Here’s a 90-degree angle that works for everyone. It looks like an “L,” denotes love for one of Stone Harbor’s most esteemed citizens, and was tied in with a 90th birthday celebration.
Local officials and friends honored a woman for the ages and the link to them in mid-September. Sister James Dolores Rodgers, a longtime pillar and community relations director of the Villa Maria by the Sea Retreat Center on 111th Street, turned 90 in style. Several friends, public officials, and a grateful community paid tribute to her with a special Mass, luncheon, and celebration.
There she was with Stone Harbor Mayor Tim Carney, accepting a plaque commemorating her long, meritorious service to the borough. That includes a 69th anniversary of professing her vows as a Sister of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
There she was, blowing out the birthday candles and marking the occasion with a broad smile.
And there she was, being acknowledged for a long tenure of leadership, compassion, vision, and community outreach. Nearly seven decades serving as a bastion of kindness and goodwill. Much of that has been spent here, in a facility that has been part of Stone Harbor since 1937.
“Sister James is so much more than the face of Villa Maria,” Carney says. “She is part of the heart of Stone Harbor. For decades, she has lived her faith through service – always willing to lend a hand, offer a prayer, welcome a visitor, or simply bring a smile to someone’s day.
“She has built bridges between Villa Maria and the Stone Harbor community, and perhaps nowhere is that more evident than at Nuns’ Beach, where her generosity toward surfers became a wonderful Stone Harbor tradition.”
Ah yes, Nuns’ Beach. That’s a vivid memory for those who know her well. Behind the smile and congenial nature, Sister James inspired reciprocal kindness with a flair, maybe even an art form.
Sister James was dubbed the “Surfing Nun” for her special relationship with Stone Harbor’s surfing community. In the 1970s, surfers approached her about using the private beach in front of Villa Maria. She welcomed them and often watched the surfers along with the fellow sisters. Sister James compared their wave riding with people utilizing the grace of God to go where the current takes them.
That generous spirit on what became known as Nuns’ Beach grew into a realm of philanthropy. It led to the Nuns’ Beach Surf Invitational, an event that brought surfers, families and the community together while helping support Villa Maria.
It was begun in 1996 by the surfers to thank the Sister Servants of the Immaculate Mary for their use of the private beach. The invitational raised funds for property maintenance, taxes, and operation, and could also have been dubbed the Fun Invitational.
Features included surf heats across divisions like novices, legends, and hot shots, home-cooked food by the sisters, and “Pray for Surf” merchandise such as T-shirts, visors, and towels.
It was classic win-win, with surfers giving back to the sisters who had been kind to them. The event solidified a deep bond between the surfers, the sisters, and the community.
This was just one of many efforts Sister James made to guide Villa Maria through stages of evolution. The hallowed facility rebranded with a 2023 transformation.
It had become clear in 2019 that the original structure, with 250 beds and seasonal operation, was not sustainable. It was demolished to build a smaller, energy-efficient retreat center. The new structure is open year-round to serve both the sisters and all those wishing to come for spiritual renewal.
The Dedication of Mary, Star of the Sea Chapel and Villa Maria by the Sea Retreat Center took place on May 15, 2023. Bishop Dennis Sullivan presided at the Eucharistic Liturgy and the Blessing of the new Chapel, Retreat Center, and the Cornerstone. Priests, religious leaders, local leaders, and all those instrumental in the center’s creation joined the General Administration for a day of prayer, blessings, and celebration.
The two-story retreat center and convent has several sharp features. That includes both individual and dorm-type rooms, a 50-seat chapel, a refectory (dining hall), multipurpose meeting spaces, an outdoor prayer garden with a bell tower, and a courtyard featuring the Stations of the Cross.
Catholic faith is rooted throughout the property. The Mary, Star of the Sea Chapel is available for the celebration of Mass and has the Blessed Sacrament present for Eucharistic Adoration. There are serene indoor and outdoor porches for quiet reflection or small group sharing.
The Stations of the Cross are located inside the chapel and outside, where neighbors frequently stop to pray. Conferences about the faith can be held in the assembly room, which is equipped with the latest technology. The 45 bedrooms available for retreatants each have a crucifix.
Sister James is one of the few people linking the facility’s past and present.
Sister Emily Vincent Rebalsky, IHM’s program director, pays tribute to the personality behind the leader.
“Sister James recognizes the God-given dignity of each person she meets,” Sister Emily says. “She cares deeply about people and is always willing to go out of her way to help others.
“Sister James Dolores is an incredibly kind, loving sister, mentor, and friend to all she meets. We would not be where we are today without her hard work, admirable foresight, and steadfast dedication to the IHM Congregation and to the Stone Harbor community.”
One More Blessing
The facility sports an additional brand of divine intervention.
Visitors have noticed the Sacred Heart of Jesus statue located on the grounds. It is the center of the Stations of the Cross.
According to the Villa Maria website, while the grounds were being excavated in 2022, a worker heard and felt his machine hit something. The crew dug carefully and discovered this beautiful statue, buried 7 feet underground in almost perfect condition. No one, not even Sister James Dolores, had ever seen or heard of this particular statue. At the bottom of it, the name of the sculptor Robert Rautenberg is inscribed along with the year 1909. This predates the construction of the original Villa Maria by the Sea by 28 years – and even the establishment of Stone Harbor by five years.
Like the 90-degree angle, it fits perfectly into this landscape.
