At 112, World's Oldest Living Nun Has 4 Words Of Advice
Ms Piscatella has been enjoying her senior years on the South Shore of Long Island and has served in the Catholic Church for 94 years. She has advised people to follow the virtues they have witnessed in their loved ones.
Sharing her advice, Ms Piscatella told The New York Post, "Teach until you die," before adding, "You have to be a saint before you get to heaven."
Ms Piscatella currently resides in the Queen of the Rosary Motherhouse in Amityville and has had a long journey of faith and fate over the years.
Her life changed when she was two years old and was involved in an accident with a speeding train in Central Islip. The accident resulted in the loss of her left forearm. She claimed not to have let her siblings help her.
"My mother refused to let them assist me because 'you're not going to have your sisters forever, so you better just shape up and do things for yourself,'" Ms Piscatella told The Post.
Her calling to Catholicism stemmed from the love she witnessed her family show for one another and the community.
However, Ms Piscatella had to physically demonstrate that her disability would not prevent her from serving. It was difficult to find a convent in 1931 that would admit her with only one arm.
Ms Piscatella said that the convent was not a place for handicapped people, and one has to "drive work" when they go to the convent. "It's not a vacation area," she said.
It was not until another nun, who was looking for a change and had a teaching job open, that Ms Piscatella got into the Dominicans.
Ms Piscatella worked in administrative positions from the age of 17 to 84, teaching from the heart on an array of subjects, including maths, history and arithmetic.
Nowadays, Ms Piscatella is loved by the Catholic community on Long Island, with whom she celebrated her 112th birthday. She enjoys praying and spending time with them.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Father Chris Riley AM dies, a tireless advocate for disadvantaged youth no more
Father Chris Riley AM, the compassionate founder of Youth Off The Streets, has passed away at 70 after a prolonged illness. Riley dedicated his life to helping homeless and disadvantaged youth, establishing the charity in 1991. His unwavering belief in every young person's potential and hands-on approach transformed countless lives, leaving a lasting legacy of hope and support. Father Riley launched Youth Off The Streets in 1991, with a food van for homeless youth in Sydney. It has since expanded to over 220 staff delivering services across NSW and Queensland. (Image: Instagram/deborahhutton) Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The birth of Youth Off the Streets One project at a time Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Recognition and awards Member of the Order of Australia (2006) Human Rights Medal (2006) from the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Honorary Doctorate (2010) from the University of Western Sydney NSW Australian of the Year (2012) His belief: One kid at a time Catholic priest and youth advocate Father Chris Riley AM, founder of the Sydney-based charity Youth Off The Streets , has died at the age of 70. In a statement released, the organisation said Father Riley passed away on Friday, July 1, peacefully at home following a prolonged recognised for his decades-long work with homeless and disadvantaged youth, Father Riley founded the charity in 1991 and served as its CEO until 2020, stepping down from his board role two years later due to ill health.'Father Riley will be remembered for his compassion, tenacity and unwavering belief that every young person deserves the chance to reach their full potential,' said CEO Judy Barraclough of Youth Off The is with deep sadness that Youth Off The Streets has announced the passing of its founder, Father Chris Riley AM, on 1 August 2025, following a long illness. He was Keith Riley was born and raised in Eucha, Victoria, the third child of Kevin and Mavis Riley, born on 24 November 1954 in Eucha Hospital. He had an older sister, Helen, an older brother, Peter, and two younger brothers, Wayne and attended Salesian College. From a young age, he wanted to devote his life to helping troubled young to follow a similar path, he enrolled at Rupertswood College, a Salesian boys' school, where he began preparing for a life of service and became a Priest at the age of 21, according to 1973, he joined the Salesian Order's teacher training college, later working at Boys' Town (his inspiration) in Engadine, NSW, his first hands-on experience with youth in later completed degrees in English and Sociology at Monash University, along with diplomas in counselling and psychology, grounding his mission in both faith and evidence-based 1991, Father Riley launched Youth Off The Streets with a single food van serving meals to homeless young people in Sydney's inner city. Over the next three decades, it would grow into a respected national organisation with over 220 staff members delivering wraparound services across NSW and model was always hands-on and human-first, providing crisis accommodation, drug counselling, alternative schooling, vocational training, and mental health support tailored to young people aged 12 to 2020, he transitioned from CEO to the role of Founder and Executive Director on the organisation's board, stepping away completely in 2022 due to Riley believed in building local infrastructure to break cycles of disadvantage. One of his proudest achievements was the 2011 launch of the Koch Centre for Youth and Learning in Macquarie Fields, developed in response to the 2005 riots. There, he worked with young people and their families to restore hope and safety.'You need infrastructure in troubled suburbs where the kids can be looked after... We have to try and make the community safer and work with families to keep kids at home,' he said at the Riley's decades-long contribution to youth welfare earned him both national recognition and public his achievements, Father Riley remained grounded in the belief that every individual life mattered.'If you save one child, you save the world. That's my focus. One kid at a time. And if they put on my tombstone that I saved one kid, then that would be more than enough for me.'His ability to connect with young people, hear their stories, and advocate fearlessly on their behalf made him a rare and powerful figure in Australia's social fabric.
