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19
Labyrinth Anniversary Celebration

Tuesday, 03/19/2024 at 3:00 PM - 8:00 PM

24
St. Vincent de Paul Annual Palm Sunday Dinner

Sunday, 03/24/2024 at 11:30 AM - 6:00 PM

24
Black Women Poets: Vision and Voice

Sunday, 03/24/2024 at 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

24
Annual Legion of Mary Acies

Sunday, 03/24/2024 at 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM

2
Speaker: Social Media and Teen Mental Health

Tuesday, 04/02/2024 at 6:30 PM

5
6
St. Mark Book Fair

Saturday, 04/06/2024 at 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

7
Poet Laureates Alive: Smith, Harjo, and Limon with Noeli Lytton

Sunday, 04/07/2024 at 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

7
Divine Mercy Sunday

Sunday, 04/07/2024 at 2:00 PM

10
Where Art Serves the World

Wednesday, 04/10/2024 at 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Jubilarians: Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul (DC)

50th Entrance

Sister Joanne Dress

Birthplace: Philadelphia

Entrance: 1949

Education: Bachelor’s in art and teacher certification (N-6), Marymount Manhattan College, N.Y., 1973

Master’s of theology, Fairfield University, Fairfield, Conn., 1983

Spanish language study certificate, Maryknoll Language Institute, Cochabamba, Bolivia, 1994

Certificate in Catholic social teachings, The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., 2011

Service in the archdiocese: Daughters of Charity Provincial Sponsored Works Coordinator, St. Louis, 2017-present

Service outside the archdiocese: Education ministry in New York, Delaware and New Jersey

Pastoral ministry in Brooklyn, N.Y., Elizabeth, N.J., and Harlem, N.Y.

Case manager and director of Catholic Charities of Orange and Sullivan Co., N.Y

CEO and executive VP of Catholic Charities Community Services of Orange County, N.Y.

Executive director of Catholic Social Services, Diocese of Trenton, N.J.

About Sister Joanne Dress: Sister Joanne grew up in Philadelphia, the third of five children. She met the Daughters of Charity while teaching art at the diocesan camp where the children of St. Joseph Gonzaga Home for Children in Pennsylvania were attending. She was inspired by the Daughters of Charity dedication to the service of those who were marginalized and their strong sense of community, as together they serve those living in poverty. She entered the Daughters of Charity in 1969 in Emmitsburg, Md.


60th Entrance

Sister Judith Bright

Birth name: Judith Marie

Birthplace: St. Louis

Entrance: 1959

Education: Associate’s degree, Marillac College, St. Louis, 1963

Bachelor’s in social work, Marillac College, St. Louis, 1972

Master’s in social work, Tulane University, New Orleans, 1980

Service in the archdiocese: Guardian Angel Settlement Association, St. Louis, 1970-72

Service outside the archdiocese: Education ministry in California

Social work ministry in Chicago, Wisconsin and Louisiana

Pastoral ministry, human resources and mission coordinator in New Orleans

Administration at Seton Residence in Evansville, Ind.

About Sister Judith Bright: The younger of two, I attended St. Wenceslaus Grade School and St. Francis de Sales High School in St. Louis. I entered the Daughters of Charity in St. Louis, greatly influenced by the Daughters of Charity at Guardian Angel Settlement who worked so caringly with the poor. I am currently serving the retired Sisters at Seton Residence in Evansville, Ind. I have loved all my ministries, especially in the children’s homes and the various opportunities of serving the poor in New Orleans in various capacities. “I am grateful to God for the blessing now of serving my role models of charity and being blessed in return by God’s chosen Servants of the Poor.


Sister Rita Downey

Birth name: Rita Ann

Birthplace: Keokuk, Iowa

Entrance: 1959

Education: Bachelor’s degree, Marillac College, St. Louis, 1963

Master’s in education, Loyola University, New Orleans, 1970

Service in the archdiocese: Daughter of Charity Provincial Secretary, St. Louis, 1990-2007

Administrative assistant, Marygrove, Florissant, 2008-present

Service outside the archdiocese: Education ministry in Louisiana, Texas, West Plains, Mo., and Iowa

About Sister Rita Downey: I was the third of seven children born to Mary and Bernard Downey. My ministries were in elementary education as teacher and administrator, before serving as provincial secretary in the former St. Louis Province. The 11 years I spent as administrative assistant at Marygrove have given me new insights into the social work field. I enjoy supporting our St. Louis Cardinals.


