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Sister Catherine (Dolores Julie) McGrath  Email Article To a Friend View Printable Version 

Sr. Catherine McGrath and students
Sr. Catherine McGrath and students
Sr. Catherine McGrath, a Sister of Notre Dame de Namur for 75 years, died in Oakland, California, on October 31, 2009. Born on January 5, 1916 in Everett, Washington, Sr. Catherine grew up in Santa Barbara, California, and entered the Sisters of Notre Dame at Belmont in 1934. Sr. Catherine's life spanned the 20th century but her vision extended far beyond its boundaries.

Sr. Catherine began her ministry as an elementary school teacher in Salinas, CA, in 1937 and taught in South Bay schools until she was appointed to Supervisor of Education for the Archdiocese of San Francisco in 1956. By 1959, she had earned both a B.A. and her first M.A. She was later appointed to Directress of Postulants and Junior Sisters for the Sisters of Notre Dame, always encouraging them to explore and appreciate the great religious thinkers and questions of their time. She then completed a second M.A. in Religious Studies at Catholic University, and pursued post-graduate studies at Notre Dame University, Immaculate Heart College, University of San Francisco, and Georgetown University. 

In 1966, Sr. Catherine became the first women to chair the Theology Department at College of Dame in Belmont where she taught and administered for over 10 years. As Chair, she visited dozens of seminaries and catechetical centers in the United States and Europe, conducting over 100 interviews of major theologians for the purpose of discussing the major theological ideas emerging from Vatican II.  While in Rome in '69, she wrote of the Holy Week experience:

You really have to prepare yourself for a different kind of celebration of Christ's mysteries.  It is the mystery of life itself flowing through so many people who are all different.  You sense this dignity of the human person as you gaze about in the immense throng and see the beauty, the suffering and the character of the faces of the people, peasant and prosperous alike...it is truly a religious experience and it changes you.

A forward-thinking woman, Sr. Catherine anticipated the significant changes ahead for women, both in Church and society. Her own openness influenced the greater community to understand and welcome those changes.

Sr. Catherine remained an avid and engaged reader and thinker.
Sr. Catherine remained an avid and engaged reader and thinker.
In 1976, Sr. Catherine returned to her hometown of Santa Barbara as Director of Religious Education for Our Lady of Sorrows Parish and remained there until her retirement in 1993. For several years, Sister resided with the Holy Names Sisters at their retirement center in Los Gatos. She continued reading, studying, and reflecting on her life experiences. She spent her final few weeks at Mercy Retirement and Care Center in Oakland.

Sr. Catherine is the daughter of the late Clayton James and Gretchen Baatz McGrath, and sister of the late James Merrill McGrath and Thomas Henry (Eleanor) McGrath.  Sr. Catherine is lovingly remembered by her niece, Kathleen McGrath Crabbe, her many other nieces, nephews, and relatives, her countless former students, and by her community, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur.

A Mass celebrating Sr. Catherine's life will be on Friday, November 6, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. at Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur Province Center, 1520 Ralston Avenue in Belmont.

Memorial contributions in honor of Sr. Catherine may be made to the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur.


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Sister Catherine (Dolores Julie) McGrath | 13 comments
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
Kay writes: What a sense of freedom she had, and how wise!
Judy writes: Wow! Sr. Catherine McGrath was such a remarkable person, and what an educator she was! She was always so very supportive of me. I'll never forget her. God bless her forever!
Renee writes: She was a faithful and faith-filled person. Catherine will forever be linked in my experience with wonderful theologians of the time. I am glad she slipped away peacefully. God bless her!
Sr. Liz Tiernan writes: I remember her response to me as a young Sister in the 60's,when I was concerned about whether Religious Life would survive. She said, "That's the wrong question, Liz. A better one might be, 'Does this way of life enable me to serve God in the spirit of Julie for a lifetime? Is God calling ME to this way of life?" Her words continue to be an inspiration to me as I try to be faithful to the vision of Julie - and Catherine McGrath.
Sheryl Sperry writes: I am still teaching in a Catholic school - still talking about Jesus - still asking others to be caring, compassionate people, mainly because of two SNDs: Sr. Adrienne Marie and Sr. Dolores Julie.
Irene Groot writes: May the angels lead her to Paradise.
Ellen Macleod Mahon writes: Rejoice in God's presence, Catherine!

51 years since I met "DJ" as my Mistress of Postulants! Then the
first CA Juniorate at Belmont, and fast forward to living together at
Sequoia Way when I came back from Fordham to teach with her at
CND. In 1984 my husband Jack, now a Deacon, and I met her at
St. Peter's in Rome, and Catherine insisted we visit the Generalate
where she was living. Subsequently we had the joy of catching up
with her in Santa Barbara and Belmont on visits. A lifetime of
memories; a treasure of a faithful woman!
Barbara Snowgrass Earnest writes: When I think of Sister I feel happiness and joy that iI knew her at Saratoga. Her out look on life inspired me to be a better person. Now so many years later I realize I am more opened minded about religion and the many ways there are to do God's will. Thank you Sister!
Linda Edwards writes: When Sr. Dolores Julie was out of California studying, it was through written correspondence with her that I came to appreciate her wisdom and intelligence. There's really no way to calculate the effect that she and others like her have had on who we have become. Odds are, in the case of D.J., the effect has been considerable.
Pat Lewis writes: I remember Sr. Dolores Julie so fondly and all that she taught us. I feel fortunate I was in the novitiate in the early 60's when so much was changing and she personified the changes. What a beautiful woman.
I got back in touch with her about 6 years ago because I wanted to let her know about the impact she had on my life.
I will miss our exchange of Christmas cards.
Shyrl McCormick writes: I like to recall a little story behind the picture of Catherine sitting next to her "jaguar" and reading a book. The photo was taken by a professional photographer we had hired at the time of the 150th Anniversary of the Sisters in California. Catherine was totally "into it" and had determined how she wanted her photos taken. She wanted to be photographed reading because "I have the responsibility to read and keep on learning."

I have always identified with the little kids in the photo of her in the habit. The feelings I identify with are happiness and contentment to be in her presence. That's what it was like to be a postulant soaking up every word!
Carolyn Buhs writes: Catherine was my Mistress of Postulants. I'm very grateful for the way she introduced us to Teilhard de Chardin and his vision of the Noosphere. I continue to be inspired by such vision.
In one of my Home Visits from Kenya, about 1995 when Catherine was living in the Belmont High School Convent, I asked her to give a Mother-Daughter Retreat for my Mother and me and my mother's cousin Barbara and her daughter Diane. It was a grace-filled day of sharing for all five of in the Convent parlor. Thank you, Catherine!!!
Cecili Smith Champion (Sr. Sheila) writes: I've been in Guam now for 35 years. I love living here, except those times I wish I could stand with old friends (and I mean "old" in more than one way) and share all those mixed feelings we have at a time like this. The joy of having known such a person as Catherine. Sorrow that she will not be around the next time I drop in from Guam. Gratitude for her grace-filled life and a peaceful death. She will always be young and energetic and above all hopeful in my memory.