Sister Barbara Gulino has ministered as a Sister of Saint Joseph for 70 years, with 18 of those years spent teaching elementary students in the Diocese of Rochester after earning her education degree at Nazareth College.

When Christ the King School opened in 1957, Sister Barbara was missioned there with two experienced teachers and one other novice. “It was a good beginning working with the lay people of Irondequoit to form a new community,” she reflects.

Sister Barbara then went on to teach at Sacred Heart, sharing “Bishop Casey lived there and it was a vibrant parish with 1400 students in the school.” Other years brought her to Elmira, Dansville, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, St. Thomas More and Immaculate Conception where she became familiar with urban culture.

When Immaculate School closed, her desire to work in another area surfaced. She began her journey into hospital ministry through a program at Massachusetts General Hospital. Once she earned her membership in the National Association of Catholic Chaplains, Sister Barbara became the first woman Chaplain at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Elmira. At that time, the hospital made a big investment into rehabilitation services which was just coming into its own. “Many good experiences came from ministering to patients and staff of all ages,” she adds.

Later in Rochester, she used her pastoral skills at Blessed Sacrament Parish as a pastoral assistant where she worked with newcomers. When the overnight center closed, Sister Barbara initiated the idea of a new outreach and worked with parishioners until The Supper Program was born—a program which remains open today.

She then moved back to a chaplaincy position at St. Mary’s Hospital to work with The Daughters of Charity until their departure in the year 2000. A merger between St. Mary’s and Park Ridge brought about Unity Hospital which resulted in Sister working with other departments and personnel.

In 2004, Sister Barbara formally retired. However, she has since followed her passion for helping those less fortunate by volunteering at Bethany House, Mary’s Place, and Saints Place, as well as promoting social justice issues through the SSJ Justice and Care for Creation Office.