic families and youth in several parish communities, including St. Charles Borromeo, St. Thomas á Becket, St. Rita and Queen of Apostles. Sister Alvarez is also a member of the Committee for Spanish Vocations for the Diocese of Arlington.

Sister Mary Ellen Brady, O.P.

One of six children born to Francis and Ellen Brady, Dominican Sister Mary Ellen Brady was born on Aug. 4, 1934, in Wilmington, Del. She graduated from St. Thomas Elementary School and St. Elizabeth High School, and later attended Misericordia Hospital School of Nursing in Philadelphia.

Sister Brady entered the Dominican Congregation of St. Catherine de Ricci, where she made her profession of first vows on Feb. 13, 1955, and her final profession three years later on Feb. 13, 1958.

Later, Sister Brady earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Mich., and a master’s degree in religious studies from Providence College in Rhode Island.

Sister Brady has served on the staff of the Lucy Eaton Smith Residence for Women in Philadelphia, the Religious Education Centers in Altamont, N.Y., and Grand Rapids, Mich., and the Loretta Residence for Women in Dayton, Ohio. She is currently on staff at the Dominican Retreat in McLean.

Sister Carla Pryzbilla, O.S.F

Franciscan Sister Carla Pryzbilla was born on July 4, 1935, to Charles and Theresa Pryzbilla in Buckman, Minn. She is one of four children, with one brother and two sisters, one of whom is deceased.

Sister Pryzbilla entered the Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls, Minn., and later made her profession of first vows in 1955. She made her final profession of vows three years later in 1958.

Sister Pryzbilla attended a one-room country school house and St. Francis High School Boarding School. She graduated from St. Catherine College with a bachelor’s degree in dietetics, chemistry and sociology. She earned a master’s degree in religious studies and her doctorate in systematics and Scripture from Catholic University in Washington. In addition, she is certified in clinical pastoral ministry.

In addition to teaching both chemistry and religion on the college level, Sister Pryzbilla served as professor at Washington Theological Union and Theological College. She was novice mistress and, later, superior general of her order.

She co-founded the New Life Center for Human Development in Middleburg, where she is currently a spiritual director.

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