Sister Teresa Skehan, RSM

Sister Teresa Skehan, RSM, (Sister James Marie), passed away on January 25, 2001 at age 69 after bravely struggling with cancer for a year.

She was active in education, working as a teacher, librarian, religious education coordinator, and Religious Education Diocesan Director.

In 1985, she began her work with the homeless in the shelters in New York City’s Emmaus Program. With Sister Dorothy Gallant, SC, she co-founded and directed Life Experience and Faith Sharing Associates. Along with a team, they established interfaith base communities in 13 city shelters throughout New York City.

Sister Teresa was one with the people. In an effort to be a more effective advocate for those to whom she ministered, she spent a month in Guatemala in 1994 to familiarize herself with the Spanish language and Hispanic culture.

Throughout her life, she remained active in her religious community with special interest in issues of social justice. Her life of dedicated service was motivated by her religious motto: “Thy will with joy.”