Maryknoll missioner to PH for over 50 years dies at 87

Sister Mary Clare Henry, 1927-2015

MARYKNOLL, New York — Sister Mary Clare Henry, MM, missioner to the Philippines for 54 years, died May 1, at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Ossining, New York. She was 87 years old.

Born in Weehawken, New Jersey, on September 5, 1927, to William G. and Anna Marie Weiss Henry, Sister Mary Clare entered Maryknoll at its motherhouse in Ossining, NY, in 1950 from St. Augustine’s Parish, Union City, NJ, and made her final vows on March 7, 1959, in Manila, Philippines.

A 1945 graduate of St. Michael’s High School, Union City, Sister Mary Clare also held a B.A. in social science, with a minor in education from Notre Dame College, Staten Island, NY.   She also studied at Newark Teachers College in 1949 and Maryknoll Seminary in 1979.

Sister Mary Clare began her service in the Philippines with a year’s language study in Manila. She then taught English and religion in Lipa from 1954-1956, in Pakil (where she also served as regional assistant superior in 1960 and superior in 1962) from 1956-1965, in Lucena from 1965-1968, and Cateel from 1968-1971.   She then taught religion and served as a supervisor for San Francisco del Monte High School, a public high school in Malabon from 1971-1972, followed by nearly eight months in congregational service, assisting in housekeeping and with light repairs at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Ossining.

Sister Mary Clare returned to the Philippines in 1976, working as a CCD coordinator in Malabon until 1979, then in Quezon City until 1983. She then did pastoral work at San Isidreo Parish in Nuro, Upi, Mazuindanao, from 1985-1989.

From 1989-1993, Sister Mary Clare worked again at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, this time serving as administrator and business coordinator for Maryknoll Mission Institute, as well as speaking about the work of Maryknoll Sisters at local parishes in 1992.

Following a period of ministry to her family, Sister Mary Clare returned once more to the Philippines, where she did pastoral work, volunteered with the National Vocational Rehabilitation Center’s literacy program, provided hospitality to those visiting the regional house, and tutored from 1998-2004. She then taught English to several Sisters from Asia from 2004-2010. She retired in 2011, residing at the Maryknoll Sisters Center until her death.

A vespers service will be held for Sister Mary Clare on Tuesday, May 5, 2015 at 4:15 p.m. in the Chapel of the Annunciation at the Maryknoll Sisters Center at Maryknoll, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow on Wednesday, May 6, 2015 at 11 a.m. in the same location. Interment will be in the Maryknoll Sisters Cemetery on the Center grounds.