Sr. Lucy Clynes, DW, embarked on her first ministry in the Diocese of St. Augustine, Florida, in 1984, a journey of dedication and service that spanned 23 years. Her return to New York in 2007 to serve on the Daughters of Wisdom administrative team was a testament to her unwavering commitment. She then returned to Florida in 2014, where she completed her second ministry before retiring on June 30, 2025.

In her first ministry, at the invitation of Bishop John Snyder in 1984, Sr. Lucy and four Montfort colleagues joined the Diocese of St. Augustine, Florida, to focus on parish renewal and adult faith formation. As the director of Christian Formation, Sr. Lucy advised the bishop on various matters, including the formation and training of laity, the implementation of the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA), evangelization, catechetical formation, and sacramental preparation. Additionally, she collaborated with Msgr. Keith Brennan, JCD, in developing and supporting the Diocesan Pastoral Council. Sister also served as the interim diocesan director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for two years.

In 1988, following the diocesan-wide RENEW experience, a significant spiritual renewal program in the Catholic Church, Sr. Lucy worked with the Diocesan RCIA Committee to implement the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) by providing training for catechists and sponsors that fostered a team approach to the church's liturgical document around conversion.

Sr. Lucy collaborated with Msgr. Michael Houle to develop the Ministry Formation Program, a comprehensive training program for future church leaders, which she directed during its implementation in 1992. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops later accredited this program.

During her tenure, Sr. Lucy played a pivotal role in the diocese's growth, particularly in catechetical leadership. The diocese, which had only four trained catechetical leaders or directors of religious education programs at the start, saw a significant increase to 47 trained individuals overseeing the catechetical role in parishes, a testament to Sr. Lucy's leadership and influence.

In between her ministries at Our Lady Star of the Sea, Sr. Lucy served on the Daughters of Wisdom Leadership team as Treasurer, Vocations Director, and chair of the Wisdom Grant Fund Committee, which supports initiatives aligned with the Daughters of Wisdom's mission, a position she continues to hold with dedication.

In 2014, at the invitation of Msgr. Brennan, Sr. Lucy began her second ministry in the Diocese of St. Augustine, Florida. For the past 11 years, she has served as a Pastoral Associate at Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish in Ponte Vedra Beach. In this position, she conducted OCIA, the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (formerly RCIA), a process through which participants are invited to grow more deeply in their faith and discern their initiation to the Catholic Church. As a Pastoral Associate, Sister oversaw the fifty ministries of the parish and collaborated with the Women's Group as their Spiritual Moderator. Regarding her experience there, she stated, "It has been a gift for me to work with the parish staff and clergy in serving the people of Our Lady Star of the Sea parish for the past eleven years. The generosity of so many people, especially the leaders of ...50 ministries... it has been encouraging to see an understanding of baptism lived out. This was the request of Father Montfort in 1703 and continues to this day in living out our baptismal vows."

Sr. Lucy and her dog, Denver, have relocated to Connecticut and live on the Wisdom House Retreat and Conference Center property in Litchfield.

As Sr. Lucy begins her well-deserved retirement with a return to the Northeast, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for her years of dedicated service. We wish her a fulfilling and joyous retirement.

Below are photos from over the years of Sr. Lucy with Clergy, staff, volunteers, and parishioners at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church Parish in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

Sr. Lucy Clynes, DW, Retires after a Collective 34 Years of Ministry in Florida