A beautiful spring day in Brooklyn allowed students, faculty and staff to gather outside with Sister Mary Florence Burns ’46 to celebrate her 100th birthday.
S. Mary Florence waves to her well-wishers outside the Dillon Center.
The event, held on April 23 at St. Joseph’s University, New York, included a prayer and blessing for S. Mary Florence—someone who has had an impact on thousands across the St. Joseph’s community since her arrival on campus as a St. Joseph’s College student in the 1940s. Not only an alumna, S. Mary Florence has been a professor, administrator and guiding light committed to academic excellence and the University’s mission for decades.
S. Mary Florence is presented with her wreath.
During the celebration, S. Marie Mackey ‘84, director of campus ministry, spoke about S. Mary Florence’s impact on the University, as well as the impact she had on her own life. Father Juan Luxama, campus ministry assistant, provided a blessing for S. Mary Florence.
In addition, S. Mary Florence was presented with a wreath decorated with flowers and tags noting the 100 acts of kindness the SJNY community undertook in her honor. The project—designed to showcase the ripple effect of her impact—was spearheaded by the Office of Student Involvement, Leadership and Intercultural Engagement and the Office of Institutional Advancement. Submissions included Linda Mazzone Crotta ’79, who was volunteering at a food pantry in North Branford, CT; Regina Cirigliano-Kieran ’94, whose family created cards for Meals on Wheels that were delivered to meal recipients; Dr. Gail Lamberta, ‘82 associate dean, community development, who volunteered at a Huntington Station clean-up effort; and recitation of the Rosary for Sister Mary Florence’s intentions by Mary Macchiarola ’62, to name just a few of the acts of kindness noted on the wreath and submitted to the University.
S. Marie Mackey and . Father Juan Luxama offer a prayer and blessing.
Preschoolers from the Dillon Center also came out to celebrate, and treated S. Mary Florence to a second round of the happy birthday song.
