DOMINICAN SISTERS OF SAN RAFAEL
ABBY NEWTON, OP & 
KATHERINE HAMILTON, OP
2018 Bishop's Awards Honoree - Lifetime of Religious Service

“We consider ourselves part of a long, long line of Dominican Sisters of San Rafael who have served and loved the people of Stockton since we arrived here to teach school in 1876 and see this award as a tribute to their legacy.”

Sister Katherine Hamilton, OP, grew up in historic McCloud, California, a company lumber town nestled next to Mt. Shasta. Her father, Hubert, worked in the lumber industry, first in the dry kilns then as superintendent of mill operations. Her mother, Marie McGuire Hamilton, came to McCloud as a teacher and then stayed at home as the children arrived: Hubert (Bud), Paul, Mary Barbara, and their oldest, Katherine. The family attended St. Joseph’s Church, built from logs in the 1930’s. Katherine sang in the church choir and played organ for the Stations of the Cross during Lent. Her youth was filled with Girl Scouts, hiking, skiing, and mountain climbing in this forested area.

“I am blessed enormously by loving family, dear friends and colleagues and my Dominican Sisters, and I am profoundly grateful.”

When it was time for a college decision, a distant cousin of her mother invited her to visit Dominican College (now University), a women’s Catholic college in San Rafael. “The beautiful campus, classes in the humanities, and an opportunity for a teaching credential within four years were all attractive for me.” A life-long learner, Sister also earned graduate degrees from St. Mary’s College in Theology, and the University of Santa Clara in Pastoral Ministries.

Inspired by the lives of the talented and dedicated religious she met in college, she entered the novitiate of the Dominican Sisters in 1959, after teaching 6th grade for several years. In 1963, Sister made her final commitment with vows.
Sister continued to teach in several parochial schools in the Bay Area for many years. She then served as Director of Religious Education at St. Michael’s Parish in Livermore and later St. Dominic’s Parish, Benicia. She coordinated programs for pre-school through Confirmation.

For six years, Sister served on the leadership team of San Rafael Dominicans. She had the opportunity to travel and meet with women religious nationally and to collaborate on several projects with other Dominican congregations.

After completing a certificate in Applied Social Gerontology from San Jose State University, Sister Katherine was looking for a position to minister to the elderly. St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Stockton, a ministry of the San Rafael Dominicans since 1899, needed a coordinator for their Friends of Seniors program, which serves the needs of seniors living at home. For the past 15 years, Sister has enjoyed her work in the Community Health Department, coordinating the program. “Serving seniors, recruiting and orienting volunteers and visiting remarkable women and men has been a privilege.” She serves on the Board of Directors for the St. Joseph’s Foundation of San Joaquin and also serves the Diocese with her work on the Diaconate Advisory Committee and as chairperson of the Retired Priest Task Force. Sister is a board member and volunteers for St. Mary’s Dining Room, as well. “All have deepened my sense of mission.”

Each April 30, Sister celebrates the feast day of St. Catherine of Siena “claiming for myself the vision and call of this remarkable woman of the 14th century.” While on a pilgrimage, following the footsteps of St. Dominic in 2011, Sister and nine other Dominicans visited St. Catherine’s home and chapel. The trip concluded with a visit to the Monastery of the Cross, Paris, from which Mother Mary Goemaere, foundress of the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael, accepted Bishop Alemany’s invitation to begin schools in the Diocese of California in 1850. This experience confirmed her inner call to the charism of the Order of Preachers.

It is a tradition in their congregation to select a motto to be inscribed in the ring that will be received on the day of Final Vows. “I am the Way, the Truth, the Life” John 14:6 can be found inside Sister Katherine’s band. This motto has enriched her life. She encourages young people to search for God’s call and consider the possibility of serving the Church as a sister or priest.

Like many paintings that capture her beloved St. Catherine rushing and on the move to bring God’s compassion and peace to others, there is Sr. Katherine Hamilton doing the same. As St. Catherine wrote: “So whether you will it or not, you cannot escape the exercise of Charity.” Thank you, Sister Katherine, for your charity, for your Lifetime of Religious Service.

Betty Newton determined that her daughters Abby and Elizabeth needed to learn their Baltimore Catechism very well, so much so that she sent them to the Holy Family Sisters on Wednesday and the Irish Mercy Sisters on Saturday. Years later, a phone call from one of those Sisters of Mercy set Sr. Abby Newton on the road to a 27-year career in Catholic education,as a teacher and administrator.

Sister Abby Newton, OP, was born the fifth of six children to Fritz and Betty Newton. She and her siblings Pat, Danny, Tina, Paul, and Elizabeth, were raised in the small town of Stratford (Kings County) California. In 1911, her great-grandfather purchased farm land in the Tulare Lake Basin. Her brothers, nephew, and cousin farm that same land today. Sister had an active childhood playing Bobby Sox softball, grammar school sports, Kick the Can and Ditch-Em on summer nights in the backyard. She also competed on her high school’s swim team.

When it was time to attend college, Sister moved the 200 plus miles to San Rafael to attend Dominican College (now University) where she majored in history and minored in biology. Active in student life, she was elected President of the Associated Student Body. The Dominican Sisters instilled in the students a love of learning and the thoughtful reflection of doing good in the world. They also showed forth humanity, prayer life and sense of humor. “I came to count many of the Sisters at the College as mentors and friends.”

While living in San Francisco and teaching at Our Lady of Mercy in Daly City, Sister decided to say yes to the “nagging yank” on her heart. She entered the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael in 1981. She continued to teach at schools in Daly City, San Rafael, and St. Helena. She also served as an elementary school principal for many years in Los Angeles and San Rafael, earning a Masters in Private School Administration from USF along the way. For six years, Sister has served on the Leadership Team of the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael as a councilor.

In 2003, Sister was asked to follow Sr. Lois Silva OP at St. Joseph’s Medical Center to serve as Vice President, Mission Integration. She said yes, once again, and entered the healthcare ministry which she considers “both a privilege and a blessing.” Although she began her work without a background in healthcare, she quickly changed that by earning a Masters in Theology in Health Care Mission from Aquinas Institute. Sister is responsible for spiritual care, community health, and the volunteers. She serves on the administrative team and many committees and task forces. “I often say that I work with really fine people who care deeply for our community and its health and future.” Sister is also responsible for the Central California Service Area of Dignity Health, which includes hospitals from Bakersfield to San Andreas. She is active in the Diocese of Stockton on a variety of committees, having served on the board of SEEDs, as well as the Retired Priests Task Force and Whole Person Care.

Sister Abby also admires St. Catherine of Siena, the 14th century Dominican and mystic and author of the Dialogues. Uneducated and a woman, she defied the norms of her day and told a Pope living in the south of France to return to Rome, and so he did. She wrote, “Be who you are meant to be and you will set the world on fire.” Sister Abby shares this exhortation to encourage young people to be authentic to their true selves, to seek the common good, and to relish the life God wants for them.

“With Him it was always Yes” are the words inscribed in Sister’s ring, as selecting a motto is traditional in their congregation. This quote from 2nd Corinthians reflects Sister’s openness to all the opportunities she has been offered. “I am blessed enormously by loving family, dear friends and colleagues and my Dominican Sisters, and I am profoundly grateful.” She has joyfully said yes throughout her lifetime of religious service.