Sister Amadeus McKenna, OP, also known as Sister Amy, formerly, Brigid Mary McKenna, a member of the Sisters of Saint Dominic of Blauvelt, for the past 71 years, entered eternal life on January 27, 2024, in Saint Martin de Porres Community. Sister Amadeus was 87.

 

Sister Amadeus was born in New York City to Michael and Margaret Callaghan McKenna on February 2, 1936. She entered the Sisters of Saint Dominic on September 10, 1953, from Saint Pius Parish, The Bronx. She received the Dominican Habit on July 5, 1954, professed her first vows on July 6, 1955, and her final vows on July 6, 1958.

 

Sister Amadeus’s many years in ministry were in education, administration, counseling, and parish ministry. Sister taught at Our Lady of the Rosary School in Yonkers and Saint Charles School, Staten Island. She was the principal at Saint Mary Star of the Sea School in City Island and Holy Spirit School, The Bronx. She also served as a guidance counselor at Saint Raymond Academy for Girls, in the Bronx and was motherhouse administrator at Saint Dominic’s Convent in Blauvelt. Sister also served in parish ministry at Saint Emeric Parish, Manhattan; Saint Peter Parish, Yonkers; Saint Francis Xavier Parish, Manhattan; Saint Philip Neri Parish, The Bronx; and Saint John Parish, The Bronx. Her final years in parish ministry were at Saint Gabriel Parish in The Bronx. Sister Amadeus returned to Blauvelt in 2022.

 

In addition to her religious congregation, Sister Amadeus is survived by her brother Gerard, her nieces Peggy Dunne and Jennifer Stewart, her nephews, David and Gregory Leahy and Marshall and Daniel McKenna, many grandnieces and grandnephews, and two great grandnephews. Sister was predeceased by her parents, Michael and Margaret McKenna, her nephew, Stephen Leahy, and her grandnephew, Kieran Dunne.