Berrigan, Elizabeth

• Betty Berrigan
• Sister Elizabeth Berrigan
• Sister Betty Berrigan
• Sister Mary of Lourdes Berrigan
• Mary of Lourdes Berrigan

Elizabeth "Betty" Berrigan was the daughter of M. J. Berrigan and Viola Sullivan, both of Chichester, Quebec. Her siblings were Eleta Crook, Joanne O'Gorman, Brian, and Michael. She was born in Timmins, Ontario on December 14, 1934. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Pembroke in 1953, had her reception in 1954, and professed first vows in 1956 and final vows in 1959. She received the religious name of Sister Mary of Lourdes.

Sister Mary of Lourdes attended Teachers' College in Ottawa, Ontario from 1958-1959. She achieved her Royal Conservatory of Music Grade 9 piano certificate in 1963 and completed two courses in classroom singing between 1960-1961. In 1969, she earned her BA from the University of Ottawa, and in 1976, her MA from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA in 1977.

From 1957-1958, Sister Mary of Lourdes taught in Pembroke, Ontario, and then from 1957-1958, in Sheenboro, Quebec. Returning to Pembroke, she taught there from 1959-1960, and then moved to Barry's Bay, Ontario to teach from 1960-1961. She relocated to Mount St. Patrick, where she taught from 1961-1963. Following this, she taught in Renfrew, Ontario from 1963-1965. She served as superior in Ottawa from 1966-1969, while a student. She then served as mistress of novices and formation director with the community in Pembroke from 1969-1970, and as formation director in Ottawa from 1971-1973, returning to Pembroke where she resumed her work as formation director from 1976-1979. Moving to Deep River, Ontario, she carried on this work from 1979-1981, and then served as formation director in El Carmen, Peru from 1981-1984. Returning to Pembroke, she was the assistant general superior in 1985, and then was elected general superior, a position she held from 1985-1997. She served as vice president of the Canadian Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Canada from 1987-1989, and then as president from 1989-1991. Beginning in 1998, she became the director of the Stillpoint House of Prayer in Springtown, Ontario, a position she held until 2019.

Sister Elizabeth was proud of her work as a member of the Canadian Medaille Team from 1976-1979. In 2020, Sister Elizabeth retired to Supples Landing Retirement Home in Pembroke after the Motherhouse was sold.

Sister Elizabeth was a great supporter of the fiddle contest in Pembroke. Anyone who met her was captivated by her soft, compassionate voice and her concern for the environment. She lived her life being faithful and open to meeting Christ in all those she encountered.

She passed away suddenly as a result of an accident on March 5th, 2020.

Barry's Bay, Ontario
Mount St. Patrick, Ontario
Ottawa, Ontario
Pembroke, Ontario
Renfrew, Ontario
Springtown, Ontario
Timmins, Ontario
Sheenboro, Quebec
Pittsburgh, PA
Peru

Teacher
Mistress of Novices
Formation Director
General Superior
Assistant General Superior
Vice President of the Canadian Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Canada
President of the Canadian Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Canada
Director of Stillpoint House of Prayer
Member of the Canadian Medaille Team