Submitted by: Dan Rich

Sr. M. Madonna Murphy CSC

Dec. 1, 1916 - Feb. 13, 2001

South Bend Tribune 4/6/2001

Sister M. Madonna (Colleen Agnes Murphy), CSC, 84, was born in Bridgeport, Conn., on Dec. 1, 1916, a daughter of Michael E. Murphy and Ellen (Nellie) Anderson Murphy. Sister died on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2001. She is survived by nephews, Michael Lane and John A. Murphy Jr.

Sister M. Madonna entered the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Cross on Aug. 1, 1944. She made first vows on Feb. 2, 1947. Before entering the congregation, Sister won a scholarship for and graduated cum laude from Albertus Magnus College, New Haven, Conn., with a bachelor of arts degree, major in French, minor in Italian and German in 1937. She received a four-year fellowship and attended Yale University, New Haven, in 1942, receiving her master of arts degree in French. Sister continued at Yale, receiving her Ph.D. in 1944 in romance languages. Also, 1940-1943, Sister was an instructor in French at Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame, Ind.

Sister Madonna was missioned to Dunbarton College of Holy Cross, Washington, D.C., in 1946. Over the 12 1/2 years spent at Dunbarton College, Sister Madonna not only taught French but was named dean of studies and head of the French Department. She was also responsible for the translation, from the French, of a number of books. In 1961, Mother M. Constantine, provincial superior, wrote Sister Madonna to tell her that she was named president of Cardinal Cushing College, Brookline, Mass. She held this position until 1971 when she became the director of the Rome Program for Saint Mary's College, Rome, Italy. Sister was missioned to Boston University, 1974, to be assistant vice president of academic affairs. She was elevated to assistant provost and director of equal opportunity, and remained in that position until she retired in 1982.

After a sabbatical, Sister Madonna was a special assistant to Archbishop Bernard Law, Boston, 1984 through 1993. In July 1986 she was president of the Cambridge Center for the Study of Faith & Culture which Bernard Cardinal Law supported. During this time Sister became acquainted with Rev. Francis George, OMI, (now Francis Cardinal George, OMI, of Chicago, Ill.). She retired to Saint Angela Hall, Kensington, Md., 1993, and continued in part-time ministry when the Cambridge Center relocated to Catholic University, Washington, D.C.

Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame, conferred an honorary degree upon Sister Madonna in 1995. When Angela Hall was closed for renovation in 1999, Sister Madonna moved to the Academy of the Holy Cross, Kensington, until September 2000, when she came to Saint Mary's Convent for nursing and medical care. She participated in the ministry of prayer until her death. Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of the Holy Cross Ministry with the Poor Fund, Saint Mary's, Notre Dame, IN 46556.

Wake services will be at 7 p.m. today, Feb. 15, in the Church of Our Lady of Loretto, Saint Mary's, Notre Dame. Funeral Mass will be in the Church of Our Lady of Loretto, Saint Mary's, at 12 noon on Friday, Feb. 16, followed by interment at Our Lady of Peace Cemetery, Saint Mary's, Notre Dame.

The Kaniewski Funeral Home is handling arrangements.