Sister Mary Francis McDonald

1920-2005

Superior General, Newburgh Dominican Congregation, 1971-1979

MARY AGNES MCDONALD

Mary Agnes McDonald was born in Poughkeepsie, New York on January 4, 1920 to Mary Agnes McGrath and Francis John McDonald. She was to be the eldest of a family of eight – four girls and four boys.

Mary received her elementary education in Saint Mary’s School in Poughkeepsie graduating in 1933. In 1937 she graduated with highest honors from Mount Saint Mary Academy in Newburgh, New York. Shortly after graduation she entered the novitiate of the Dominican Sisters of Newburgh and on June 17, 1938 received the habit and was given the name, Sister Mary Francis. She pronounced her first vows on June 18, 1939 and on August 21, 1945 she was admitted to final profession.

After three years at Mount Saint Mary Normal and Training School she attended the Catholic University of American in Washington, D.C. From this institution she received the B.A. degree in 1946, M.A. in 1947 and the Ph.D. degree in 1950 with concentrations in Latin, Greek and History.

Sister Mary Francis has made great contributions to education on all levels – elementary school through the university. From 1965 – 1971 she served as president of Mount Saint Mary College as well as being a Councilor of the Dominican Sisters. In 1971 her education ministry was interrupted when she was elected Superior General of the Dominican Sisters of Newburgh and relected in 1975. In 1979 at the conclusion of her second term as Major Superior she resumed her teaching career as a professor of Church History at Maryknoll School of Theology where she also served as Academic Dean from 1981 – 1984. At present, 1993, she is adjunct associate professor of History at Providence College, Providence, Rhode Island.

Sister Mary Francis’s many and monumental achievements throughout her years in education and congregational administration are recorded in detail on accompanying papers.