Mary T. Burns, CP - Pastoral Associate - Religious Education
Sr. Mary Burns has been a coordinator of religious education at St. Lucy since 1986.
Sr.
Mary was born Mary Theresa Burns to Anna and Joseph Burns. She had two sisters -
Helen and Joanne. She grew up in Providence, attending parish elementary school
and St. Xavier High School. She was taught by the Passionist nuns in elementary
school and decided after high school to enter the order. There she received her
BA from the Catholic Teachers College in West Hartford, CT. Since then she has
earned two Master of Arts degrees - MA in elementary administration at Rhode
Island College and MA in pastoral counseling from Assumption College in
Worcester.
Before coming to St. Lucy Sr. Mary taught elementary school and acted as a principal. She also served as a Regional Superior (as well as other leadership positions) in her order, traveling to South America and Europe in the position.
At St. Lucy Sr. Mary was responsible for introducing the Family Time program. "It was started out of frustration," she says. Frustration that many parents weren’t really involved in their children’s religious education program. The optional Family Time program requires a parent to come with the student. The Family Time program still commands a good deal of her attention - along with the conventional Religious Education programs.
Outside of work Sr. Mary enjoys reading, the theater ("When I have the chance to get there!" she says), walking, and traveling.