David J. Molineaux
Former Maryknoll Lay Missioner
1990 – 2007
Golden Jubilee
The Maryknoll Mission Archives continues to wish the Maryknoll Lay Missioners a joyous Golden Jubilee! A 50th anniversary marks a special time in an organization’s life, and leads us to reflect on its rich history. Archives is home to the Maryknoll Lay Missioners’ historic collections, and we enjoy showcasing former lay missioners and their unique missions in our blog.
Today, we’re diving into the history of two published authors who have never appeared in our blog before: David J. Molineaux and Mary Judith Ress. These talented individuals wrote and published Maryknoll in Chile, a comprehensive history of the Maryknoll Fathers & Brothers, Sisters, and Lay Missioners’ works within the country from 1943 to 1993. They accomplished this enormous task in three years, all while serving as active Maryknoll Lay Missioners in Chile.
Mary Judith Ress
Former Maryknoll Lay Missioner
1990 – 2010
Before Maryknoll
Prior to joining the Maryknoll Fathers & Brothers Associate Lay Missioner Program, Mary Judith Ress and David J. Molineaux were journalists and editors living in Latin America. Both worked for Noticias Aliadas/Latinamerica Press based in Lima, Peru from 1982 to 1989. Judy served as Managing Editor of the weekly magazine during this time. They also worked briefly for the journal IDOC Internazionale in Rome, Italy from 1989 to 1990, before returning to the United States.
Work in Progress
David and Judy took a leap of faith and became part of the Lay Missioners’ Class of 1990. Because of their unique skills as journalists and editors, they were assigned to write a history of Maryknoll’s presence in Chile. They took up the challenge by conducting research at the Maryknoll Mission Archives, and interviewing local Maryknoll missioners who had previously served in Chile. In 1991, they traveled to Chile to continue their work.
David Molineaux and Judy Ress at their Lay Missioner Signing Ceremony, Autumn 1990
Why this history and why at this time? The most immediate motive was the fact Maryknoll Chile was preparing to celebrate its 50th anniversary. This seems a time when it is especially appropriate to value and affirm the contribution of Maryknollers who have worked many years in the region. But the history is also part of an effort to understand where we are today and to project Maryknoll’s role in Chile in the years to come.
Maryknoll Sisters celebrate 50 years of service in Chile, 1993
Photo of Sr. Julie McCarthy, Sr. Kathy Gilfeather, Sr. Norma Valdemoro, Sr. Pat Ring, Sr. Joan Ratermann, Sr. Cecelia Santos, Sr. Bernice Babin, Sr. Jeanne Rancourt, Sr. Gerry Doiron, Sr. Helen Carpenter, and Sr. Roseann Hanley.
Fr. James McNiff on horseback, Chile.
Former Lay Missioners Sam Stanton and Cecilia Espinoza stand in front of the Comprehensive Health Center for Adolescents in Linares Province, Chile.
The book is based largely on taped interviews with the region’s members…We began in January 1991, interviewing former members of the region who were living in the New York area. Then we travelled to Chile; during 1991 we interviewed all members of the Region currently working here. In 1992 we did follow up interviews with some members.
As if undertaking this massive project wasn’t enough, Judy was elected to the Chile Regional Council. She served two terms as Representative of the Associates from May 1991 to May 1993. David was also actively involved in the region’s governance and served as a secretary to the Regional Council.
During this time, they also worked at the Popular Reflection Center in Santiago, Chile. The Center was sponsored by Maryknoll and served as part of the Catholic Church’s Vicariate for the Worker Apostolate. Along with former Lay Missioner Mary Sue Smiaroski, they taught and supported local labor leaders in their fight against repression and economic injustices.
Molineaux and Ress were a dynamic missionary team.
Our research was hindered by the scarcity of written documentation covering the period before the early 70s. At the time of the 1973 military coup, the Region’s leadership burnt most written records as a security measure. Our file for the entire 1950s, for example, contains only 6 documents written in that decade, plus one reproduction of a photograph!
We were fortunate to have substantial documentation from two earlier Maryknoll Chile history projects. The first, conducted in 1962 under the leadership of Regional Superior Tom McDermott, gathered extensive lists of members and dates, plus profiles on all then-existing works. The second, in 1982, polled all available members and pulled together syntheses of the spirit, vision and activities of each of the preceding decades.
