Keep Peace and Create Peace
The woman who leads prayer on campus and blesses the hands of our nursing students was once the chief of a men’s prison in the New Jersey Department of Corrections. Let that sink in.
Sister Cathy Buchanan, once known as Chief Buchanan, embodies trusting God’s plan.
“We used to jokingly say, ‘Oh, are you still in prison?’ And I’d be like, yeah, no, I got out,” Buchanan said.
Let’s rewind this story to teenage Sr. Cathy. She didn’t enjoy studying, she didn’t see college in her future (yet), and ended up getting a professional gig as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT).
“Right after high school, I got a professional job as an EMT, working in a major city, and it was pretty dangerous,” Buchanan said. “My partner suggested I take the state corrections exam, and I thought, ‘That sounds safer.’ So I tagged along…and that’s how my journey into corrections began.”
At just 19 years old, Sr. Cathy began her law enforcement career, eventually rising to become the first female chief to run a state prison in New Jersey.
Despite building an impressive career in corrections, Sr. Cathy knew she needed a degree to continue advancing. She went to college and earned her undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice.
After nearly three decades in a place where calm was a must, Sr. Cathy learned the art of peacekeeping.
“When you work in that environment, you should be trying to keep peace and create peace,” Buchanan said. “Otherwise, you’re gonna have a really hard day every day.”
Following 27 years of service, her corrections career came to an end. Like all good things, there comes a time when personal growth plateaus and it’s time to enter a new chapter. For Sr. Cathy, that chapter began with plans to earn a master’s in education, retire in Florida and teach part-time.
Little did she know that retiring was just the beginning of her ministry journey. In fact, Sr. Cathy never even made it to Florida.
Sr. Cathy felt a different calling. God’s calling. She ventured into religious life, heavily intrigued by the Dominican Sisters of Peace and what they stood for: study, prayer, service and community.
“I realized that what I was missing was community,” Buchanan said. “I wanted to live with other women who were walking the same journey, growing in faith together. That was really what drew me to the Dominicans.”
In 2020, Sr. Cathy became a candidate—a stage in religious life where a person formally begins discerning their call while learning about the community and its way of life.
Her path included a year in New Haven ministering at Albertus Magnus College, followed by a year of study at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. By 2022, she returned to Albertus as a campus minister, guiding students in faith, service, and community.
“I wanted to be where I could really support women, help them grow, and be a part of a community that values education, faith, and service,” Buchanan said. “Albertus stood out because it’s a place that empowers young women to discover their potential and step confidently into their future.”
At Albertus, Sr. Cathy’s impact goes beyond prayer. She walks with students during some of the most formative years of their lives. Whether it is being an emotional rock for students or simply saying their name in passing, Sr. Cathy makes it a point to be present.
“We’re here to open doors,” Buchanan said. “This college was founded on that belief, and it still matters.”
As a woman who has led in law enforcement, earned multiple degrees, entered religious life later in adulthood, Sr. Cathy represents something powerful for Albertus students: there is no one timeline for success. There is no single definition of leadership. And there is no age limit on answering a calling.
“Don’t think you have to have it all figured out by 30,” Buchanan said. “Life is a journey. Be open, try new things, and don’t limit yourself. We are powerful, and there is nothing God can’t do through us.”
Contributed by: Kat Neilan, Digital Content Producer and Storyteller
