Sister Charlotte Emmons, RSM



This story was originally published in April 2006.

I was born and grew up in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and from an early age I remember seeing the Sisters of Mercy (in those impressive habits we all loved!) at Sunday Mass, strolling on the boardwalk or just walking around town.

My first association with the wonderful Sisters began on my first day at St. Nicholas Grammar School, where I was greeted by Sister M. Charitina, along with Sisters Mary William, Clementine, Benita, and Casimir.  They challenged me to be the best I could be! 

Following graduation, I went on to Holy Spirit High School, where I met another group of Sisters of Mercy.  There were the famous Sisters Mary Jane and Mary Leo, who made us toe the line, balanced by Sisters Mary Assunta, Francine, Ignatius, Vincent and Nora.  My years at Holy Spirit High School were memorable because of these outstanding Sisters!

It was during my junior year that I was nudged by God to come and follow Him.  When I told my parents about my vocation, they were surprised, but happy and proud.  I asked Sister M. Rosarita to help me write my letter and to accompany me when I went for my interview.  After graduation, I entered the Sisters of Mercy, along with nineteen others.

My Reception Day was memorable, but my father made it even more so.  My mother had always been a devout Catholic, and she made sure that we all had a good Catholic upbringing.  My father, although supportive and involved in our faith, was not a Catholic.

On Reception Day my father told me that he had been baptized and received his first Holy Communion.  A few weeks later he wrote to tell me his reason: “I had to know the God my daughter was called to serve.”  An interesting fact is that I chose to take my father’s name “Alfred” as my religious name.

With Sister Marie Jeanne and our saintly Mother M. Aloysia guiding our steps, the novitiate made us what we are today.  They took us from being girls to young Sisters, ready to follow in the footsteps of Mother Catherine McAuley.  Through the trials and tribulations, I can still hear Sister Marie Jeanne say, “If you can’t obey the rules, go down the hill and your trunk will follow!”

My teaching career began at St. Mary’s in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, followed by Sacred Heart, South Plainfield, New Jersey; St. John’s, Lambertville, New Jersey; Holy Spirit, Perth Amboy, New Jersey; St. Catherine’s, Middletown, New Jersey; St. Dominic’s, Brick, New Jersey, and St. Agnes, Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey—all in what seems like a blink of an eye, but actually spanned 51 years!

Through those years I did spend six years as a principal, but I was happiest teaching first graders.  When Sister M. Redempta in St. John’s in Lambertville asked me to teach this grade level, I said that I didn’t think I could do it.  Her reply was, “Sister, whatever you accept in obedience, God will bless.”   Needless to say, I loved every moment I spent with my little ones!

As much as I wanted to stay in the classroom, I began to have back trouble that caused severe pain in my lower back and legs. Standing and walking for long periods of time became unbearable.  The time came to make a decision.  After much prayer, I requested and received permission to live with my sister in Maryland.  Shortly after moving to Maryland, I had surgery to correct my back problems, and I am now doing well.

My sister’s mobility has been curtailed in recent years, so I am now able to take her to her doctors’ appointments. In addition, I am a member of the Board of Trustees of the School of the Incarnation, and I am a Eucharistic Minister and Lector at both St. Joseph’s and Our Lady of Fields Churches here in Maryland.  I meet on a regular basis with Sisters of Mercy, especially with Sisters Pat Kenny and Katie Mindling, to focus on issues of concern to all of us.  I also keep in touch with Sisters Marie Keating and Anne Powers.

In case I thought I might miss teaching, I am providing after-school care and tutoring to my great grandniece and nephew.  I am the spiritual guide for four generations of my family, ranging in age from two months to eighty years.

All of my life, I have prayed that I might live and teach as Jesus did, serving human needs and using the gifts that God has given me with much love and “tender courage.”  I hope that I have achieved these goals!

If you would like to talk further with Sister Charlotte about her life and ministry, you may contact her at: sistercharlotte2@aol.com