Joyce “Thomas Elizabeth” McCauley

Sister Joyce Ann McCauley, SNDdeN was born and raised in Northeast Philadelphia. As a child, she lived during the week with her Nan and Grampy while her mother, a single parent, worked long hours. These early years were shaped by the warmth and wisdom of her grandparents. “Nan and I liked to listen to the helpful advice of the ‘Unseen Advisor’ on the radio,” she recalls. “Grampy helped me with my math homework and taught me how to be a careful shopper when we went to the food store.” His sudden death when she was only 10 years old left a deep sadness. 

At St. Hubert High School, the kindness of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur made a lasting impression. “They were good teachers, and they were very kind,” she says. Two sisters, aware that Joyce Ann took two buses to her after-school job, saved her a seat on the school-monitored bus—cutting her fare in half and leaving a strong example of compassion. 

Over the years, Sister Joyce Ann has ministered as a Parish Religious Education Director and in Pastoral Counseling. She is especially grateful for her time in Maryland, where she shared life with Sisters, lay coworkers and close friends. Now living in Ipswich, she continues to cherish the companionship of her Sisters in community. 

When speaking to someone discerning a vocation, she advises, “Ask the person what about the life is attracting them. Listen, be encouraging, pray for them, keep in touch.” One of her favorite hymns, “I Have Loved You,” speaks deeply to her experience of God’s faithful call:

I have loved you with an everlasting love.
I have called you. And you are mine. 

Updated in 2025