JULY 30, 2015 • www.TrentonMonitor.com
herself as being “active retired,” and is enjoying the chance to set aside time for her two favorite interests – baking cookies and embroidery.
Religious Teachers Filippini Sister Angelica Cristiani
Anniversaries
Born in Jersey City in 1924, Sister Angelica Cristiani entered the Religious Teachers Filippini community in Villa Walsh, Morristown, in 1938. Her investiture occurred June 16, 1940, and she made her final oblation Aug. 22, 1943. She holds a bachelor of science degree in elementary education from St. Elizabeth College, Convent Station. During her 75 years in ministry, she taught for some 45 – teaching students in various grade levels in New Jersey, Maryland and Brooklyn, N.Y. Among the schools in New Jersey where Sister Angelica ministered were St. Mary of Mount Virgin, New Brunswick; St. Joachim, Trenton; St. James, Trenton, and Villa Victoria Academy, Ewing. She also assisted in food service in St. Joseph by the Sea, Mantoloking. From 1991 to 2014, she assisted with food service in her latest assignment in Villa Victoria Academy. She has described
Sister Mary Martha Harcar Mercy Sister Mary Martha Harcar is one of 12 children born in Trenton to George and Mary Harcar. She attended Trenton’s Immaculate Conception School and graduated from Cathedral High School in 1940. She entered the Sisters of Mercy from Immaculate Conception Parish Sept. 22, 1940. Among her siblings were three brothers who were priests: Spiritan Father George Harcar, Conventual Franciscan Father Cecil Harcar, and Father Anthony Harcar. Her brothers are now deceased. Sister Martha earned a bachelor of science degree from Georgian Court College (now University), Lakewood, and a master of arts degree from Seton Hall University, South Orange. During her 75 years in religious life, she taught primary grades in parish elementary schools in Lambertville, Atlantic City, South Amboy, Paulsboro, Bordentown, Sayreville, Bernardsville and North Plainfield. She began her parish visitation ministry in St. Paul Parish in Princeton in 1993 and has served there continuously for 25 years. She has shared her wisdom, caring ways and faithful example with people wherever she has served particularly over her long years in Princeton.
Dominican Sister Sylvia Bielen
Christian Brother James Hogan Christian Brother James Hogan marks the 80th anniversary of his religious profession this year. From 1938 until 1970, he served as a teacher in a number of institutions, including St. Jerome, N.Y.; Juniorate, Barrytown, N.Y., St. Joseph, West New York, N.J., and De La Salle, Washington, D.C. In 1970, he began what would be more than 30 years serving as an accountant in a number of assignments, including La Salle Academy, N.Y.; Provincialate, N.Y.; Christian Brothers Academy, Albany, N.Y.;,and Christian Brothers Academy, Syracuse, N.Y. In 2001, he moved to New Jersey and most recently retired after spending close to 10 years in Christian Brothers Academy, Lincroft. He now resides in De La Salle Hall, Lincroft.
Sister Sylvia Bielen, of the Dominican Sisters of Hope, earned her bachelor’s degree in education from Seton Hall University, South Orange; a master’s degree in art from the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Ind., and a master of fine arts degree in design from George Washington University, Washington, D.C. This year, she celebrates the 70th anniversary of her religious profession – seven decades that have been marked by a range of teaching ministries throughout New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. She has spent much of her life teaching art, as well as lecturing on spirituality and art. Sister Sylvia lives in Asbury Towers, Asbury Park, where she offers art lessons to fellow residents. She also attends a weekly spiritual conference in Stella Maris Retreat Center, Long Branch.
Christian Brother Thomas Caldwell For the past 70 years, Christian Brother Thomas Caldwell has held a number of positions throughout the United States. He began teaching in La Salle College High School, Philadelphia, in 1950 before moving to Central Catholic High School, Pittsburgh. In the 1960s, he began his tenure as a school administrator, serving as principal in Central District Catholic High School, Canton, Ohio; vice principal of West Catholic High School, Philadelphia, and principal of both Hudson Catholic High School, Jersey City, and West Catholic Boys High School, Philadelphia. He studied for a brief time in Sangre de Cristo, N. M., before returning to the East Coast for continued studies and eventually to serve as admissions director for St. Gabriel Hall, Phoenixville,
Pa. He also spent five years as chaplain to the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, Conn., from 1989 until 1994. Following two decades spent in St. Gabriel Hall, Audubon, Pa., he is presently a resident of De La Salle Hall, Lincroft.
Marianite of Holy Cross Sister Margaret Cronley Sister Margaret Cronley of the Marianites of Holy Cross holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Fordham University, New York City. She entered the convent in the midst of World War II and has lived, taught and served as principal in numerous states along the East Coast. As she marks the 70th anniversary of her religious profession, she is also preparing for retirement. Born in Manhattan as the youngest of four siblings, it was in 1945 when she journeyed to New Orleans to enter the Marianites of Holy Cross. Since then, she has been a teacher in Louisiana and Connecticut, a principal in New York and Massachusetts, the provincial superior of the Marianites of Holy Cross in Our Lady of Princeton – now the Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart – and worked for many years in the Office of Vocations for the Diocese of Trenton. When she retired from the Chancery Office, she ministered for more than 10 years as sacramental secretary in St. Ann Parish, Lawrenceville. Sister Margaret’s retirement marks both the end of one era and the dawn of a new one. She glows with enthusiasm as she contemplates life in St. Mary’s Assisted Living, Lawrenceville.
See Religious • S-4