Mary Johnson

Sister Mary Johnson, SNDdeN was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, the older daughter of Irish immigrants whose deep faith and love of learning shaped her early life. She and her sister grew up in the vibrant Sacred Heart parish and were educated for 12 years by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. Both later attended Emmanuel College, and two years after graduating, Sister Mary entered the Notre Dame de Namur community.

As a second-year novice, she discovered a passion for teaching at St. Gregory High School in Dorchester, Massachusetts—a passion she continued to pursue in graduate studies at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and later as Professor of Sociology and Religious Studies at Emmanuel College in Boston and Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Religious Studies at Trinity Washington University (formerly Trinity College) in Washington, D.C. Throughout her teaching ministry, she has contributed to numerous research projects, presentations and publications. She is the researcher and co-author of “Migration for Mission: International Catholic Sisters in the United States,” published by Oxford University Press in 2019.

Reflecting on her 40th Jubilee in 2021, she said, “I am grateful for St. Julie’s urging us to risk; ‘Better mistakes than paralysis’  is one of my favorite quotes of hers. It has inspired me over the years to try to respond to the signs of the times in the light of the Gospel and for the sake of living the liberty of spirit to which she calls us.”

Sister Mary now resides in Rome and serves as the Congregational Leader.

Updated in 2025