Sister Margaret Stinson, CSJ

(Sister Martha Mary)

We Remember her in the opening of the buds and in the rebirth of spring.

May 8, 1929 – May 29, 2026

In the 79th year of her Religious Life.

Entered: September 8, 1947

How do you sum up 97 years of life, almost 80 years of dedication to religious life, a wonderfully energetic personality, a faith-filled minister to others…. in 5 minutes?

Sister Margaret, Marge, Margy, Stinson was born in Lynn on May 8, 1929 to Harry and Margaret Stinson. She was the fourth of 11 children in a loving, Catholic family. After attending St. John School in Swampscott and St. Mary’s High School in Lynn, Marge knew that she wanted to be a teacher and decided to go to the “best” school for that preparation, Salem State College. But the call to religious life was too strong, and she followed her sister Helen and entered the Sisters of St. Joseph in September of 1947. There she met a dear friend, Claire Blake, with whom she has shared a wonderful, life-long friendship. Later, she developed a long-term friendship with Sister Anne D’Arcy.

Sister Marge’s early days in ministry involved teaching in elementary schools. She taught first grade at St. Theresa’s in West Roxbury, where she was one of the sisters who slept on the top floor of the school until the convent was built. In those days, many parents wanted their children to have the “pretty one” in class. Then she went to a favorite city, Lynn, where she had her nephew, Kevin, in the 2nd grade. While teaching in other elementary schools, Marge studied for her master’s degree in religious education and Pastoral Ministry at Boston College. She was among the first in our Archdiocese to embark on a new career as a Pastoral Associate, often involving the role of Director of Religious Education. The lives of the parishioners at St. Columbkille, Brighton, St. Matthias, Marlboro, St. Anselm, Sudbury, and St. Ann, Somerville were enriched by her dynamic, faith-filled presence. For a brief time, she was also Director of the After School Program at Aquinas College.

Sister Marge was dedicated to the parishioners – to their prayer life, to community worship, and to faith development. Her work involving RCIA and Field Education with seminarians was fulfilling and challenging. Whether in ministry or community, Marge brought a listening presence because she always wanted to know what was going on in your life. Many Sisters shared that she was a kind and thoughtful member of her local communities.

Marge’s family was so important to her. She and her sister Dorothy travelled almost every Saturday to Lynn to visit family. Then there were trips to New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Seabright, New Jersey, for family gatherings, holiday celebrations, and vacations with different family members. How they all loved these get-togethers!! And let’s not forget the cards that came for every occasion. Birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, and holidays. The Thanksgiving card even included a special prayer for the Thanksgiving Dinner. In earlier days, when you were twelve years old, a stick of gum was included. But if you received a card this May, you might have noticed the change in handwriting, a change in the Palmer Method. Mary Margaret was the writer, but Marge was still behind the words.

Marge’s later years were full of life, of ministry, of service to others. In her words, “After twenty-seven years of teaching and twenty-seven years as Director of Religious Education and Parish Ministry, I retired.” But what did retirement mean? When Sister Carlotta mentioned the need for Volunteers at Boston Children’s Hospital, a new world opened for Marge. She was Eucharistic Minister to the children and their parents and also a caring presence in the Neurological Unit. As she said, “It was simple, but so beautiful for me.” At that time, Marge was living at Holy Name Convent. She became very involved with the ministries of the parish – funeral ministry, Eucharistic Ministry, and visiting the homebound. More recently, her days in Bethany were filled as she participated in everything that was happening.

Behind the woman of ministry was a deeply spiritual woman. Eastern Point Retreat Center in Gloucester was a favorite spot. It was her opportunity to recharge her personal relationship with God in order to more deeply and personally enrich the lives of others.

Four years ago, Sister Marge celebrated 75 years of religious life, with deep and profound gratitude for her God and for the ways that God led her in her personal, family, community and ministerial life. Today, we thank Marge for the ways that she shared our CSJ Charism with others.

Thank you, Marge, for believing and living so completely Jesus’ words from our Gospel Reading, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.”

Mary Ellen O’Connell, CSJ

May 29, 2026