Lest We Forget
Sister Damien Martin, CSJP (1917-2008)
Rita Ann Martin, our Sister Damien, was born in Paterson, New Jersey on October 17, 1917, the oldest child of Harold and Blanche Martin. Three boys subsequently joined the family. Sadly, her mother, Blanche, died in childbirth when Rita was only 10 years old, and two of the boys died in infancy; Rita and her brother Stephen were then cared for by their loving grandparents.
On the occasion of her 60th Jubilee, Damien reflected: “The Sisters of St. Joseph of
Peace appealed to me as I read about their varied ministries in the magazine, St. Joseph Messenger and Advocate of the Blind. This magazine came into our home for many years and had always been a source of inspiration. It eventually helped me, with God’s guidance and prayer, to make my decision in applying for admission into this Congregation.” She entered St. Michael’s Novitiate on February 1, 1936, when she was 19 years old.
After completing the Novitiate, Sr. Damien was assigned to Holy Name Hospital,
initially in the diet kitchen, and then to the School of Nursing. After completing one year at the school, she was missioned to St. Joseph Home, Jersey City, to serve as Infirmarian for the children. She later served as Infirmarian at St. Joseph Boys Home, here in Englewood Cliffs, and at the Barbara Givernaud Orphanage, North Bergen.
1949 brought a new type of ministry, described by Damien as “my greatest joy”, as for the next 30 years she served as Correspondence Minister at St. Joseph Magazine Office, in Jersey City, communicating with members of the Pious Union of Prayer to offer encouragement, support and prayer at times of crisis or concern.
Due to health limitations, Sr. Damien moved to St. Michael’s Villa in 1979, and served at the switchboard part-time for the next 8 years. Then, responding to an invitation of Sr. Dorothy O’Donnell, she enjoyed a 6-month sojourn in St. Petersburg, Florida, but Because of her failing health, she returned to St. Michael’s Villa, to full retirement in 1988.
Sr. Damien quietly celebrated 70 years as a Sister of St. Joseph of Peace in 2006. I came across the toast made at her Jubilee 10 years earlier, and I share it with you today: Sr. Damien, we toast your faithfulness, listening heart, vision and struggle,
peacemaking and service, compassion and commitment; challenge and joy;
limitations; gracefulness; presence and availability; love for all people; openness and love for the earth, and for being one of us. Bless you, Damien, rest in peace.
Sr. Margaret Jane Kling, csjp