Sister Sarah Mulligan

“Be diligent in serving the poor. Love the poor, honor them, my children, as you would honor Christ Himself.”

St. Louise de Marillac

Sister Sarah Mulligan died on March 25, 2025, at the age of 86 in Mother Margaret Hall, the nursing facility for the Sisters of Charity. Born on May 28, 1938, in Middletown, Ohio, she was the daughter of Lawrence and Margaret (Diver) Mulligan. Sister Sarah was one of six children, with three sisters and two brothers. She was a Sister of Charity for 68 years.

Growing up in Middletown, Sister Sarah attended Holy Trinity grade school before graduating from Bishop Fenwick High School in 1956. She chose to enter the Sisters of Charity the following September.

Sister Sarah earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the College of Mount St. Joseph in 1962 and later obtained a Master of Science in Nursing Service Administration from Indiana University, Indianapolis, in 1972. These early educational opportunities laid the foundation for her ministry in healthcare – one that would take her far beyond what she could have imagined.

Sister Sarah began her years of service as a nurse and nursing supervisor in Sisters of Charity hospitals in Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio, as well as Mount Clemens, Michigan (1960-’70). After earning her master’s degree, she ministered in various roles, including nurse practitioner, migrant health nurse, clinical supervisor, and social services provider in Pueblo, Denver, Avondale and Alamosa, Colorado (1975-’94).

The growing needs of the immigrant population in Colorado deeply touched her heart. Sister Sarah established clinics and trained local personnel to sustain them, ensuring long-term support for the communities she served. Through initiatives focused on good nutrition, sewing projects, patient care and social services, she empowered individuals and families to build better futures.

For the next 30 years, Sister Sarah continued to empower others. In 1993, she learned about fellow Ohioan, Comboni priest Father Bill Jansen, who was raising funds for his parish and a clinic just outside Guatemala City, Guatemala. He invited her to bring her skills to the town of Mixco, and by 1998, the clinic was open, serving low-income families. Accepting the call with her characteristic gentleness, kindness, and unconditional love, Sister Sarah embraced the mission wholeheartedly.

“I love the work, and I love the people—it’s just a good place to be,” she would say. The community health clinic provided essential medical, dental, educational, and social services to an underserved population, many of whom were Mayan Indians. Through surveys and home visits, clinic personnel recognized a critical need for social and educational programs. With a heart for service, Sister Sarah sought donors to support students in attending nearby schools while also fostering initiatives to empower local mothers and their families. Outreach to seniors focused on physical health awareness and social activities, strengthening friendships and community bonds. Over the years, many Sisters of Charity, SC Associates, and friends traveled to Guatemala to assist Sister Sarah in her mission.

In her work, Sister Sarah found inspiration in St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. “Elizabeth did what needed to be done. She believed in helping people help themselves—and that’s my thing, not to do it for them,” she once shared. Throughout her years of service, she remained deeply grateful for the unwavering support of her family, the twinning parishes of Holy Family in Middletown and St. Ignatius in Monfort Heights, as well as her alma mater, Bishop Fenwick High School. Each summer, supporters organized an annual Walk in Sharon Woods to raise funds for the mission.

“I am truly grateful to our donors and my Sisters of Charity,” Sister Sarah said, “for allowing our Guatemalan friends to realize what they can do for themselves, how they can educate their own community, and how they are able to improve their mental and physical health care.”

Sister Sarah retired in 2021 and moved to the Sisters of Charity Motherhouse, where she soon found her home in Mother Margaret Hall, bringing life and energy to the community. Reflecting on her years in Guatemala, she shared, “What a wonderful experience that was a great way to end my professional career. I was so blessed to serve alongside dedicated, hardworking individuals – mothers, fathers and families who truly live their faith. God is undeniably at the center of their lives.”

The post Sister Sarah Mulligan first appeared on Sisters of Charity.