Sr. Margaret Mary McCabe, DW, Sr. Patrick Margaret of Our Lady, 87, 6/22/35 - 3/23/23.
Sr. Margaret Mary McCabe, DW, Sr. Patrick Margaret of Our Lady, 87, 6/22/35 - 3/23/23.
Born to the late Patrick and Margaret (Farrell) McCabe, sister was predeceased by her brothers, James (Linda) McCabe and Patrick (Mary Ann) McCabe. She is survived by her brother John (Diana) McCabe, and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.
Sister attended Our Lady of Wisdom Academy in Ozone Park, NY, in 1953, and after graduating, entered the Daughters of Wisdom novitiate in Litchfield, Connecticut, at 18 years old. She made her First Profession of Vows as a Daughter of Wisdom on February 2, 1955, entering from the parish of St. Kevin in Flushing, NY, and taking the religious name of Sr. Patrick Margaret of Our Lady. She made her Final Vows on February 2, 1960, embarking on a lifetime of service to God and others.
After her profession, she went to Maryview Hospital School of Nursing in Portsmouth, VA, from 1955 to 1958, receiving her license as a Registered Nurse. She earned her bachelor of science degree in nursing at Catholic University in Washington, DC, in 1966. She later received certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner from the Medical College of Virginia in 1977. Sister also attended Mundelein College for Religious Studies (1972-1974).
Sr. Margaret's service as a nurse and public health professional spanned decades, and she cared for countless people with compassion and dedication. She began as a student at Maryview Hospital in 1955 and later served as Supervisor (1966 to 1968) and Head Nurse (1966 until 1974). In 1974, she started a position as a Public Health Nurse for the Department of Health in Norfolk, Virginia. She also served as a Family Nurse Practitioner for Norfolk Health Department from 1977 until retirement. At the end of her nursing career with the Health Department, she was the primary health care provider at an inner city school-based health center in Norfolk, VA.
After retiring from Nursing in 2017, Sr. Margaret became a full-time volunteer and increased her participation in local groups advocating for the environment, social justice, and peace. For over 30 years, she was a member of grassroots groups such as the Tidewater Sowers of Justice where she served as coordinator of the Women's Issues Community, the Virginia Interfaith Center, the Interfaith Empowerment Project, the South Hampton Roads Social Justice University Education where she help to plan and organize programs, Virginia Organizing, St. Nicholas Parish Justice Committee, League of Women Voters, Network, the Virginia Interfaith Council for Public Policy and the Legislative Collaborative Table. Sister also served in parish funeral ministry and at a Soup Kitchen for the homeless. Sister was a coordinator and member of the Daughters of Wisdom, JPIC (Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation) commission. She will long be remembered for her tenacious spirit and energy as an educator, speaker, panelist, organizer, and participant in a demonstration, peaceful protest, prayer breakfast, or evening vigil. Beyond that, she will be remembered as a Sister first, who took her vows as a Daughter of Wisdom deep into her heart and began every mission with a prayer. She held sacred her commitment to follow the example of Marie Louise and Montfort and to face the challenges of the day selflessly in the fight for equality for all, in any way, shape, or fashion that it demanded. As a part of that effort, Sister endorsed Wisdom Mission Grants for grassroots organizations such as Virginians For Alternatives to the Death Penalty and the Interspiritual Empowerment Project, which engage in social and environmental justice legislation.
When asked why she became involved in working for justice, Sr. Margaret said, "As Daughters of Wisdom, our mission has been to help the poor and marginalized of society through teaching, social work, and nursing. In seeing the plight of others' lives, we became aware that the message Jesus proclaimed not only called for change in individual hearts but also demanded sweeping and comprehensive change in the political, social, and economic structures so that all people may live lives free of hunger, poverty, and insecurity. It is not a religious practice, memorization of the scriptures, or even faithful attendance at church or temple by which our lives are judged. It is simply this: whether we have tried to relieve the plight of the hungry and dispossessed and those stripped of their freedom, whether we have tried to change this war-torn world to one free from oppression and exploitation so that all God's children might have life more abundantly --- "what you have done to the least of my brethren, you have done to me." The work of justice cannot be accomplished alone; it is a collaborative effort, not an individual quest. We join hands with many– the Sowers of Justice, the Virginia Interfaith Center, justice and peace ministers, and many other groups."
At a special gathering in Virginia to recognize Sr. Margaret's 60th Jubilee, Sr. Marie Chiodo, DW, shared, "Sr. Margaret's work in immigration was attested by a women with whom she spent a full day and evening at the legislative assembly till they were finally listened to – "She's my angel." Sr. Margaret was praised for her passionate work for justice for women, her fearless speaking the truth to power. Many spoke of their love of Sr. Margaret's home as a place where they were welcomed and where they learned so much from her in terms of prayer, creating meaningful rituals, and the seeking of Wisdom."