Sister Julia Huiskamp

Birthplace: Keokuk, Iowa

Entrance: 1959

Education: Bachelor’s in political science, Manhattanville College of the Sacred Heart, Purchase, N.Y., 1957

Master’s of social work, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, 1967

Service in the archdiocese: Elementary teacher at St. Patrick School, St. Louis, 1963-65

Social worker, Roosevelt Center and Griffin Center, East St. Louis, Ill., 1985-present

Service outside the archdiocese: Education ministry in Utah

Social work ministry in Chicago

About Sister Julia Huiskamp: I am the eldest of four children, attended public school in Keokuk, Iowa, and graduated from Keokuk Senior High School. I met the Daughters of Charity mainly through my mother, who was a Lady of Charity. Social and political advocacy for the poor has always been part of my social work practice, a ministry encouraged by my studies at Saint Louis University where I earned my MSW in group work. I enjoy gardening and photography.


Sister Cecile Matushek

Birthplace: Chicago

Entrance: 1959

Education: Bachelor’s in English and Latin, Marillac College, St. Louis, 1963

Master’s in elementary school administration, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, 1977

Master’s in pastoral studies, Loyola University, New Orleans, 1990

Service in the archdiocese: Elementary teacher and principal, Central Catholic Community School, St. Patrick School, St. Louis, 1973-80

Primary teacher, St. Boniface School, Perryville, 1963-68

Guardian Angel Settlement Board, St. Louis, 1975-81

Principal, St. Paul the Apostle School, St. Louis, 1980-83

Elementary principal, St. Boniface School, Perryville, 1983-88

Ministry of prayer and gift shop volunteer, The Sarah Community, Bridgeton

Service outside the archdiocese: Education and administration ministry in Louisiana, Arkansas and Texas

About Sister Cecile Matushek: Born and raised on Chicago’s South Side, Sister Cecile was the fourth of five children. She was drawn to the Daughters of Charity because the Daughters, she says, “offered many opportunities in which to serve the poor.” After serving 20 years as an elementary teacher and principal, Sister Cecile was missioned to Waco, Texas, where she served in administration at Providence Healthcare Network. She also trained and served as a doula, and today says, “I feel extremely blessed to have held the hands of many young women and to have witnessed the first breath of a newborn.” Although nearly all the items in her bucket list have been checked off — including a worn letter received from Alan Alda who portrayed “Hawkeye” in the ‘70s TV sitcom M.A.S.H. (a devoted fan, she keeps his letter in her Bible) — she knows that there is always something that can be done to help and to whom she can gratefully serve.


Sister Judith Warmbold

Birth name: Judith Frances

Birthplace: St. Louis

Entrance: 1959

Education: Bachelor’s in history, Marillac College, St. Louis, 1963

Master’s in theology, The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., 1967

Master’s in counseling and guidance, University of Missouri, Kansas City, Mo., 1992

Service in the archdiocese: Daughters of Charity Provincial Vocation Coordinator, St. Louis, 1978-84

Board member of Daughters of Charity Central Region Foundation, St. Louis, 1996-04

Service outside the archdiocese: Education ministry in California, Illinois and Louisiana

Parish ministry in Nebraska, Texas, North Central and Southeast Missouri

Social work ministry in North Central and Southeast Missouri, Arkansas, and Illinois

Depaul USA DAX program for students facing housing insecurity at DePaul University, 2015-present

About Sister Judith Warmbold: Growing up in St. Louis, I attended St. Monica and Christ the King parishes, and Mercy High School. I am enjoying working with vulnerable college students to provide them with security and stability to make a college degree and future employment a reality.


70th Entrance

Sister Mary Anne Digenan

Birth name: Sara Ann

Birthplace: Easton, Mo.

Entrance: 1949

Education: Nursing diploma, St. Joseph Hospital School of Nursing, St. Joseph, Mo., 1947

Bachelor’s in Nursing Education, DePaul University, Chicago, 1952

Master’s in psychiatric nursing, The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., 1958

Doctorate in psychology, St. John’s University, New York, N.Y., 1972.

Service in the archdiocese: Head nurse and psychiatric supervisor, St. Vincent Hospital, St. Louis, 1951-56

Psychiatric supervisor and clinical teacher, St. Vincent Hospital, St. Louis, 1958-60

Daughters of Charity support, assistant juniorate director and psychiatric lecturer, St. Louis, 1967-68

Psychology instructor, Marillac College, St. Louis, 1967-68, 1970-72

Daughters of Charity Provincial Formation Councillor and Generalist, St. Louis, 1972-80

Daughters of Charity Governance, St. Louis, 2007-10

Daughters of Charity spiritual direction, St. Louis, 2010-11

Service outside the archdiocese: Health care ministry in Louisiana, Texas and Kansas City, Mo.

Ministry of prayer, Evansville, Ind.

