Dominican Sister of Peace Joan Monica (Margaret Winifred) McGuire, OP (90), died on November 21, 2022, at the Sansbury Care Center in St. Catharine, KY.
Sr. Joan was one of six children born to Emma Goedicko and Joseph McGuire in Cedar Rapids, Nebraska. She worked for four years before hearing God’s call and entered the Congregation in 1953. She made first profession in 1955, took her final vows in 1958, and celebrated her 65th Jubilee in 2020.
Sr. Joan loved to study and earned her associates degree from Saint Catharine College, her Bachelor of Arts degree in history and English from Siena College, and her Master of Arts in theology from Loyola University. She later earned her STL (Licentiate in Sacred Theology) in Theology and her STD (Doctor of Sacred Theology) in Ecumenism from the Angelicum Pontifical University of St. Thomas in Rome. Joan also attended various seminars and programs so that she would be fully prepared for her ministry.
In her reflection at Sr. Joan’s funeral, Sr. Helen Cahill said, “Peace is to be our focus, not revenge. What Jesus was advocating was profound inner Transformation. Joan was persistent in her search for God and open to this inner Transformation.”
Sr. Joan began her long ministry as an educator, teaching in Illinois and Nebraska. She was called to serve her community as the regional coordinator for the Western Region, then elected president of the Dominican Sisters of St. Catharine, serving from 1972-1980. She also served as a Governing Board Member.
Following her service in Congregational leadership, Sr. Joan interned with the World Without War Council. This was excellent preparation for her next ministry at the Archdiocese of Chicago, where she served as director of ecumenical affairs and interreligious affairs. She was very involved in establishing a covenant relationship between the Metropolitan Chicago Synod and the Archdiocese of Chicago and was recognized with the James Fitzgerald Award from CADEIO (Catholic Association of Diocesan Ecumenical and Interreligious Officers) in 2009.
Sr. Joan continued to work for peace and unity after her “retirement.” She prepared prayer services on Christian Unity and the Quran, as well as attending services in various Christian churches. She advocated for unity in diversity, promoted voter registration, explored the needs of the poor in the Springfield, Kentucky area, and met with groups working to prevent suicide among the young.
In 2014, Sister McGuire moved to Sansbury Care Center where she began a ministry of prayer and presence.
She is survived by her sister Winifred “Winnie” Becker, several nieces and nephews and members of her congregation.
Visitation was held on November 30 and the Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated December 1, both at the Sansbury Care Center Chapel. Sr. Joan was interred at the St. Catharine Motherhouse Cemetery.
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Memorial gifts in Sr. Joan Monica McGuire’s memory may be sent to the Dominican Sisters of Peace, Office of Mission Advancement, 2320 Airport Dr. Columbus, OH 43219 or oppeace.org.