Sister Joan Roccasalvo, CSJ

Joan, born October 21, 1935, was the beloved first born of Lucie and Michael Roccasalvo. The family of three, from Saint Mark’s Parish Brooklyn, expanded when Joan’s twin brothers Michael and Joseph were born five years later. All three were drawn to religious life, Joan to Brentwood and her brothers to the Jesuits. Those vocations were no doubt nourished by their parents who generously surrendered all their children to the service of the church!

I have known Joan for almost 62 years. I first met her in 1963 when I was in 7th grade. She appeared very unexpectedly one February morning to teach the 6th grade. Overnight, out went S. Bryan Joseph – no one knew why or where — and there in the schoolyard in front of a neatly lined-up class of 6th grade girls, stood Sister Regina Consuelo. The whole girl’s schoolyard was staring at this larger-than-life presence, nervously wondering who she was and what she was like! Fears dissipated in no time. Joan was not only a hit with her 6th grade class but with the whole school – all 1800 boys and girls who were captivated by the talent, energy, humor, and enthusiasm she brought into our music program and our twice-weekly choir practices! Few realized that she had us singing Palestrina and Cherubini and listening to Bach and Mozart which she played effortlessly on the church organ! Joan’s goal was not to turn us into classical music afficionados but to allow us, through the beauty of music, to experience the transcendent and so we did. After just two years, Joan moved on from Holy Name and elementary education. The community wanted her to study and make the most of her God-given talents.

Thus began a remarkable academic career of study and notable achievement. It is no exaggeration to say that Joan Roccasalvo has more advanced degrees than any other Sister of Saint Joseph. She completed an MA in Musicology at New York University, followed by advanced studies in Music at the Villa Schifanoia, Graduate School of Fine Arts in Florence, Italy, and, in 1981, a PhD in Musicology at the Catholic University of America, where she completed a ground-breaking study on the plain chant traditions used in the liturgies of eastern Slavic peoples.

Over the years, Joan’s interest in music intersected more and more with her interest in liturgy and theology for which she had no formal training. So, in addition to her music degrees, Joan completed an MA in Eastern Christian Studies from the University of Scranton, an MA in Theology from Seton Hall University, a Licentiate in Philosophy from Drew University, and then another PhD in Liturgical Studies in 1998 also from Drew University. Joan as you can see was not one for half measures!

You would think someone with all those degrees would have time for little else but books and manuscripts –but not Joan. She taught undergrads at the University of Scranton, was an assistant Campus Minister there and for more than 20 years was the Coordinator of the University’s Center for Eastern Christian Studies, where she promoted dialogue between the eastern and western churches. She was a spiritual director and offered retreats to many based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. She was a prolific author, having published five books, and over 30 scholarly articles and reviews. She loved visiting our Sisters in Maria Regina and did a number of piano concerts for them. Though living at a distance, she offered her services to our Liturgy Committee on many occasions. She was also a good cook!!!
After returning to NY, Joan taught at Fordham for a while before retiring to continue research and writing about what she loved: Beauty– in all its manifestations: music, liturgy, spirituality, art, and architecture.

Joan was as complicated and intense as she was talented and funny. I went to visit her in spring of 1970 to tell I her I would be entering that fall. All the while we sat there and talked, I did not know that Joan, an important nurturer of my vocation, had just asked for exclaustration after 16 years in the community. She never mentioned her own doubts and struggles with life in the community but encouraged me to pray and stay out of trouble! Over the years, she always checked on me and encouraged me in all my endeavors! I will be forever grateful to her for that support.

In her two years separated from the community, which included a 30-day directed retreat, Joan grew to believe and accept that she belonged here as a Sister of Saint Joseph. We are all grateful that she came back with all the zest, enthusiasm, talent, and intellectual curiosity with which she first came to the congregation.

Though Joan became less mobile as she aged, she never really slowed down, but continued to write, express her views, and participate with vigor and conviction in community forums. She was never afraid to say what she believed. She was indefatigable in the pursuit of God, the source and summit of beauty, whom she loved above all things.

In her last days and hours, Joan suffered terribly. Now she is at peace, united with her parents, her brother Michael, all her deceased relatives, friends, and members of the Congregation. Before she saw in a mirror dimly, now she sees God face to face, enjoying the eternal life promised to all those in Christ who have fought the good fight and kept the faith. She did that and so much more! So to our Sister Joan we now say, “Well done, good and faithful servant, … Enter into the joy of your lord.”
Sister Maria Pascuzzi

Sister Joan Roccasalvo, the former Sister Regina Consuelo, died on December 18, 2024 in the 71st year of her religious life.