Economic Times
3 days ago
- Economic Times
Father Chris Riley AM dies, a tireless advocate for disadvantaged youth no more
Who was Father Chris Riley Live Events The birth of Youth Off the Streets One project at a time Recognition and awards Member of the Order of Australia (2006) Human Rights Medal (2006) from the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Honorary Doctorate (2010) from the University of Western Sydney NSW Australian of the Year (2012) His belief: One kid at a time (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Catholic priest and youth advocate Father Chris Riley AM, founder of the Sydney-based charity Youth Off The Streets , has died at the age of 70. In a statement released, the organisation said Father Riley passed away on Friday, July 1, peacefully at home following a prolonged recognised for his decades-long work with homeless and disadvantaged youth, Father Riley founded the charity in 1991 and served as its CEO until 2020, stepping down from his board role two years later due to ill health.'Father Riley will be remembered for his compassion, tenacity and unwavering belief that every young person deserves the chance to reach their full potential,' said CEO Judy Barraclough of Youth Off The is with deep sadness that Youth Off The Streets has announced the passing of its founder, Father Chris Riley AM, on 1 August 2025, following a long illness. He was Keith Riley was born and raised in Eucha, Victoria, the third child of Kevin and Mavis Riley, born on 24 November 1954 in Eucha Hospital. He had an older sister, Helen, an older brother, Peter, and two younger brothers, Wayne and attended Salesian College. From a young age, he wanted to devote his life to helping troubled young to follow a similar path, he enrolled at Rupertswood College, a Salesian boys' school, where he began preparing for a life of service and became a Priest at the age of 21, according to 1973, he joined the Salesian Order's teacher training college, later working at Boys' Town (his inspiration) in Engadine, NSW, his first hands-on experience with youth in later completed degrees in English and Sociology at Monash University, along with diplomas in counselling and psychology, grounding his mission in both faith and evidence-based 1991, Father Riley launched Youth Off The Streets with a single food van serving meals to homeless young people in Sydney's inner city. Over the next three decades, it would grow into a respected national organisation with over 220 staff members delivering wraparound services across NSW and model was always hands-on and human-first, providing crisis accommodation, drug counselling, alternative schooling, vocational training, and mental health support tailored to young people aged 12 to 2020, he transitioned from CEO to the role of Founder and Executive Director on the organisation's board, stepping away completely in 2022 due to Riley believed in building local infrastructure to break cycles of disadvantage. One of his proudest achievements was the 2011 launch of the Koch Centre for Youth and Learning in Macquarie Fields, developed in response to the 2005 riots. There, he worked with young people and their families to restore hope and safety.'You need infrastructure in troubled suburbs where the kids can be looked after... We have to try and make the community safer and work with families to keep kids at home,' he said at the Riley's decades-long contribution to youth welfare earned him both national recognition and public his achievements, Father Riley remained grounded in the belief that every individual life mattered.'If you save one child, you save the world. That's my focus. One kid at a time. And if they put on my tombstone that I saved one kid, then that would be more than enough for me.'His ability to connect with young people, hear their stories, and advocate fearlessly on their behalf made him a rare and powerful figure in Australia's social fabric.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Pope to bestow one of Catholic Church's highest honors on John Henry Newman
Pope Leo XIV on Thursday decided to declare St. John Henry Newman a 'doctor' of the church, bestowing one of the Catholic Church's highest honors on the deeply influential 19th century Anglican convert who remains a unifying figure in both the Anglican and Catholic churches. Pope Leo XIV's move to name Newman a doctor of the Church marks a major early decision in his papacy, highlighting Newman's influence and personal connection to Leo.(X) The Vatican said Leo confirmed the opinion of the Vatican's saint-making office during an audience Thursday with its prefect, Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, and would make the decision official soon. The designation is one of the most significant decisions of Leo's young papacy and also carries deep personal meaning: Newman was strongly influenced by St. Augustine of Hippo, the inspiration of Leo's Augustinian religious order. The title of doctor is reserved for people whose writings have greatly served the universal church. Only three-dozen people have been given the title over the course of the church's 2,000-year history, including St. Augustine, St. Francis de Sales and St. Teresa of Avila. Also Read: Pope Leo XIV calls for renewed diplomacy on 50th anniversary of Helsinki Accords Newman beatified in 2010, canonised in 2019 Newman's path to being declared a doctor has been exceptionally quick, after Pope Benedict XVI beatified him during a visit to Britain in 2010. Pope Francis made him a saint in 2019, with then-Prince Charles in attendance. Newman, a theologian and poet, is admired by Catholics and Anglicans alike because he followed his conscience at great personal cost. When he defected from the Church of England to the Catholic Church in 1845, he lost friends, work and even family ties, believing the truth he was searching for could only be found in the Catholic faith. Also Read: Vatican bets on 'hot priests' to attract Gen Z followers, spread the gospel online Newman led Oxford Movement to revive Catholic tradition in Anglicanism Newman was one of the founders of the so-called Oxford Movement of the 1830s, which sought to revive certain Roman Catholic doctrines in the Church of England by looking back to the traditions of the earliest Christian church. But he gave up a brilliant academic career at Oxford University and the pulpit of the university church to convert to Catholicism. As a Catholic, he became one of the most influential theologians of the era, bringing elements of the Anglican church into his new faith tradition. He died in Britain in 1890.
