Stories from the Archives
From Teacher to Principal to Assistant Librarian
The story of Sister Michael Mary Colligan, IHM.
Catharine or “Katie” Colligan was born in Scotland on June 12, 1856. In 1866 her family emigrated to the United States and Scranton. She entered the IHMs in 1875; she was received in 1876 and was professed in 1878. As Sister Mary Michael, her first assignment was to St. Joseph’s in Williamsport; then she was sent to St. Rose in Carbondale, and to Laurel Hill Academy in Susquehanna, and to St. John’s in Pittston. At St. Cecilia School in Wyoming, PA, (now called Exeter, PA) she served as the principal. From there, she moved on to St. Mary’s in Hollidaysburg, PA; and Holy Rosary in Scranton, PA. Finally, she graduated from Marywood College with a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1924, at the age of 68.
During the years 1930-1937 Marywood College benefited from the knowledge and experience of Sister Mary Michael because she served as an assistant librarian. She is listed in the yearbooks and the catalogs for Marywood College for those years.
It was at 3:00 p.m. in the afternoon of Tuesday, January 5, 1937, when she died at Marywood. Her funeral was held in the College Chapel, and she is buried here on campus.
Her influence was not just on Marywood students and students where she was assigned because she had three nieces who entered the IHM Community—Sisters M. Anina and M. Dominic Sullivan, and Sister Maria Michael Donnelly.
None of us know how we touch the lives of others but touch them we do.
