Sister Margaret Kohler

Sister Margaret Kohler

The threads that have intertwined in Sister Margaret Kohler’s life are a desire for a contemplative connection with God, nature and living creatures, and a love of science and its use to heal people in emotional or physical pain. She has been attuned to this insight all her life and sometimes it has led her to choose an untraveled path.

It all began when Margaret was a child in a faith filled family. Awed by the church, its rituals and the stories of saints, young Margaret decided she would become a saint. To do that, she would first become a nun. Meanwhile, she had great interest in learning about nature and her life was enriched by a succession of pets- cats, dogs, a turtle and various fish.

The years passed and Margaret was a high school student at the Academy of St. Joseph where her vocation was strengthened by the example of the Sisters of St. Joseph. One of them invited her to join the community and after attending college for two years. she did.

Margaret followed the usual path teaching the second grade at Holy Child Jesus and middle grades at Sacred Heart in North Merrick. Meanwhile, she was studying science and completed an MS in Biology at Hofstra. Soon she was teaching science at Bishop Kearney H.S. and then at Holy Family H.S. (the present St. Anthony HS). Here the path began to diverge. Margaret became aware of how many of the students needed counseling and an adult listener. Although she was engaged in scientific research having been given a grant by Brookhaven Labs to study the nature of molecules and atoms, she found research solitary and removed from personal contact. Assessing her experiences. she was drawn to clinical psychology.

At CW Post she earned a PD in mental health and became a counselor at St. John Baptist HS. She also worked at North Shore University Hospital doing on site supervision and evaluation. She taught classes at CW Post and was the director of internships. When Hope House Ministries opened, Margaret was asked to be a counselor. Meanwhile she was still studying and by the year 2000, she earned a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. She was then invited to be part of the Religious Consultation Services of Rockville Center Diocese. During this time her ministry among those in psychological and emotional suffering expanded. By 2004, Margaret was a certified psychologist and in private practice. She also became a certified Spiritual Director. Now she was free to help ease psychological suffering as her main focus.
However, Margaret’s love of nature was always part of her life. She was a member of hiking clubs, she learned country line dancing, did horseback riding and cross-country skiing. In a solo cross-country trip, Margaret stayed at monasteries and convents along the way and got a deep sense of how religious life was being lived. In addition, it was a time when she could adopt a cat! The dog was yet to come.

The years that followed showed Margaret actively involved in the ministry of healing. Now retired, Margaret is still offering her compassion and skills to people in helping to heal minds and hearts. Yet she also sees this as a time to unify her life in a deeper contemplative style. She lives quietly in her home with her cat and enjoys contemplating the beauty of her natural surroundings.

Always expanding her boundaries, she is taking courses in German and learning to play the piano. And, of course, she is observing and learning from the behavior and personalities of the cherished cats and dogs with whom she has shared her home. After taking a poetry class, Margaret has written some poems capturing her experience of wonder at God’s reflection in natural things.

Margaret’s path has been multifaceted but her view is that she always has tried to follow what has been clear within her. She has done what she has felt called to do.
Life with all its senses
Rejoices in the resurrected sun.
What hope.
What love.
What a miracle.