Sr. Laura Magallanes in Galvarino, Chile, 1953.
Fr. Joseph Hahn ministering in Chile.
For efficiency’s sake we divided the material into two periods, working parallel and then exchanging manuscripts for editing and corrections. David drafted the chapters on the 40s, 50s and 60s, while Judy was responsible for the 70s and 80s.
While we don’t have their original notes and edits, Archives is proud to preserve a draft of Maryknoll in Chile that was shared with the General Council in 1992. The manuscript was approved and published in 1993. The first edition was printed in Chile.
Where are they now?
Retirement from the Maryknoll Lay Missioners hasn’t slowed down either of them. David Molineaux has continued to publish in both English and Spanish on topics such as spirituality and ecological justice. His latest co-authored book is titled Una spiritualità oltre il mito (A spirituality beyond the myth). It was published in November 2019.
Judy Ress has continued to publish in both Spanish and English on feminist theology and ecofeminism. In 2007, her book Ecofeminism in Latin America won second place in the “Best Gender Issues” category from the Catholic Press Association Awards. She is President Emeritus of Tremonhue, a Center for Spirituality and Holistic Health in Chile, where she continues to give workshops.
You can watch one of her talks on Ecofeminist Theology here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwuA-rEYT0E
This talk is given in Spanish, but don’t worry if you don’t speak the language! YouTube provides subtitles in English, along with several other languages.
Judy Ress (left) walking the labyrinth at Tremonhue, southeast of Santiago, Chile (Maryknoll Photo by Sean Sprague). Originally featured in “20th anniversary of a Chilean spirituality center” by Judy Ress.
Former Lay Missioner Ted Gutmann-Gonzalez stands on a windmill, Chile.
Did you know…?
Molineax and Ress are not the only former Maryknoll Lay Missioners to publish books. If you haven’t already, I recommend reading our blog post on Singing to the Dead by Victoria Armour-Hileman. Her book documents her experience as a missioner in Thailand serving refugees from Burma.
Sr. Rose Andree Krieger crossing a bridge, Chile.
Interested in learning more about Maryknoll?
You can contact the Archives at:
Maryknoll Mission Archives
PO Box 305, Maryknoll, New York 10545
Phone: 914-941-7636
Office hours: 8:30 am-4:00 pm Monday-Friday
Email: archives@maryknoll.org
Website: www.maryknollmissionarchives.org
References:
Casa Cultural Tejiendo Sororidades. (2019, April 22). Entrevista a la teóloga ecofeminista Mary Judith Ress. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwuA-rEYT0E
David Molineaux. Academia.edu. (2025). https://independent.academia.edu/Molineaux
Di Silvestro, J. (2021, August 4). Mission in South America. Maryknoll Mission Archives. https://maryknollmissionarchives.org/mission-in-south-america/
Father James F. McNiff, MM. Maryknoll Mission Archives. (2014, April 23). https://maryknollmissionarchives.org/deceased-fathers-bro/father-james-f-mcniff-mm/
Father Joseph A. Hahn, MM. Maryknoll Mission Archives. (2014, April 22). https://maryknollmissionarchives.org/deceased-fathers-bro/father-joseph-a-hahn-mm/
Father Miguel F. d’Escoto, MM. Maryknoll Mission Archives. (2017). https://maryknollmissionarchives.org/deceased-fathers-bro/father-miguel-f-descoto-mm/
Father Thomas F. McDermott, MM. Maryknoll Mission Archives. (2014, April 22). https://maryknollmissionarchives.org/deceased-fathers-bro/father-thomas-f-mcdermott-mm/
Judith Ress. Academia.edu. (2025). https://independent.academia.edu/JudithRess
MFB Newsletters, 1921-2024. Maryknoll Mission Archives. (2025). https://maryknollmissionarchives.libraryhost.com/index.php?p=collections%2Fcontrolcard&id=126&q=newsletters
Molineaux, D. J., & Ress, M. J. (1993). Maryknoll in Chile: The first fifty years. Mosquito Editores.
