sister Agnes Eileen Meagher

 

 

We come together as a faith community to celebrate and give thanks to our gracious God for the beautiful and fruitful life of Sister Agnes Meagher, formerly Sister Edward Mariel, a Sister of St. Joseph for 73 faith-filled and happy years.  Agnes wholeheartedly loved our CSJ community and exemplified a full and active presence over the years.  Since 2018, she was an important part of the Bethany Community here in our Motherhouse, and we welcome our sisters and the incredibly hard-working Staff whose daily devotion and care help create a prayerful, fun loving and happy community.  Agnes’ characteristic smile was most evident while participating in the creative activities planned by our talented Rec. Dept. – especially any hat-related antics.

Family was always the treasured center of Agnes’ life. We welcome her devoted niece and nephew and the entire Meagher clan, as you remember, and give thanks for the richness and beauty Aunt Agnes brought each of you as you celebrated life together.  She loved you deeply.

Many partners and companions in mission who accompanied Agnes in her meaningful and impactful ministry, especially at St. Joseph University, share in today’s celebration – we welcome you with deep gratitude for your loving fidelity and friendship.

And of course, we all know with profound certitude that Agnes was given a hearty heavenly welcome by her dear friend, Sister Helen Clancey.  Agnes and Helen shared the gift of friendship over a lifetime – one that enhanced their lives, the life of our CSJ Community and the worlds in which they walked – in the best sense of the words – they were a “force to be reckoned with,” leaving their wisdom, insight and vision on the hearts and works of many.

When their hands went up to speak at community meetings, all ears
were on alert, ready to be both challenged and inspired by their words.

Born to Delia and Michael Meagher, Irish immigrants from County Tipperary, Agnes, a twin to Edward, was the youngest of 8 children. Along with Patrick, Michael, John, William, Thomas and Marion, they were nurtured in an active love of God and openness to the needs of the dear neighbor by their parents, with family life centered in St. Mark’s parish in Brooklyn.  A Spirit of welcoming hospitality, love of the Eucharist and the value of a Catholic education, with all the sacrifices it entailed, characterized the Meagher family.

After graduating from St. Brendan’s High School, Agnes attended Drake Business Schoo  and worked as a secretary for a year before entering The charism lived so prayerfully and simply by the sisters at St. Brendan’s drew Agnes to the Community.

Agnes taught elementary school on the junior high level for 14 years in four different schools in the Diocese of Brooklyn while obtaining her BA from St. Joseph College.

In 1968 after obtaining a Masters in French from Hunter College, Agnes taught French in Holy Family HS in Huntington and at TMLA.  At TMLA, the door to her beloved ministry as a Librarian was opened – and she crossed that threshold and never looked back.

Obtaining a Masters in Library Science from Columbia University, Agnes started on the pathway as an extraordinary, kind, brilliant and inspirational librarian and later as the Library Director at St. Josephs’ College for 30 years, starting in Brooklyn and transiting to the Patchogue Campus.  Legend – proven true–states that Agnes singlehandedly moved the Patchogue Library from one building to another.

It was quoted by many that Agnes was a “dynamic force for love in the lives she served.” – Sister Maureen McDermot, Coordinator of our CSJ Ministry at the time, captured Agnes’ service to her students and our Church in the words of St. Paul:

“God’s power at work in us can do immeasurably more than we could ask or imagine.”

The God she loved so deeply empowered her to share her unique gifts with the students and faculty at St. Joseph’s providing abundant opportunities for grace and growth.

While ministering at St. Joseph’s, Agnes shared her time and talents on the Diocesan Sisters’ Senate and a multitude of community committees.

In 2006, Agnes “retired”, and like so many of us embarked on a fruitful life of service on the Brentwood Campus.  We are grateful that Virginia Dowd, our devoted, and talented archivist, will share a reflection on her dear friend Agnes – and we know that Agnes gave Virginia a glance of approval with a twinkle in her eyes and her characteristic smile of gracious gratitude for saying “Yes” to share this reflection. Virginia’s reflection will be followed by our Community ritual led by Sister Josephine Daspro.

 

Good morning…

It was my great good fortune to have met Sister Agnes when I was hired as archivist for the congregation.   Recently retired as Library Director of St. Joseph’s College, Patchogue, she was volunteering in the archives.  Initially, though, I was a bit wary in her presence as I was told by people who knew her at the college that she did not suffer fools gladly.

A few years earlier, I had applied for and was turned down for a position at St Joseph’s College.  Was she not the same Sister Agnes Meagher who sent the rejection letter?  The reversal of the present situation—I as archivist, she as volunteer—reminded me of the comic post-WWI song “I’ve Got My Captain Working For Me Now!”  It was too delicious not to share, I thought, so I brought the letter in to show her.  She was not amused.

