Kathleen Lynch

Sister Kathleen Lynch, SNDdeN was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the eldest of three children in an Irish-Slovak family. Raised by her parents, Ann and Daniel Lynch, Sister Kathleen enjoyed a vibrant and joyful childhood in the 1950s. Her early education took place in public schools, but it was at Notre Dame High School that she first encountered the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. Their warmth, support and deep sense of community inspired her and planted the seeds of her vocation. 

Her first mission was at St. Kevin’s School in Warwick, Rhode Island, where she found joy in teaching and in the camaraderie of living with the Sisters. “It was a great way to begin my life of learning from others,” Sister Kathleen reflects. However, it was St. Justin’s School in Hartford, Connecticut, that captured her heart most deeply. Immersed in a loving Caribbean community, she served with energy and compassion. Years later, she returned to St. Justin’s as a pastoral assistant, continuing her commitment to the same community that had embraced her so warmly. 

Over the years, Sister Kathleen also ministered at St. Augustine School and Our Lady of Pompeii Church in East Haven, where she served as director of Religious Education. Currently, she continues to share her gifts as a part-time pastoral associate at St. George Church in Guilford, Connecticut. 

Grateful for every person and experience in her journey, Sister Kathleen believes in living life to the fullest each day. To anyone discerning a religious vocation, she advises: “Follow your heart! God will lead you to whom you are meant to become. Pray always—for others and for yourself. Volunteer as much as you can.” 

Each day, Sister Kathleen lives by the words of St. Julie Billiart: “In whatever way God comes to us, He must always be welcome.” 

Updated in 2025