Nominated for her work with Virginia Beach's Interspiritual Empowerment Project In 2022, Sr. Margaret was awarded the Exemplar Award by the Hampton Roads Gazette for outstanding service to all people and creation. She said, "I am fortunate to be immersed in a community of justice, peace, and prayer that focus on the common good and acts accordingly."
"Wisdom cries aloud in the street; she raises her voice for justice."
Proverbs 1:20
Community Tributes to Sr. Margaret…
I don’t know where to begin to offer in words what our dearest Sister Margaret has meant to those of us in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia where she and Sister Marilyn lived for more than five decades. As I grapple with letting go, it all seems so fleeting... I still had so much to learn from our wisdom woman, mentor, and friend! Margaret’s no nonsense words reminding me that there is a season for everything, everything is connected, and all will be well…. keep ringing in my ears and I want to be sure that I capture as much of the wisdom she poured out so selflessly to the circle of all she encountered as I can. Pictures of her beautiful family full of siblings, their children and their children’s children that she cherished so dearly as children of her own, Her Daughters of Wisdom Sisters that made her life so very deep and full of compassion, and the Beloved Social Justice Community that she cultivated with such care in Virginia, as she tenderly held each of our personal stories close to her heart and enveloped in prayer come to my mind. She loved each and every one of us and all of creation with such a profound reverent passion. She was the earthy mother of us all! The essence of Margaret was actualized in the life-long, life-giving offering of herself to co-create and participate in an ever expanding “Beloved Community”. A community that was fully inclusive and radical in its unconditional love for all! A life lesson I learned from No Nonsense Practical Minded Margaret is that there is No Time for Standing on the Side Lines or Messing Around! Everything is connected and intersected- Creation is groaning…. and all is in need of our love and attention, especially those most on the margins. Margaret created, guided and participated in more projects, programs, advocacy and service ministries than could ever be counted. She was the energizer bunny! She knew no strangers and was always in the present moment with each of us in personal encounters of love while also in service to the big picture working tirelessly for justice for all. For those of us that struggled with challenges in the institutional church, Sister Margaret patiently offered us the prophetic reminder that we are the church! She was brilliant and strategic in all things! Sister Margaret would often tell us that we need to quit singing to the choir and get out there and partner with the world, so I have a little humorous story about Sister Marilyn and Margaret and Sister Marilyn that I want to share. The story serves to remind me that we did indeed heed this wise advice to go out and engage others in the social justice struggle….The name of my story is “They were once duped, I like to say by the “Holy Spirit”!…. A few decades ago Margaret and Marilyn were embracing retirement after full and esteemed careers in the field of health care service and were planning to be less busy and lay a bit low as members of St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Virginia Beach. Tidewater Sowers of Justice, a grassroots social justice movement was stirring in the hearts of some, and we knew we needed the guidance and vision of the M&M Sisters. So, we set up a meeting with them and presented the vision and mission, with maybe a bit of embellishment when it came to the number of folks we had already engaged (lol). Margaret and Marilyn were so captivated by the energy of the Spirit that day, that they agreed to support the effort on the spot and the rest is herstory and a whole lot of work they never expected!! Sowers of Justice expanded to include a myriad of working groups and an intentional Virginia Organizing community partnership emerged with numerous social justice issue specific teams. This effort eventually led to the creation of the Interspiritual Empowerment Project that has established collaborative partnerships with many other entities and individuals throughout Hampton Roads to create evolving initiatives leading to measurable progress in right relationship building, empowerment ministry projects and collective advocacy for public policy to address equity, environmental and social justice change for the common good. Margaret and Marilyn never let my co-presenter Patrice Schwermer or me forget that that they had been duped. Duped into being the Wisdom Women we needed to realize the full potential of this grassroots dream for the church. We are standing on their shoulders and full of gratitude for all the work they did to nurture us so that we might nurture others for the future…with nothing wasted in the circle of ever expanding divine love.
Rest in that divine energy dearest Sister Margaret. We are ever grateful for you!
With great love and cherished memories,
Teresa Stanley and the IEP Wisdom Leadership Circle
To the Daughters of Wisdom and Friends and Family of Margaret McCabe, Daughter of Wisdom and our beloved companion in the Turtles (slow-moving!) circle of JustFaith. (In that group about eight of us traveled together—slowly—for about twenty years.) This is part of a letter I sent Sr. Margaret at the time she moved to the convent on Long Island:
The other day I was remembering being with you and (Sr.) Marilyn (Lieber) at Lake Taylor after her stroke. I think it was at that time that either you or she showed me the Teilhard quote that I turn to often—about his sense that it was the very hands that had formed him from the primal elements that would one day be "painfully parting the fibers" of his being—in order to draw him deeper into the mystery of Being itself. That is such a wonderful and liberating thought. Every time I have an ache or pain, these words cheer me up. Teilhard begins his prayer by imagining the inner or outer force that would one day precipitate his leaving this familiar planetary life. We all wonder about that, I suppose.
