Sr. Mary Patricia Murphy, OP

Sister Mary Patricia Murphy, OP (Mary Colmcille) was a Dominican Sister of Tacoma for 70 years. She was born in Glounakeel, Rockchapel, County Cork, Ireland on March 15, 1934. Her parents were Martin and Nora (Fleming) Murphy; her siblings included two brothers and five sisters. She became acquainted with Sister Salesia Mullen who visited the Murphy home, Following that visit, she decided to enter Crosshaven with other women who wished to become Dominicans. In 1951, she and her companions sailed to America and began their novitiate at Mt. St. Dominic Novitiate, Tacoma. She made profession as a Dominican Sister in 1954.

Sister Mary Pat studied at St. Martin’s College receiving her undergraduate degree from there. She received a master’s in creation spirituality with an emphasis on geo-justice from Holy Names College in Oakland, CA.

Sister Mary Pat taught at numerous schools in the Archdiocese of Seattle and the Diocese of Yakima – Assumption Seattle, Holy Family Kirkland, Holy Cross Tacoma, Assumption, Bellingham, Lourdes Academy Ellensburg, and St. Paul’s, Yakima. Sr. Mary Pat also served two terms on the Leadership Team of the Dominican Sisters of Tacoma. From 1990-2003 she worked at Pierce County Alliance, Tacoma, as an alcohol/drug counselor. She also served as Vocation Director for the Congregation and was instrumental in establishing our Associate Program.

While at Assumption School, Bellingham, she worked with the Science and Reading faculty at Western Washington University in internship programs for college education students. She also worked in the classroom and in religious education with the Native American children in Lummi.

Because of this work, she became interested and committed to working with the Native Americans. This was a focus for her at Holy Names College and while working at Pierce County Alliance.

Mary Pat has active in Pax Christi, Call to Action, SOA, the Tacoma Detention Center and other peace and justice activities. Sr. Mary Pat’s passion was her commitment to her Dominicana Sisters, to empowering Native Americans, and working for the place of women in church and society. 

Sister Mary Pat is predeceased by her parents, brother Gerald and sister Kay (Murphy) Scannell.

She is survived by sister, Betty (Murphy) Scully, Brigid (Murphy) Sheehan brother Marty Murphy and sisters Sister Nora Murphy, OP and Peg Murphy, OP 

Sister Mary Pat was known for her kindness and compassion for all persons. She valued relationships and worked to strengthen them among the persons she worked with. In her free time, she loved visiting friends and gardening.

In Mary Pat’s own words on the occasion of her 60th jubilee celebration, “I am truly grateful for the many companions within the Tacoma Dominicans and co-workers who collaborated with me in the ministries of teaching, chemical dependency counseling/case management, leadership, community service and justice making."

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