Ress, J., Molineaux, D., Villamayor, S., Sudati, F., & Fox, M. (2019, November). Una spiritualità oltre il mito. Academia.edu. https://www.academia.edu/41354191/Vigil_Molineaux_Ress_Sudati_Villamayor_Fox_Una_spiritualit%C3%A0_oltre_il_mito_Dal_frutto_proibito_alla_rivoluzione_della_conoscenza_Collana_Oltre_le_religioni_3_Appena_uscito_1a_edizione_novembre_2019_
Ress, J. (2023, May 3). 20th anniversary of a chilean spirituality center. Maryknoll Lay Missioners. https://mklm.org/returned-missioners/20th-anniversary-of-a-chilean-spirituality-center/
Ress, M. J. (2021, November 24). Ecofeminism in Latin America. Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/ecofeminisminlat0000ress
Ress, M. J. (2025). Blood flowers. Google Books. https://books.google.com/books/about/Blood_Flowers.html?id=fZLCNgE5eZgC&source=kp_author_description
Rojas, I. (1991, September). Walking with workers. Maryknoll Magazine, 85(9), 21–25.
Sconning. (2023, March 15). Singing to the dead. Maryknoll Mission Archives. https://maryknollmissionarchives.org/singing-to-the-dead-a-missioners-life-among-refugees-from-burma/
Sister Bernice Babin, MM. Maryknoll Mission Archives. (n.d.). https://maryknollmissionarchives.org/deceased-sisters/sister-bernice-babin-mm/
Sister Cecelia Santos, MM. Maryknoll Mission Archives. (n.d.). https://maryknollmissionarchives.org/deceased-sisters/sisters-cecelia-santos-mm/
Sister Geraldine Doiron, MM. Maryknoll Mission Archives. (2014, April 17). https://maryknollmissionarchives.org/deceased-sisters/sister-geraldine-doiron-mm/
Sister Helen Carpenter, MM. Maryknoll Mission Archives. (n.d.). https://maryknollmissionarchives.org/deceased-sisters/sister-helen-carpenter-mm/
Sister Ita Ford, MM. Maryknoll Mission Archives. (2014, April 23). https://maryknollmissionarchives.org/deceased-sisters/sister-ita-ford-mm/
Sister Jeanne Rancourt. Maryknoll Sisters. (2022, May 18). https://www.maryknollsisters.org/sisters/sister-jeanne-rancourt/
Sister Joan Ratermann, MM. Maryknoll Mission Archives. (2019, October 1). https://maryknollmissionarchives.org/deceased-sisters/sister-joan-ratermann-mm/
Sister Julie McCarthy, MM. Maryknoll Mission Archives. (2014, April 30). https://maryknollmissionarchives.org/deceased-sisters/sister-julie-mccarthy-mm/
Sister Kathy Gilfeather. Maryknoll Sisters. (2022, May 6). https://www.maryknollsisters.org/sisters/sister-kathy-gilfeather/
Sister Laura Magallanes, MM. Maryknoll Mission Archives. (2023, April 24). https://maryknollmissionarchives.org/deceased-sisters/sister-laura-magallanes-mm/
Sister Norma Valdemoro, MM. Maryknoll Mission Archives. (n.d.). https://maryknollmissionarchives.org/deceased-sisters/sister-norma-valdemoro-mm/
Sister Patricia Ring, MM. Maryknoll Mission Archives. (n.d.). https://maryknollmissionarchives.org/deceased-sisters/sister-patricia-ring-mm/
Sister Rose Andree Krieger. Maryknoll Sisters. (2022, May 10). https://www.maryknollsisters.org/sisters/sister-rose-andree-krieger/
Sister Roseann Hanley. Maryknoll Sisters. (2021, June 10). https://www.maryknollsisters.org/sisters/sister-roseann-hanley/
Smiaroski, M. S. (2024, April 15). Working to build the “beloved community.” Maryknoll Lay Missioners. https://mklm.org/returned-missioners/working-to-build-the-beloved-community/
Maryknoll in Chile: The First Fifty Years is a comprehensive history of the Maryknoll Fathers & Brothers, Sisters, and Lay Missioners’ works within the country from 1943 to 1993.
Fr. Miguel d’Escoto giving an outdoor service, Chile.
Former Lay Missioner Nancy Brennan-Jordan teaching a group of adults, Chile.
Sr. Ita Ford in La Bandera, Chile, 1978.
