Friday, October 7, 2011

S. Helen Clancey Honored

Sister Helen Clancy is remembered by TMLA Alumnae from the 1970s as the Chairperson of the English Department. She was recently honored by the Sisters of St. Joseph for her many ministries as detailed here.

Sister Helen Clancey entered the Sisters of St. Joseph in the Centenary Year of 1956. After graduating from Brentwood College, her first ministry was teaching at the junior high school level. During this time, she earned an MA in English from Manhattan College. Then at The Mary Louis Academy she served as English teacher, Department Chairperson and Dean. In 1977 she was assigned as Assistant Principal at Our Lady of Perpetual Help HS in Brooklyn.During this period, she also Chaired the committee that rewrote the Constitutions of the Sisters of St. Joseph. Following this, she became an adjunct professor at St. John’s University and, through Mercy College, taught at the New York State men’s correctional facilities. She also performed financial work at a Queens parish.

From 1986-1994, Sister Helen was elected to the Congregation’s Leadership team as a Councilor. During her second term, she was asked to become the Administrator of Maria Regina Convent which was home to ill and retired Sisters. Helen assumed this new responsibility with characteristic enthusiasm and energy. Using her administrative background, she immersed herself in mastering health care, earned her license and began the process of having Maria Regina become a licensed health care facility. During the years of disruption while the facility was renovated to meet with State Department requirements, Helen and her staff continued to provide quality care for the health needs of the Sisters.

By October 2001, the Maria Regina Residence was dedicated as a State Licensed Health Care Facility. Due to Helen’s dedication and leadership, Maria Regina is now a 5 Star facility for recuperants and long term residents. It clearly reflects the unique Certificate of Need issued by the State Department of Health which states that…"Maria Regina is primarily for Sisters of St. Joseph, Sisters and Brothers of other religious congregations, Priests and Lay Persons as there is room." After 20 years as Administrator, Sister Helen resigned in June 2011 because of health concerns. She will be honored for her work in October 2011 by a grateful Congregation.

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