Sister James Therese Joseph: half century of loving service

By Sister Marian Therese Muehlbauer, CSJ | Special to the Herald

Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet James Therese Joseph was honored for 5l years of dedicated service in Catholic schools in Hawaii at St. Theresa School in Honolulu, a school she attended as a child and taught at as an adult.

Sister James Therese was called to the front of the school auditorium during a special Catholic Schools Week assembly to be surprised and overwhelmed as principal Sister John Joseph Gilligan, faculty and staff honored her with leis and cards of appreciation.

Also at the assembly, students from kindergarten through grade eight received certificates in recognition of service, school spirit, and most improvement in academics.

Sister James Therese attended St. Theresa School from seventh through ninth grade, making many life-long friends who still enjoy getting together and showing their pride by singing the school’s spirit song. She graduated from Maryknoll High School.

The first woman from Hawaii to enter the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, Sister James Therese is a member of the Los Angeles Province where she taught and served as principal before returning to Hawaii.

In Hawaii, she served at Holy Rosary, Paia, Maui; St. Anthony, Kailua; and Holy Trinity, in Kuliouou, where she was principal. Her primary ministry at St. Theresa is student advisor, but you will find her involved in many other school activities.

Sister James Therese has been an educator for a total of 57 years.

“I am still going strong, thank God,” she told the students who listened attentively as she regaled them with stories of the old days at the original St. Theresa School. She also informed them that she taught many of their parents. Sister’s love for education, the students, the school and parish was clear and unmistakable as she shared her memories.

Congratulations, Sister James Therese! We thank God for you and hope you will continue to keep going strong.