Sister Marie Vianney Gallagher
October 2, 1943 – February 8, 2025
Sister Marie Vianney Gallagher was born on October 2, 1943, on the feast day of the Guardian Angels to Emma and Thomas Gallagher. In her life sketch, she said, “The angels were really celebrating their feast day on October 2nd, 1943… I arrived with an injured right arm which I was never to be able to use. My mom and dad and older brother Tommy, 3 years old at the time, prayed to the Blessed Virgin for my cure. That is why I was given the name Eileen Mary on my Baptismal day October 17, 1943, (at St. Alphonsus Church in Brooklyn, NY). Their prayers worked, it took time, but I did get the use of my arm. With this happy event, peace came back to 149 Guernsey Street in that ever-loving place, Brooklyn.” She had three brothers, Father Thomas Gallagher, Daniel and Robert Gallagher.
She first met the School Sisters of Notre Dame when she attended Holy Family School in Brooklyn, New York. Sister Mary Bona was her first teacher in a long line of SSND’s who were responsible for her education and vocation. On September 15, 1957, she entered high school at the Notre Dame Aspiranture in Fort Lee, New Jersey, where she met her good friend Sister Mary Fitzgerald. In her life sketch written at the end of her novitiate, she recalled her time in high school as, “years of excitement and striving to reach her long-awaited goal.”
In the summer of 1961, she was able to witness her big brother, Tommy’s, profession in the Graymoor Friars in Saranac Lake, New York before entering the candidature in Wilton, Connecticut. In her life sketch she wrote, “Having good health and a desire to serve Our Lady in her teaching congregation because I felt God wants me here, and if so, I want to do His Holy Will…I can hardly wait to be a member of School Sisters of Notre Dame.” She professed her first vows on July 27, 1963.
Marie Vianney earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland (now Notre Dame of Maryland University) in 1970 and a Master of Arts degree in Religious Education from Boston College in 1975. She began her teaching ministry in Westbury, NY and at St. Leo in Irvington, New Jersey. In 1980, she began her principalship career at St. Lawrence in Huntington, Connecticut. She was also principal in Stamford, Connecticut and her home parish’s school, Holy Spirit School in Brooklyn, NY.
Her ministry also included diocesan work for the Diocese of Bridgeport, Connecticut. In 1982 she was appointed the Associate Vicar for religious. She assumed the role of Vicar for religious in 1989, where she was responsible for approximately 700 religious men and women. During this time, she served as a regional coordinator for the National Retirement Fund for Religious and Vice Chairperson of the Eastern region of the National Conference of Vicars for Religious that represented 31 dioceses. Her other leadership roles included a position on the diaconate advisory board, diocesan pastoral council, The CT Catholic Conference, and as Chair of the Board of Trustees for Mercy Learning Center.
Sister John Vianney shared how Marie Vianney treasured her vocation during the wake service. In 1986, Marie Vianney wrote an article for the Fairfield County Catholic newspaper titled, “I said YES to Someone and that is the difference.” In it she states, “A religious vocation is certainly a gift, and the Lord invites us to accept this call. Why the Lord has chosen me is a mystery, but I am grateful and humbled. I am proud to be a professed religious woman.”
John Vianney continued, “Vianney’s whole life… became one of prayer and presence, always faithful to prayer and to God who she truly knew loved her,” after Marie Vianney suffered a major stroke that left her incapacitated in 2001. Sister Mary Roy Weiss spoke during Marie Vianney’s Mass of Transferal at Ozanam Nursing Hall in Queens, New York on February 19, 2025. During her remarks, she reflected on this chapter of Marie Vianney’s life saying that although, “Her speech was limited… she always managed to smile at her visitors and gift them with these words, ‘I love you.’”
To close her reflection, Sister John Vianney said to her friend, “Vianney, on February 8th those same angels that brought you to your parents when you were born, were there to receive you and take you into the loving arms of our God.
My dear friend, my sister in Christ, may you now rest in peace.”
Sister Marie Vianney Gallagher, SSND, was born into eternal life on February 8, 2025. Her Mass of Resurrection was concelebrated by Reverend Thomas Gallagher and Reverend Floyd Caesar on Thursday, February 20, 2025, at St. Andrew Church in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Music was provided by Paula Yagovane.
She was buried at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bethel, Connecticut.
By Lauren Ciotti