Now it seems that those loving hands are parting the fibers of your own being, a being we have come to love dearly. We Turtles feel sad that we didn’t have a chance to say goodbye to you in the close-up way we would have liked.
You were a quickening force among us Episcopalians in the Turtles group and were warmly supportive of my being a priest and affirming to each of us in our ministries. With courage you went to the very edges of faith to behold the inconceivable mystery we call God-- inconceivable, yet glimpsed through the luminous web of connection holding humanity and all of nature together in love. I admired your passion and energy for matters of justice in the church and world, your clear outspokenness in the face of what was not right.
I know that our sister Turtles join me in wishing you a safe and joyous passage as you enter the gates of larger life. With the eye of the heart I see the Risen Christ, as represented in the Orthodox icon of the harrowing of hell, bending over to give you a hand up and leading you into the fullness of Love itself.
How we’ll miss you—till through God’s mercy we meet again!
Love,
Julia Dorsey (Loomis)
Margaret’s essence was modeled in the way she lived. She had a strong, quiet presence. She cared deeply for all people. She was totally inclusive. She advocated for those on the margins. She was especially concerned about women’s issues. As a member of the Tidewater Sowers of Justice, she led the Women’s Issues Committee. Sixteen women met in her home monthly to read and share thoughts on powerful, relevant books concerning the Church and issues of the day. We read Elizabeth Johnson, Ilea Delio, Richard Rohr, Diarmuid O’Murchu etc. We were reading, with her, Elizabeth Johnson’s Creation and the Cross up until she got sick. Margaret always had newspaper articles with justice issues posted in the room. In her mind everything was connected. In order to be in solidarity with women globally, we collected money monthly for the "Salvador Enterprises for Women" in El Salvador. Margaret loved nature. She had a beautiful backyard with many flowers, herbs and vegetables. In the warm weather, our group gathered under her large fig tree in the backyard.
Margaret was a very practical, down to earth person. She was a very wise and knowledgeable woman. She valued learning and was very open and broad minded. She always stayed relevant to the moment and times in which we were living.
She was a dear and caring friend who will be deeply, deeply missed by all of us.
Renée McCarthy
Teresa, I wanted to send a reflection about Margaret to you. I mentioned to Renee that you both as part of the Sowers of Justice Women’s Working Community have been with Margaret since the 'beginning' My association with her goes back only 20 years with Sowers and its event. Her determined 'activism' and challenge to 'the powers that be' - church and state - are to me what her life was about since my arrival here in 1997. Her passing is sad for us and yet a reminder of what life is about - a seed (Sowers!) dropped into the earth - to which we all belong, from where we all came and will return - knowing that the new life from our seed will be shared with a future generation. As Oscar Romero said, "we are workers, not master builders, we are ministers not messiahs. We are prophets of a future that is not our own" That's Margaret devoted life as it is for us all.
Brother Charles Warthen
The reflections on the life and being of Sr. Margaret (and of Sr. Marilyn) are breathtaking and I would propose breathgiving, because that is what community is; the giving and taking of the breath, the life of God. These reflections share the essence of two beautiful women who gave their lives for the common good and they reflect the community they fostered and were a part of; the Beloved Community. Thank you Teresa, Julia Dorsey, Renee and Charles for putting into words our love for these two woman and sending them onto to their next journey with our breath. What I will always remember about Margaret is the twinkle in her eye. For me that twinkle held her fullness. The twinkle was a glee for life. The twinkle was a merriment that comes when holding a most precious secret. I think Margaret held a deep knowing of all that is so wrong in the world and at the very same time a deep knowing and sureness of all that is so right. For she was a Daughter of Wisdom, she had the twinkle of Wisdom.
Patrice Schwermer
Thank you for sharing the word about Sr Margaret's passing. She has enriched my life & given us wisdom, courage, reason always tempered with love. She spoke God's truth to us and to the powers that be. She showed us the way by her example. As grateful as I am for having known her, the loss of her in my life and our beloved community is painful. May those who mourn be comforted by her faith filled and grace filled life. My love and God's peace be with you.
Lucy Yatsko
Margaret listened to us, walked with us Laughed & lamented with us. Sr. Margaret McCabe in the words of Dr. Elizabeth A. Johnson Truly Was Our “Sister"
Pat McNeil
Associate of Wisdom, Lillian Scalonga wrote the poem “Women of Wisdom” 32 years ago in 1991 when she became an associate. Sr. Margaret was one of her sponsors. She rededicated it and read it at Sr. Margaret’s funeral. “Heart Like a River,” was written in 2006 by Sr. Margaret’s nephew, John McCabe, who rededicated it and read it and signed it in ASL at her funeral.
Click here to donate in Sr. Margaret's memory.