Herald Staff Report
(From the issue of 5/12/05)

The following women religious currently serving in the Arlington Diocese are celebrating special anniversaries this year. Bishop Paul S. Loverde celebrated a special anniversary Mass on May 12 at Marymount University's chapel in Arlington.

60 years

Sr. Irene Cody, R.S.H.M.

Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary Sister Irene Cody was born on Jan. 5, 1926, in New York City, N.Y. She graduated from Sacred Heart of Mary High School. She received her bachelor’s degree in English literature from Marymount College in Arlington and her master’s degree in Latin and classics in 1955. She earned a doctorate in educational psychology and counseling in 1963 from Fordham University in New York.

In 1943, she entered the convent in Tarrytown, N.Y., and professed her first vows on April 11, 1945, and final vows in 1950. Sister Cody taught in several high schools in New York that were run by her order. She was treasurer at Marymount Manhattan College and spent three years in Medellin, Columbia, where she was the school principal. In 1978 Sister Cody was appointed Director of Financial Aid at Marymount University and served as counselor for international students.

Although officially retired now, she continues to be involved in campus ministry activities, international student events, alumni programs and local community projects. Sister Cody acts as moderator of the Mother Butler Mission Guild and is treasurer of the Diocesan Sisters’ Council. Off campus her favorite volunteer activity is with the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia where she tutors an adult in reading and writing and also participates in training programs for new tutors.

50 years

Sr. Jacqueline A. Murphy, R.S.H.M.

Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary Sister Jacqueline Murphy was born in New York City, N.Y., in 1934 to John and Gertrude Murphy. She is the oldest of seven, and three of her siblings have died. She graduated from a Cathedral High School in New York. She has received bachelor’s degree in history from Marymount University in Arlington and master’s degrees in classics and linguistics from Catholic University in Washington. She later returned for a degree in nursing.

She professed her first vows in 1955 and her final vows in 1960. She has served in New York, Canada and Zimbabwe before coming to Virginia in 1967. Sister Murphy taught at the Washington Hospital Center and became Director of Nursing Education. During this time, she also worked with Health Care for the Homeless. In 1994 she worked at the Hospice Care of D.C. as a staff nurse. She is currently a hospice nurse at Montgomery Hospice in Rockville, Md.

Her fellow sisters know Sister Murphy for her beautiful voice, first developed in a musically-inclined family. Throughout all of her various ministries, she has shown dedication to liturgical music.

50 years

Sr. Christine Mary Remington, I.H.M.

Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Sister Christine Mary Remington was born Nov. 17 to Ben and Rose Remington in Miami, Fla. She graduated from St. Mary Academy in Alexandria. She studied at Immaculata University and St. Charles Seminary in Pennsylvania.

Sister Remington made her first profession of vows on March 9, 1955, and her final profession on Aug. 15, 1960. She has been stationed in the archdioceses of Philadelphia and Atlanta and in the dioceses of Camden, N.J., and Richmond before coming to Arlington. She currently teaches sixth-grade at St. Michael School in Annandale.

50 years

Sr. Maureen Christopher Dusterhoff, I.H.M.

One of six children, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Sister Maureen Christopher Dusterhoff was born in Washington, D.C., on July 18, 1931. She graduated from Holy Name Grade School and St. Patrick Academy. She received her bachelor’s degree from Immaculata College in and a master’s degree in history from Villanova University, both in Pennsylvania.

She professed her first vows on March 9, 1955. She worked at schools in Philadelphia; Norfolk; East Landsdowne, Pa., and Harrisburg before coming to Arlington. She has taught first, fourth, sixth and eighth grades. She currently teaches government at Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington.

Earlier this year, she was named by the Veterans of Foreign Wars as the "Teacher of the Year." Many of her former students remember her for her use of Power Point presentations, slides and for telling entertaining stories in class.

25 years

Sr. Mary Elizabeth, P.P.C.

Poor Clare Sister Mary Elizabeth was born in Baltimore, Md., to James and Dorothy Moors. She made her first vows on Sept. 8, 1980, and her final profession on May 31, 1984. She is currently a cloistered contemplative located at Mary, Mother of the Church Monastery in Alexandria.