Sister Mary Richard Di Giacomo, CSJ

Sister Mary Richard Di Giacomo, CSJ died on February 4, 2014 in the 75th year of her religious life.

We come to remember and celebrate the life of Sister Mary Richard DiGiacomo, in her seventy fifth year as a Sister of St. Joseph. As Sisters of St. Joseph, we believe in the power and presence of a loving God working through an evolving universe. In today’s first reading we hear Isaiah remind us that Mary Richard as all of us are precious to God the creator, source of all life and love. We are intimately connected and one with all of creation.

 Phyllis Marie Di Giacomo entered the congregation on September 8, 1940 and at Reception she received the name Sister Mary Richard.

 Sister Mary Richard shared in the life of a loving family where music played an integral role. Mary Richard shared in her father’s love of music and his generous gifts of a number of pianos to the congregation. After earning her BS in Music Education Nazareth College Rochester, NY, she went on to earn an MS Music Education at Duquesne University and Certification in Music from NY State. She

developed her God-given gifts and shared them with students at the Academy of Saint Joseph in Brentwood and at Bishop Kearney High School.

As Sisters of Saint Joseph we are called to do whatever needs to be done using our gifts to bring about God’s reign in this time in history. We do it in a spirit of gentleness peace and joy. Today’s daily reading from Sirach reminds us of how David “set singers before the altar and by their voices he made sweet melodies, he added beauty to the feasts and solemnized the seasons of each year so that when the Holy Name was praised, before daybreak the sanctuary would resound.”  Mary Richard added beauty and offered praise to God by playing the organ in our Motherhouse Chapel and leading many children’s and adult choirs. Many lives were touched to reverence our loving God with music and song that resounded through schools and parishes.

We thank God for Mary Richard’s love, dedication, generous service and her endearing smile..