Maryknoll, NY: Sister Janet Carroll died on May 28th, 2019 at Cedar Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Ossining, NY. She was 85 years old and had been a Maryknoll Sister for 67 years.
Janet was born in New York City on July 22nd, 1933 to Ethel Rita (Waters) Carroll and Raphael Peter Carroll. She had two brothers, Raymond and Arthur. Her parents and her brother Raymond have predeceased her.
She graduated from St. Barnabas High School in the Bronx, NY and entered the Maryknoll Sisters Novitiate in Maryknoll, NY on September 2nd, 1952 from (St. John the Evangelist Parish, Kingsbridge in the Archdiocese of New York).
At her Reception into the Congregation, she received the religious name, Sister Mara Francis, but returned to her baptismal name after Vatican Council II. She made her First Profession of Vows on March 7th, 1955 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center in Maryknoll, NY. In 1961, she made her Final Profession of Vows on March 7th, in Taiwan.
After making her First Profession of Vows in 1955, Sister Janet worked at the Maryknoll Society kitchen and Field Afar magazine until 1956. She then received her first overseas mission assignment to Changhua, Taiwan where she studied the language until 1957. From 1958-1962, her missionary work included: pastoral ministry, religious education, youth work, leadership training, and socio-economic development in the villages of PoLi, Changhua and Houlung. She was also the House Superior from 1962 – 1965 and served on the language school staff for seven months in 1965.
Sister Janet then returned to Maryknoll, NY in 1966, where she studied for one year at the Congregation’s Mary Rogers College before transferring to New York University in 1967. There she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Social Science/Cum Laude in 1968. She later earned a Master of Arts Degree in International Affairs at Yale University, New Haven CT in 1989 and was awarded an Honorary Degree for Doctor of Humane Letters at Siena College in 1996.
Her Professional Services included:
-1968 – 1972 Executive Secretary, Institute for Social Action - Hsinchu
-1972 – 1979 Maryknoll Sisters Research and Planning Director
-1979 – 1987 United Nations Advisor to the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations, Asean States and China and was awarded the Papal Honor: Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice for her service to the Holy See Mission in 1987
-1989 – 2003 Maryknoll – Executive Director of U.S. China Bureau; Editor: China Church Quarterly; Coordinator: National Catholic China Annual Conferences; and Leader of eleven Religious Study Tours to China
-2004 – 2009 Senior Associate of the U.S. Catholic China Bureau: Primary responsibilities were: research, writing, lectures, seminars, media contacts, educational and China service outreach
-1991 – 2019 Maryknoll Society’s China Project: Consultant
Sister Janet was also closely associated with and actively a part of the Overseas Ministries Studies Center (OMSC) at Yale University, a vibrant, international and ecumenical community from 1980-2010.
In 2014, Sister Janet received the American Missiology Society’s Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition for serving the people of Taiwan and China since 1956.
A Vespers service will be held for Sister Janet on Monday, June 3rd, 2019 at 4:15 p.m. in the Chapel of the Annunciation at Maryknoll Sisters Center.
A Mass of the Resurrection will follow on Tuesday, June 4th, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. also in the Main Chapel at the Sisters Center.
Interment will follow in the Maryknoll Sisters cemetery.