A Stroll Down Memory Lane

Brain Larkin and Sr. Pat Curreri, DW

A stroll down memory lane was the perfect solution to lifting Sr. Pat Curreri’s spirits when Our Lady of Perpetual Help Convent Nurse Donna Hartmann asked her if she wanted to do a drive-by of Star of the Sea in Belle Terre, NY, on their way home from a dinner date. Star of the Sea is the former retreat home where Sr. Pat served in a ministry spanning 20 years as the property and house manager. The use of the home was a gift from St. Charles Hospital in 1929 and had been the Daughters of Wisdom’s sanctuary for retreats, vacations, meetings, and international gatherings for 95 years.

Now owned by a private family, the “no trespassing” sign did not keep Donna from rolling into the driveway, where a gentleman was found working on the property. A friendly introduction revealed that he was the new owner, Brian Larkin, who welcomed both Donna and Sr. Pat. As the conversation continued, they learned that Brian’s family had a long-standing connection to Fr. Frank Pizzarelli, SMM (Montfort Missionaries), and he was delighted to learn of the connection to the Daughters of Wisdom.

In a follow-up text to Donna, he wrote, “Our family feels incredibly fortunate to get to make this our home, and we really want to honor the history and important role it has played to the Daughters of Wisdom over the years.”  It came with a promise to visit the Convent and meet with the Sisters to learn more of the house’s history. Later, as he shared his encounter with his wife, she recalled that her younger sister had been baptized in the Convent chapel.

For all the Sisters who wondered about the Grotto left on the property, we are delighted to share that the Larkin family plans to keep it.

About her unplanned drive-by, Donna wrote, “Did Wisdom intervene, was it the providence of God, or just fate? About her unplanned visit, Sr. Pat remarked, as her mother would say, “It was a good day.”

This unexpected encounter serves as a beautiful reminder that the legacy of the Daughters of Wisdom lives on, cherished by new hands and hearts, and that even the simplest moments can reconnect us to our shared history.

Thanks to Donna Hartmann for the photos and for sharing about her journey with Sr. Pat!