Sister Mary Amadeo Morganti, RSM

“I am very happy. It is a beautiful life. You live with wonderful people. They (the Sisters) are all committed. Their life is committed to God. They treat each other as Christians should treat each other, seeing God in each person.”

These were Sister Amadeo’s musings in 2023 upon celebrating 70 years in religious life.  Quite a shift from her original plan to attend Temple University and become a pharmacist! Inspired by her Mercy teachers at Cathedral High School (Trenton), she entered the order on Mercy Day, September 24, 1953, answering a calling that had become insistently louder.

At Georgian Court, Sister earned her Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics, minoring in French, and later received a Master’s in Education from the University of Pennsylvania, specializing in Physics. She found her varied teaching career in elementary (Sayreville and Perth Amboy) and high schools (South Amboy and MSMA) rewarding as she often heard from students about her influence on their lives. Moving to the Mount in 1969, she served as chair of the Mathematics and Science Department where she made a strong impression on students to pursue science and math careers, non- traditional areas for females. Remembering a recent reunion of her Mount students of 50 years ago, she notes, “To see all they have accomplished . . . it’s amazing!”

Sister Amadeo transitioned from teaching to serve as Director of Buildings and Grounds for 13 years, and then the Academy’s Assistant Treasurer for 12 years. Now retired, Sister lives with other retired Sisters on the campus of MSMA, her home of 56 years. She keeps busy answering requests as part of the McAuley Hall Prayer Guild, a prayer mission for aged and infirm Sisters that allows them to help others in their own way. During her frequent visits to McAuley Hall Health Care Center, the treats Sister brings are always a welcome surprise.

Though not a pharmacist, Sister Amadeo manifests wellness while living the Mercy Core Values she pledged in 1953.