Born Feb. 19, 1929, in White Plains, New York, to Patrick James and Mary Agnes McGuinn Boland she grew up in Brooklyn, New York and graduated from St. Rose of Lima School, Brooklyn, in 1943, and St. Brendan Diocesan High School, Brooklyn, in 1947.
She entered Maryknoll Sisters Congregation at the Venard, Scranton, Pennsylvania, from St. Therese of Lisieux Parish, Brooklyn, Sept. 4, 1948, and was given the religious name Sister M. Margaret Alacoque. She made her first profession of vows March 7, 1951, and her final vows March 7, 1954, both at the Motherhouse in Ossining.
Following formation, she enrolled at Maryknoll Teachers College, and graduated with a bachelor’s in education in 1954. She worked in Panama, Mexico and the United States in various positions as assistant principal, English instructor, math instructor and religion coordinator.
Following completion of a master’s degree in education at St. John’s University, Jamaica, New York, in 1972, she served as a graduate student representative on the faculty council of the University’s School of Education, while completing studies for a professional diploma in educational administration and supervision at the school. She received that diploma in 1974.
She then worked at Lincoln Hall, Lincolndale, New York, from 1974-1977; fourth grade at a public school in New Hampshire from 1977-1980, and in Sept. 1980, she was appointed principal of the Main Street Public School, Exeter, New Hampshire. She was then sent to Washington, D.C. where she worked as assistant director of Rachael’s Women’s Center from 1984-1986, and moved to Albany in 1986 to work as director of the U.S. Catholic Conference’s Refugee Resettlement Program until 1990.
Sister Pat also served as a pastoral volunteer at St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Albany.
A vespers service was held June 22 in the Chapel of the Annunciation at the Maryknoll Sisters Center at Maryknoll, New York. A mass of Christian burial followed on Tuesday, June 23. Interment took place in the Maryknoll Sisters Cemetery on the center grounds.
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