As a young girl growing up in Millville, Sister Michele DeGregorio, FMIJ, always dreamed of being on stage.
“I wanted to be part of either a great play, a television show or have this great song that would make people wake up and say, ‘Let’s make this world a better place,’” she said. “I have always felt that God was moving me to make a difference in this world.”
Sister Michele has done just that – not on stage, screen or radio, but in classrooms and parishes as a Franciscan Missionary Sister of the Infant Jesus.
After 16 years as principal of Saint Margaret Regional School, Woodbury Heights, Sister Michele is moving on to a new role. But the decades-long legacy of Franciscan Missionary Sisters service to the school will continue.
‘Every Level of Learning’
Sister Michele’s 40-plus years in education can be traced back to her Catholic roots formed in the home, school and parish. From kindergarten to fifth grade, she attended Saint Mary Magdalen School in Millville.
One memorable experience for her was as a kindergartener, helping Sister Elizabeth, a Daughter of Mercy, clean Saint Mary of Magdalen Church. She recalls “helping her clean candles and get the wax out of the carpet. The church smelled like beeswax and incense,” Sister Michele said with a laugh.
At the same time, “I found the Church comforting and mysterious,” Sister Michele said. “I realize now, that’s how God is.”
It was when Sister Michele was 16, during a Vocations Sunday Mass talk at Church of the Resurrection, that “a light bulb went off. I thought, ‘Maybe I’m supposed to do that and serve the Lord.’”
She graduated from Millville High School in June 1979, and by the end of August, had entered the community of the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Infant Jesus. Her first stop as a new postulant: The order’s convent next to Saint Margaret Regional School.
During this time, she served as a substitute teacher at the school, teaching third-, fifth- and sixth-graders. She also took courses at Glassboro State College, receiving a degree in secondary education with a concentration in social studies.
Sister Michele made her first vows in 1982 and began teaching religion and science at Holy Cross elementary school in Rumson. In 1987, she professed her final vows.
In 1989, she returned to the Diocese of Camden to teach 11th-grade religion at Saint James High School in Carneys Point. Ten years later, she became the Director of Postulants for her order, leaving teaching for a year.
In 1995, she earned a master’s degree in religious studies from Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, Philadelphia.
Sister Michele returned to Saint Margaret’s in 2000, and for the next three years, she taught religion, social studies, science and language arts to seventh- and eighth-graders. From 2003 to 2006, she worked at Saint William of York in Stafford, Va., as the parish director of religious education. She was also the school’s social studies teacher.
She returned again to the Diocese of Camden in 2006, serving as principal of Christ the King Regional School in Haddonfield. In 2009, she began her role as Saint Margaret’s principal.
“As principal, I’ve enjoyed being involved with every level of learning,” she said, adding that being a teacher at various schools and for multiple grade levels prepared her for the role. “I had a really good foundation of education, what different age levels were capable of, and how far you could challenge them [students].”
As a principal, she placed importance on “respecting and honoring the experience and knowledge of the teachers. I wanted to allow the teachers to know their kids, know what they needed and help to put that into action.”
Meanwhile, her own education didn’t stop: She received an advanced certificate in Catholic educational leadership in 2010.
Of leaving the role, she said, “I’ll miss the kids, and certainly the faculty and staff and our collaboration.”
‘More to Give’
Sister Michele is embracing her new role as vocation director of her community. She will be in charge of discernment and recruitment efforts, which will include retreats for young adults and visits to high schools and colleges.
“I have more to give in a different capacity,” said Sister Michele, who will continue to reside at Saint Margaret’s convent.
She said she has been proud to carry on the Franciscan Missionary Sisters’ work of quality education at Saint Margaret Regional School, which was established in 1963 by Father William McKeever, pastor of Saint Margaret Parish, and its first principal, Sister M. Isabel Piunti, FMIJ, under the patronage of Saint Francis of Assisi and Sister Margaret Mary Alacoque.
After Sister M. Isabel, who was principal from 1963-1983, the school’s principals have been Sister Aurea Maria Gamba, FMIJ (1983-1989); Sister Lorraine Klein, FMIJ (1989-2005); Sister Michele; and now, Sister Dianna Higgins, FMIJ. (See page S6)
“Sister Michele unquestionably has had a great impact upon the school advancement and spirituality,” said Father Joseph Pham, pastor of Infant Jesus Parish, which is located adjacent to the school. “She strongly supported faith, academics and service in the Franciscan tradition, and she faithfully implemented the Catholic Identity in the school. She was gentle and understanding, always willing to help and support faculty and students. She certainly she will be missed.”
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