Morning Star Zendo

RIP May 7, 2026: Rosemary O'Connell.  It is with great sadness that Morning Star announces the death of Rosemary O’Connell, founding board member and long time volunteer and supporter. Rosemary was a Roman Catholic who, in 1993 after meeting with Father Kennedy Roshi for some time, told him that he needed a physical “zendo.” And the rest is history. She did an enormous amount of volunteer work on behalf of Morning Star over many years, including as historian, fundraiser, archivist and retreat manager. She always welcomed newcomers.

Rosemary was a renaissance woman with a mind that loved culture, history, politics, and the arts, and she could speak about all of it with clarity and distinction. She was a gifted extrovert who could befriend just about anyone she met. She also worked to find ways of helping just about anyone she met. 

Professionally, Rosemary was a publishing executive at McGraw Hill. Rosemary also worked at the C.G. Jung Institute in New York City. 

She was a voracious reader and, in part because of that, Rosemary was an excellent conversationalist. Her memory was exceptional. She was a world traveler and due to her exceptional social gifts, usually had a place to stay in just about every country she visited. 

Raised in the spirit of Catholic social action, Rosemary volunteered with homeless shelters in Jersey City dedicating herself to supporting the women and children who crossed her path. Rosemary’s life was grounded in the belief of working for “the common good” and the dignity of every person coupled with “bearing witness” to the suffering of others and taking action to build a just society.

Her loving presence is greatly missed.

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Who we are

Morning Star Zendo is a center for zen meditation practice in Jersey City, NJ.  Our founding teacher, Robert Kennedy, is a Catholic Jesuit priest (ordained 1965) as well as a Zen Buddhist teacher (sensei 1991, roshi 1997).  Roshi Kennedy has devoted his career to inter-religious understanding and dialogue, and he welcomes people of all faiths and spiritual practices to Morning Star Zendo.

The spirit at the zendo reflects and builds upon Kennedy's deep respect for and knowledge of Buddhism. It carries out the principles laid out in the Jesuit statement on mission and inter-religious dialogue, which demands that Jesuits be not only familiar with the thought of men and women of other religious traditions, but be immersed with them in theological exchange and in a dialogue of life, action, and religious experience. 

As peacemakers at Morning Star, we believe that our differences are enriching and seek the common ground in which all beings can co-exist in peace. Therefore, we commit not to turn away from the reality of discrimination and the brutality of racism, even our own. We seek to change that reality by listening carefully, living generously, and working to manifest the shared values of justice, compassion and opportunity.