About Sister Mary Anne Digenan: The oldest of six siblings, Sister Mary Anne attended the Convent of the Sacred Heart in St. Joseph, Mo., and entered the Daughters of Charity on Sept. 1, 1949, in St. Louis. Her passion is psychiatric nursing and today she loves to support her sister companions. Reading is a true joy, along with many other activities that keep her busy. Prayer is an important part of her day, and she is a true treasure to her companions. As she says, “I thank God to have had the privilege of serving God’s people for 70 years.


Sister Mary Louise Happich

Birth name: Mary Louise

Birthplace: New Orleans

Entrance: 1949

Education: Bachelor’s in science, Fontbonne College, St. Louis, 1955

Master’s in education, Loyola University, Los Angeles, Calif., 1968

Service in the archdiocese: Elementary principal, St. Catherine Laboure School, St. Louis, 1968-72

Daughters of Charity Provincial support, 1990-92

Administrative assistant, Catholic Health Outreach Program, St. Louis, 1990-92

Administrative assistant, Catholic Community Services, St. Louis, 1992-2004

Daughters of Charity receptionist, St. Louis, 2004-09

Service outside the archdiocese: Education and administration ministry in Mississippi, California, Louisiana and Texas

Docent at Seton Shrine, Emmitsburg, Md.

Parish ministry in Oklahoma

Ministry of prayer, Evansville, Ind.

About Sister Mary Louise Happich: The youngest of four siblings, Sister Mary Louise attended St. Stephen School with the Daughters of Charity. She entered the Daughters of Charity on March 16, 1949, in St. Louis. Being greatly influenced by her teachers, she has always been passionate about teaching and the joy that it has brought her. She was beloved by teachers and students alike. Currently she is in the ministry of prayer and is always ready with a glowing smile. As she says, “With a heart full of joy, I give thanks to God for my 70 years of serving His poor and all the blessings that have been mine over these many years.


Sister Josephine Oldani

Birth name: Gloria Theresa

Birthplace: St. Louis

Entrance: 1949

Education: Bachelor’s in education, Fontbonne College, St. Louis, 1959

Master’s in European history, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, 1967

Certificate in education administration, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, 1971

Service in the archdiocese: Elementary teacher in Perryville, 1953-59

Assistant principal in Perryville, 1966-70

Secondary teacher in Perryville, 1967-71

Secondary principal in Perryville, 1971-73

Daughters of Charity, Provincial Councillor, St. Louis 1974-80

Catholic Charities, St. Louis, 1986-98

Daughters of Charity, Provincial Treasurer, St. Louis, 1999 to 2005

Board member for Guardian Angel Settlement and Immigration and Refugee Women’s Program, St. Louis, 2007-10

Governance, The Sarah Community, Bridgeton, 2010-12

Ministry of Prayer, The Sarah Community, Bridgeton, 2012-present

Service outside the archdiocese: Education in Alabama and Utah.

About Sister Josephine Oldani: I grew up in St. Louis in an extended Italian family. My mother was from Milan, Italy. My brother Louis is a Jesuit priest, whom I enjoy seeing more of now that he has retired and is living here. I became interested in becoming a Daughter after attending Laboure High School in St. Louis. There were five of us from the same class that entered the Daughters of Charity after graduation. Currently, I serve as an advocate for social justice, particularly on the state level. I also enjoy helping and serving my sisters at The Sarah Community. I am a fan of the Cardinals, having become hooked on the team at an early age with free tickets from my grade school, and I always look forward to a meal on The Hill.


Sister Edith Thompson

Birth name: Elizabeth Ann

Birthplace: Huntsville, Ala.

Entrance: 1949

Education: Bachelor’s in Education, Fontbonne College, St. Louis, 1955

Clinical pastoral education from St. Mary’s Hospital, Kansas City, Mo., 1974

Service in the archdiocese: Elementary teacher, St. Louise de Marillac School, St. Louis, 1950-53

Elementary teacher, St. Patrick School, St. Louis, 1953-57

Director, DePaul Health Center, Bridgeton, 1979-81

Service outside the archdiocese: Education ministry in Texas and Puerto Rico

Pastoral care ministry in Texas and Louisiana

Docent, Seton Shrine in Emmitsburg, Md.

Ministry of prayer, Evansville, Ind.

About Sister Edith Thompson: The oldest of five siblings, Sister Edith attended Bishop Toolen High School in Mobile, Ala. She was greatly influenced by the work of the Daughters of Charity, and entered the Daughters of Charity on April 24, 1949, in St. Louis She is currently serving in the ministry of prayer at Seton Residence, where her happy demeanor brings smiles to her companions. She loved her time of teaching the children and service as chaplain at the hospitals. Her continuous prayers bring peace to her day, and she praises God for her long life and 70 years of service to the poor.

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