A Tribute to Sr. Gloria Garcia

A Tribute to Sister Gloria Gracia,CSJ

By Sr. Marianne Sennick, CSJ

Sister Gloria Garcia, CSJ breathed her last on 2^nd February 2018 for her eternal life. She was a member of the Brentwood Sisters of St. Joseph, New York. Sister Gloria was one of the great personalities and has played an important role for the Global Family of St. Joseph.

Sister Gloria assumed the position of the CSJ UN NGO (Non-Governmental Organization Representative of the Congregations of St. Joseph at the United Nations) when Sister Mary Alban from Canada was called to ministry in Haiti, who had initiated the presence of the Sisters of St. Joseph at the UN.

At that time the Congregations of St. Joseph was represented at the UN’s DPI (Department of Public Information) at which NGOs would attend UN sponsored briefings on UN activities. She was a diplomat. She became active on the Executive Committee of the DPI.

She was well noted for her ability to work with UN Mission diplomats, the UN Secretariat personnel and other NGOs. She always believed that the MISSION of the CSJs was also the work of the UN.

The significant work of Sister Gloria at the UN was to obtain the highest status that Non- Governmental Organizations could obtain. She used her diplomatic skills to persuade the UN diplomats to award the Congregations of St. Joseph General Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council. On June 7, 1999, this status was awarded to the Global Community of CSJs.

As a result of Sister Gloria’s work at the UN as a representative for the Congregations of St. Joseph have access to high level meetings in all aspects of UN operations. Therefore our members can attend meetings in New York, Geneva, Vienna and other International Regional Commissions.

We the Global Family of JOSEPH today remain grateful to Sister Gloria Gracia for her great contribution and commitment for the Charism and mission of CSJs at UN.

Sister Gloria Gracia, CSJ, Brentwood Sisters of St. Joseph, New York

                                               with Justine Senapati , CSJ (Current CSJ UN NGO Representative)