Sister Jude Marie Sweeney, SSND
June 10, 1935 – November 18, 2021
Sister Jude Marie died unexpectedly on November 18, 2021 at age 86. She was in her 65th year as a School Sister of Notre Dame.
Patricia Carolyn was welcomed by her parents William John and Anna Marie (Hawkins) Sweeney as the fourth of five daughters. She was baptized on June 23, 1935 at St. Ann’s Church, Hamilton, by Monsignor J. Englert. She attended St. Ann’s grade school, taught by the Sisters of St. Joseph. Patricia decided to go to Notre Dame Academy, Waterdown for her high school years.
After graduating she entertained the idea of entering the Candidature. She states that “it was hard to tell who was more surprised, her teachers or herself.” In September 1954 she received the Candidate’s bonnet. On July 27, 1955 she was received as Novice Jude Marie. She recalls “that gradually I took a deeper and more serious viewpoint of all things and endeavoured to co-operate with God’s grace and prepare for my first Temporary Vows and future religious life.”
Sister Jude Marie taught at the following schools: St. John; St Francis; Sacred Heart in Kitchener; Immaculate Conception, Chepstow; St. Michael, Cambridge; St. Anthony; and St. Catharine.
In 1973, Sister Jude Marie embarked on a different career. For three years she was at Graymoore, New York, working in addiction rehabilitation at New Hope Manor. She continued her studies in Criminal Justice at John Jay College, New York. In 1980 she acquired a Certificate of Studies in Canadian Law from York University, Osgoode Hall Law School. The following year Sister Jude Marie attained her PhD in Criminal Justice from the Union of Experimenting Colleges and Universities, Cincinnati, Ohio.
She pioneered the Community Service Order Program in Hamilton- Wentworth, Ontario using a Federal Grant to fund a Provincial venture. This program provided an alternative to a jail sentence for non-violent offences. In addition, Sister Jude Marie earned an internship in the Supreme Court of Ontario under the mentorship of the Chief Justice of the High Court; a 15 year appointment to the Lieutenant Governor’s Review Board of Ontario for those found not guilty for reason of insanity; and a four year appointment to the Civil Board for Detention and Treatment of the mentally ill; and she served on the Superintendent’s Advisory Board for the Hamilton Police Service for four years.
For 18 years she ministered as spiritual counsellor at Hope Place, Milton, Ontario a residential treatment program for women recovering from addiction. Sister Jude Marie participated in numerous workshops and seminars dealing with various aspects of criminal justice, human rights and addiction.
Her primary focus was to offer support and assistance to offenders and those under-served. Sister Jude Marie welcomed challenges to provide a sense of dignity and self-worth to the less fortunate. Her sense of humour and quick wit served her well in communicating with the marginalized and those in need.
Following the Mass of Christian Burial celebrated by Rev. Pablito Labado, chaplain, her cremated remains were interred at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Burlington. Her nieces and friends were attendance.
- S. Joan Helm
