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CHRISTIAN BROTHER JOHN HERRON Christian Brother John Herron was born in Philadelphia. He entered the juniorate March 5, 1943 and the novitiate June 11, 1946. He received the habit Sept. 7, 1946; pronounced annual vows Sept. 8, 1947, and perpetual vows Aug. 28, 1953. He took Brother Gratian Alician as his religious name. From La Salle College, Philadelphia, he holds a bachelor of arts degree in history and a master of arts degree in theology. He is retired and resides in De La Salle Hall, Lincroft.
FILIPPINI SISTER LAURA LONGO
Born in Red Bank, Sister Laura Longo spent the early years of her vocation as an elementary school teacher in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. She later served as principal of St. Jerome School, West Long Branch; Holy Innocents School, Neptune, and Holy Family School, Lakewood. Sister Laura has also served as the Director of Siena New Hope Home for Children, an organization that provides short term emergency foster care for children ages 4-10. In 1990, Sister Laura was appointed to the Fourth Synod of the Diocese of Trenton. She was later elected chapter delegate for the Religious Teachers Filippini in 2000, a position she held until 2013, when she was appointed provincial counselor for the Religious Teachers Filippini.
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FILIPPINI SISTER LUCY BATTISTUZ
A New Jersey native born in Passaic, Filippini Sister Lucy Battistuz served as a middle school teacher in her home state as well as New York and Pennsylvania. Later, she acted as the director of religious education in Holy Family Parish, Nutley. In 1993, she was part of the steering committee for the Intercongregational Associate Meetings of the North East Division. Since 1984, Sister Lucy has held the position of Director Associates of St. Lucy Filippini, working with the women of West Long Branch, Long Branch and Trenton. She also helps with Morning Star House of Prayer, a retreat facility located on the grounds of Villa Victoria Academy, Ewing.
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Lives OF FAITH • T
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MERCY SISTER MARY FAITH MOORE
Mercy Sister Mary Faith Moore, the former Mary Lucille Moore, is one of nine children of the late Arch and Lillian Moore. She was born in Plainfield and attended St. Mary School, Plainfield, and Mount St. Mary Academy, North Plainfield. Sister Mary Faith grew to love “the Mount,” the Sisters of Mercy and their way of life during her high school years, and she entered the community following her graduation, Sept. 15, 1946, from St. Mary Parish, Plainfield. She received the religious habit May 15, 1947, and professed temporary vows May 15, 1949. Sister Mary Faith’s perpetual profession of vows was on May 15, 1952. Her motto is, “I believe, I hope, I love.” She continued her education as a young sister, earning a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Georgian Court College (now University), Lakewood, in 1961, and a master’s degree in reading from Seton Hall University, South Orange, in 1969. She also holds a state certification in elementary education. Sister Mary Faith began her educational ministry in St. Elizabeth School, Bernardsville, and in Cathedral Grammar School, Trenton. In 1966, she was appointed as the founding principal of St. Frances Cabrini School, Piscataway, where she served for two terms before returning to Bernardsville and then being assigned to St. Mary Academy, Lakewood. She also served as the elementary school education consultant for the schools staffed by the Sisters of Mercy from 1978 to 1984. In 1983, she became director of the St. Ann Child Care Center, Keansburg, which she launched in an old industrial building with a few grants. According to her order, “the center was a godsend for working mothers whose children spent most of their waking hours there.” Sister Faith held that position until her retirement in 2009. She continues to live in Keansburg, and in 2000, she was honored at the Sisters of Mercy annual benefit in Atlantic City.
MERCY SISTER MARY ROSETTA BUCKLEY
Mercy Sister Mary Rosetta Buckley, formerly Julia Sheila, was born in Trenton. The daughter of Jeremiah and Rosetta Buckley, she attended St. Mary Grammar School and Cathedral High School, both in Trenton, where her contact with the Sisters of Mercy played a strong role in influencing her vocation. She entered the community after her high school graduation in 1956 from St. Joseph Parish, Trenton, and she chose her mother’s name at her reception. Her motto is, “My God, I love Thee above all things.” Sister Mary Rosetta earned a bachelor of arts degree in elementary education from Georgian Court College (now University), Lakewood, and later earned certifications as an elementary school teacher and social worker. She began her teaching ministry in Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Atlantic City, where she taught in the primary grades. She continued for the next 20
years in St. James School, Red Bank, St. Mary School, Bordentown, and St. Mary Academy, Lakewood. In 1978, she returned to her home parish to teach physical education and primary grades before moving back to Red Bank to teach physical education there. In 1985, her love for the poor and awareness of their needs brought her to the Mount Carmel Guild of Trenton, a diocesan social services agency, where she began as a case worker. In 1989, she was named a supervisor in the Emergency Assistance Program, and throughout her 18-year tenure at the agency, she also served as a volunteer coordinator and home visitor advocate. She now resides in Notre Dame Convent, Lawrenceville.
MERCY SISTER CAROL CREAMER
Mercy Sister Carol Creamer is a native of Sayreville, the daughter of James and Henrietta. She began her education at the parish school of her family’s home community, Our Lady of Victories Parish, followed by St. Peter High School, New Brunswick. In 1956, she entered the Sisters of Mercy in Watchung, and chose at her first profession the name Sister Mary Jacob and the motto “God is Love.” She earned a degree in elementary education from Georgian Court College (now University), Lakewood, and later a master’s degree in speech pathology from Trenton State College (now The College of New Jersey), Ewing. She also holds certifications in elementary education and as a See Sister Carol Creamer • S5
MONITOR • JULY 28, 2016