Sister Lewandowski, who taught in Archdiocese of Baltimore for 43 years, dies at 84

A funeral Mass will be offered May 6 for Sister of St. Francis of Philadelphia Mary Catherine Lewandowski. Formerly Sister Anne Christi, she died April 30 at age 84.

Sister Mary Catherine, a native of Baltimore, taught in the Archdiocese of Baltimore for 43 years and was principal of her alma mater, The Catholic High School of Baltimore. She had been a professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for 63 years.

Growing up, Sister Mary Catherine was a member of St. Clare Parish, Essex. 

She entered the congregation in 1959 and professed her first vows in 1962. Sister Mary Catherine earned undergraduate degrees in English and biology from Neumann University (Pa.). She also earned a master’s in education from Towson University. 

She ministered primarily in education and, in later years, in parish ministry, serving in the Baltimore area at Immaculate Conception School in Towson (1973-75), Our Lady of Mount Carmel School in Essex (1977-82) and Catholic High School in Baltimore (1982-89 as principal). In later years, she returned to Catholic High as a volunteer (2010-15). 

Sister Mary Catherine’s work in parish ministry included serving as a pastoral associate at the Church of the Ascension in Halethorpe and as an office assistant at St. Dominic Church in Baltimore.

Elsewhere, she ministered in Philadelphia and Aston, Pa.

All services will be held in Assisi House, 600 Red Hill Road, Aston, Pa., 19014, May 6, and will be livestreamed, beginning at 9:30 a.m.

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