Marcia Joanne Billings

Sister Marcia Joanne Billings, SNDdeN was born Oct. 15, 1953, in Salem, Massachusetts, and grew up with five siblings in a home that valued learning, hard work and faith. Her father, Alvin, was a Navy veteran of World War II who later worked as an accountant and served as a state auditor. Her mother, Patricia, graduated from Salem State University with a degree in elementary education and served as class president before deciding to be a stay-at-home mother. All six of Alvin and Patricia’s children went on to earn college degrees. 

From a young age, Sister Marcia felt a deep connection to nature. 

“As a child, I loved nature,” she shared. “I would spend hours riding my bike, assisting with watering and planting in our neighborhood greenhouse, walking beaches, collecting shells and reflecting on both sunrises and sunsets. The sea always beckoned me—in calm or storms.” 

These early experiences helped cultivate her contemplative spirit and lifelong sense of wonder. 

Like all her siblings, Sister Marcia attended St. Thomas the Apostle School in Peabody, where they were taught by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. Marcia and her sisters later graduated from Bishop Fenwick High School, while her brothers attended St. John’s Prep. High school was especially meaningful for Sister Marcia, who recalls those years as among the best of her life. She was involved in the Glee Club, Service Club and Color Guard, and as a member of the girls’ basketball team, she helped her team win back-to-back state championships. 

Although she had felt drawn to religious life even in high school, her parents encouraged her to attend college first. She reflects, “I have never regretted that advice.” Sister Marcia went on to attend Salem State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education in 1975. She also played college basketball for three years.  

Sister Marcia entered the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in Ipswich on Aug. 22, 1975. Her inspiration to join religious life was shaped in part by her favorite aunt, who was a Missionary Servant of the Blessed Trinity. “My experience of religious women was one of joy and ordinary women like me—women full of life, living witnesses to love,” she said. Her desire to teach, especially children with unique learning styles and those needing extra attention, also fueled her vocation. 

Her early years in ministry were both demanding and formative. As a second-year novice, she taught grades six through eight at St. Mary Star of the Sea in Beverly. After professing her first vows over Labor Day weekend, she was sent to her first official mission at Our Lady of the Angels School in Worcester. She moved there sight unseen and immediately took on an ambitious teaching load, covering math, history, religion, art and physical education for seventh and eighth grades, plus first grade, while also coaching the CYO girls’ basketball team. 

On her first day, she encountered a group of picketing parents upset over the dismissal of the previous teacher. Still, she persevered with humor and heart. One moment that stands out involved her superior, Sister Agnes Marie Murphy, who called her into her office after a whirlwind first week.  

“She walked over to the window in her office and said this is what you need to learn,” Sister Marcia recalled. “She began to bang the windowsill with her fists saying, ‘Damn it! Damn it!’ I laughed and enjoyed the humanness and humor of it all!” 

Over the years, Sister Marcia has served in a variety of educational and pastoral roles. She taught at St. John the Baptist School in Peabody, St. Mary’s in Lawrence, and St. Michael’s in Hudson. She later returned to St. John’s in Peabody as a first-time principal and then served as principal at Notre Dame Elementary School in Tyngsboro. After many years in education, she took a sabbatical in Madison, Connecticut, and Chicago, before completing a Clinical Pastoral Education program at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Brighton. 

Later she went on to serve as lead community coordinator at Notre Dame Assisted Living in Worcester, where she provided compassionate leadership for her Sisters in their later years. Currently, she serves as operations assistant at the Notre Dame Spirituality Center in Ipswich, where she continues to be a steady presence of warmth and service. 

When asked which ministry meant the most to her, Sister Marcia responded, “I loved all my ministries—teacher, principal, community coordinator, and the spirituality center. Each held many graces and blessings. All moments of namaste, mutual gifting one another, revealing the many faces of God.” 

Sister Marcia is especially grateful for the life she has shared in community and the support she has received from family, coworkers and fellow sisters. Reflecting on her journey, she expresses profound appreciation for the encouragement and accompaniment she has experienced every step of the way. 

To anyone discerning a religious vocation, Sister Marcia offers this wisdom: “Being part of a praying community that shares goodness and love in the world is a great gift.” She finds inspiration in the words of St. Julie Billiart: “Better mistakes than paralysis!” and in the verse from Micah 6:8: “To act justly, love tenderly, and walk humbly with your God.” 

Through her joyful witness, her compassionate leadership and her commitment to education and spiritual growth, Sister Marcia continues to live the mission of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur: making known God’s goodness in the world. 

Updated in 2025