As Catholic Sisters Week invites us to reflect on the contributions of women religious, we honor the life and mission of Sister Margaret Gertrude Murphy, SCN. A trailblazer in education and a champion for international students, her work at Nazareth College shaped generations of learners.

Born in 1890 in Newtonville, Massachusetts, Sister Margaret Gertrude joined the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth in 1910. From the beginning, she embraced a life of study and service, earning advanced degrees in Greek and Latin from Catholic University of America. Her decades-long career in education included teaching at Nazareth College, serving as its president, and later dedicating herself to the support of foreign students.

At her core, Sister Margaret Gertrude was a missionary in spirit. Though she never served abroad, she brought the world to Nazareth by launching a scholarship program for students from Latin America, Asia, and Europe. At a time when few institutions prioritized global outreach, she saw the opportunity to welcome refugees and students from war-torn nations, offering them a Catholic education rooted in faith and leadership.

“She loved her Congregation; she loved its traditions; she loved all the students who came to Nazareth.”

— Mother Geoffrion, R.C.E.

As an advisor to international students, she became their “American mother,” offering academic guidance, emotional support, and a living example of Christian love.

Sister Margaret Gertrude’s leadership strengthened the Nazareth Foreign Student Program, which had existed for over a century but flourished under her vision. She described its growth: “The Nazareth Foreign Student Program has actually been in operation for over a hundred years… The patronage from the Latin countries has not only continued but has expanded through the years.”

She saw this mission as both cultural and Christian, ensuring that students received an education grounded in faith. An undated letter records 44 foreign students at one point — excluding nine from Puerto Rico — coming from Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, India, the Philippines, France, Belgium, Ghana, Jamaica, Cuba (refugees), Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Bolivia, and Canada.

“Two world wars and the Cuban Communistic take-over, with their numerous refugees, greatly emphasized and enlarged our cultural and apostolic program,” she wrote.

Religious diversity was respected, but Biblical history and literature were available to non-Christian students who wished to explore the faith.

Understanding the financial burden of international education, Sister Margaret Gertrude also pioneered Service Scholarships, allowing students to contribute to campus life in exchange for tuition assistance.

A Lasting Influence

Beyond Nazareth, Sister Margaret Gertrude played a key role in national accrediting organizations, ensuring Catholic education remained rigorous and respected. Even after retiring in 1964, she continued mentoring students and writing prolifically about education and faith.

Her impact was deeply felt. Each Christmas, she received hundreds of cards and gifts from former students — her “daughters” across the world. In her office, she proudly displayed pictures of these students and their growing families.

Colleagues and alumni admired her wisdom and generosity. Nina Bowmer, a former faculty member, recalled: “She was a woman of industry, conscientious in her work… The greatest gift she left in our hearts is her influence.”

Even President Richard Nixon acknowledged her work, writing in a letter upon her retirement: “You have significantly contributed to the spiritual and intellectual growth of generations of students and inspired in them the values and ideals to help them become responsible, public-spirited citizens.”

When Sister Margaret Gertrude passed away in 1970, she left both an academic and spiritual legacy. Her vision for a global Nazareth endures in the countless students who, shaped by their education, returned to their home countries as leaders, educators, and advocates.