And although she admitted the position had already been filled by the time I applied, and that it would have precluded me from being archivist, she lectured me on what I should have included in my application!

Slowly our friendship grew.

What was I to call her?  She did not want me to call her Sister Agnes.  Nor did she want me to call her Agnes.  Call me “Ag,” she said.  I could not breach that gap of familiarity. It would be Agnes, although I inadvertently preceded it with “Sister” now and then.  She gave me the side-eye every time.

I wished her a happy feast day one January 21st.  Again, the side-eye. She said she had never celebrated St Agnes Day, but the feast day for her religious name, Edward Mariel.  And then she confided to me the story of her name…  On the day of her baptism, her mother sent her off to the church expecting a little Eileen to come back, fully welcomed into the Christian fold.  Her father and the parish priest had other ideas, however, and the infant returned to her mother had been christened Agnes.  As if that were not enough, more salt was rubbed into the wound, since Agnes was the name of her father’s old girlfriend!

I was the first lay person to become archivist and Agnes saw my need for education in all things religious. And so she kindly and firmly stepped in as my Virgil, my wise guide and mentor of reason and moral wisdom and yes, even geography, as I navigated the Inferno and Purgatorio of my new  appointment (metaphorically speaking, of course!).  And so, as my guide:

• She explained the inner workings of religious life and of the Sisters of St Joseph. She set plans in place for Sister Helen Clancey, her dear friend, to teach me about the constitution—but Sister Helen’s untimely death upended those lessons.
• She taught me how important it was to make my voice heard, to be a witness to the gospel. I joined her and the Nuns on the Ferry at my first protest rally.
• And finally, as part of my tutelage, she realized how important it was for me to understand the geography of the congregational ministries, and took me to St Joseph’s College in Brooklyn, to the old motherhouse locale in Flushing, to Patchogue. She marched me around the Brentwood campus one fine afternoon, pointing out all the buildings and leaving me rather breathless.  (I half-expected a quiz to follow.) The last place on our pilgrimage was Sacred Heart Chapel, where I disappointed her by my silence.  It was not the reaction she expected.   I was just overwhelmed with the tesserae of all of its architectural details and religious iconography.  So much to look at and weigh.  I think of her every time I enter this sacred space and allow its amber beauty to wash over me.  Yes, Agnes, I have fallen in love with it.  No side-eyes, please!

At the end of the day in the archives, Agnes would close the folder she was working on and, more often than not, tell me about her family.  Her mother, siblings, aunts and uncles. Her nieces, her nephews…I spent many hours learning about the Punch and Meagher family tree.  The reason for this course in genealogy was puzzling.  It was only in the last few years, when I was able to nudge her memory with stories about her family that I was grateful for—and not a little surprised—by her prescience.

She told me about her twin Eddie, who evidently liked to tell on her.  One day he spied her roller skating in the yard of the nearby public school—something they were not allowed to do.  At dinner that night, Eddie told their mother he had seen Agnes skating –and her heart sank.  But just when she assumed he was going to blurt out where he saw her skating, he said, “Mama, you should have seen Aggie!  She was flying like a bird!”

How her eyes lit up in the retelling of that story!

We shared many interests and our days outside the archives took us to museums and botanical gardens.  Two of our favorite haunts were the Morgan Library and the Cloisters.  I like to think we both learned from each other, since we each brought a different perspective to the table.  In the end though, I grew more, and through Agnes, was enriched by a fuller perception of religious life.

Before I close, I would like to thank her faithful and loving aide Ruth, who brought Agnes to see me when I was remiss in getting to the convent as often as I should have.

Agnes, in losing your dear friend Helen, you found some solace in these lines from Prudentius :

“Take her earth, for cherishing; to your tender breast receive her…for once this was a spirit’s dwelling, by the breath of God created.”

You were moved by St. Paul’s reflection on death:

“Eye has not seen, ear has not heard what God has ready for those who love him.”

Like Eddie, we have marveled at you flying like a bird. No: you have soared on wings like eagles. May you now rest in the palm of God’s hand.

I have been blessed by your friendship.

Virginia Dowd
Archivist, Sisters of St Joseph, Brentwood, NY

 

Sister Agnes Eileen Meagher, the former Sister Edward Mariel, died on Decembr 8, 2025 in the 73rd year of her religious life.

 

Sister Agnes Eileen Meagher, the former Sister Edward Mariel, died on Decembr 8, 2025 in the 73rd year of her religious life.