Sister Judith Curran celebrates Jubilee

Sister Judith Curran was born in 1946 in Chicago, Ill., and was baptized Judith Mary at St. Mel-Holy Ghost Church in Chicago. She joined the Dominican Sisters of Springfield in 1964 and made her final profession of vows in 1971.

Sister Judith served in education for 59 years, starting with third grade at Holy Angels, Aurora, 1967-1969; at Sacred Heart in Pana, 1969-1971, and at Holy Rosary, Duluth, Minn., 1971-1976. She taught students at St. Margaret Mary, Algonquin, 1976-1983. She would continue her principal role at St. John Bosco, Chicago, 1983-1985. She taught at St. Edward, Chicago, 1985-1991 and would later be named the principal at St. Peter, Aurora, 1991-1995. She would return to Springfield where she taught at St. Patrick, 1995-1996. She was the director of a Dominican Literacy Center that was first located in Chicago and later moved to Melrose Park, 1996-2025. In 2025, she returned to the motherhouse in Springfield where she provides support for her sisters and volunteers at the Franciscan Sisters’ Mission Outreach.

In reflecting on her life of ministry she has found the value in all her various assignments. “Elementary education was a delightful experience of sharing the enthusiasm that only children can express, while school administration provided the wonderful opportunity to work with parents and teachers in providing the optimum learning experience for their children,” she said.

One of her most cherished experiences was supporting immigrants at the literacy center. “Working with immigrants has not only been a privilege, but the most gifted experience of my life, as I witnessed their courage, tireless effort (in learning a new language in a new culture) and gratitude!”

To those who are thinking about embarking on the adventure of consecrated life she said “Religious life is a wonderful, always inspiring invitation to be accompanied by and to accompany God’s family in the journey of life.”