60th First Profession
Sister Robert Ann Harper
Birth name: Mary Harper
Birthplace: St. Louis
Entrance: 1956
First profession: 1959
Education: Bachelor’s in education, Fontbonne College, 1962
Service in the archdiocese: Elementary teacher, St. Stephen Protomartyr, St. Louis, 1962-68
Elementary teacher, Most Sacred Heart School, Florissant, 1974-75
Elementary teacher, Assumption School, O’Fallon, 1983-91
Teaching elementary principal, St. Stephen, Protomartyr, St. Louis, 1968-69
Elementary principal, St. Stephen, Protomartyr, St. Louis, 1969-73
Elementary principal, St. Paul School, Fenton, 1973-74
Elementary principal, Assumption School, O’Fallon, 1975-77
Elementary principal, St. George School, St. Louis, 1977-79
Elementary principal, St. Sabina School, Florissant, 1979-80
Elementary principal, St. Monica School, St. Louis, 1980-83
CPPS transportation driver, motherhouse, O’Fallon, 1991-93
Care of elderly, St. Elizabeth Adult Day Care site manager, St. Louis, 1992-93
CPPS local coordinator, St. Joseph Retirement Center, O’Fallon, 1993-99, 2000-02
Administration, St. Joseph’s Convent of Mercy, St. Louis, 2002-06
Administration, Catherine’s Residence, St. Louis, 2006-09
About Sister Robert Ann Harper: Sister Robert Ann has been working at Sts. Joachim and Ann Care Service in St. Charles since 2009. She enjoys nature, reading a good book and playing a challenging game of cards.
Sister Helene Rueffer
Birth name: Ruth Rueffer
Birthplace: St. Louis
Entrance: 1956
First profession: 1959
Education: Bachelor’s in history, Fontbonne College, St. Louis, 1962
Master’s in religious education, University of St. Thomas, Houston, 1978
Service in the archdiocese: Elementary teacher, Holy Innocents School, St. Louis, 1962-64
Elementary teacher, Holy Family School, St. Louis, 1964-65, 1973-74
Elementary teacher, All Saints School, St. Peters, 1972-73
Volunteer, Personal Enrichment Program, O’Fallon, 1979-80
Secretary, Personal Enrichment Program, O’Fallon, 1980-81
Coordinator of religious education, Most Holy Trinity School, St. Louis, 1983-87
Director of religious education, St. Peter Parish, St. Louis, 1987-91
Administrative assistant, Regina Cleri, St. Louis, 1991-2005
Volunteer, Association on Aging with Developmental Disabilities, St. Louis, 2006-17
Retired volunteer, St. Pius Convent, 2017-18
Volunteer, St. Agnes Apartments, 2018-present
Service outside the archdiocese: Secondary teacher, Reyna de Las Americas, Lima, Peru, 1966-71
Director of religious education, Immaculate Heart of Mary School, 1974-79
Catechetical workshop presenter, various Army bases, 1986
About Sister Helene Rueffer: Sister Helene has been volunteering at St. Agnes Apartments in St. Louis since 2018. She loves reading and live theater, going to the Missouri Botanical Garden and digital photography. She received the Cardinal Rigali Service Award for 14 years of service to the St. Louis priests at Regina Cleri Retirement Home.
Sister Eileen Schieber
Birth name: Mary Margaret Schieber
Birthplace: Gilford, Mo.
Entrance: 1956
First profession: 1959
Education: Bachelor’s in biology, Fontbonne College, St. Louis, 1962
Master’s in pastoral theology, Saint Louis University, 1971
Master’s in biology, St. Mary’s University of Minnesota, Winona, Minn., 1972
Service in the archdiocese: Elementary teacher, St. George Parish, Affton, 1962-64
Secondary teacher, Bishop DuBourg High School, St. Louis, 1964-69
Director of novices, O’Fallon, 1970-75 and 1977-79
Director of pre-novitia, St. John the Baptist Convent, St. Louis, 1975-76
St. Anne House of Studies, St. Louis, 1976-77
CPPS general councilor, O’Fallon, 1980-86 and 1992-98
CPPS director of lifelong formation, O’Fallon, 1994-98
Service outside the archdiocese: Vicar for religious, Diocese of Toledo, Ohio, 1986-90
AIDS Ministry, Northwest Ohio HIV Care Consortia Board and David’s House Compassion, Toledo, Ohio, 1986-90
Director of Hispanic ministry, St. Patrick/Sacred Heart Parish, Sedalia, Mo., 1999-2012
Pastoral minister and director of religious education, St. Patrick/Sacred Heart Parish, Sedalia, Mo., 2009-12
Volunteer, St. Patrick/Sacred Heart Parish, Sedalia, Mo., 2012-13
About Sister Eileen Schieber: She has been working on writing the history of the Sisters of the Most Precious Blood since 2013. She enjoys sewing and reading for recreation.
70th First Profession
Sister Josepha Bauer
Birth name: Rosemary Bauer
Birthplace: Silex, Mo.
Entrance: 1945
First profession: 1949
Education: Bachelor’s in Theology, Notre Dame College, St. Louis, 1969
Service in the archdiocese: Elementary teacher, St. Mary’s School, Hawk Point, 1949-50
Elementary teacher, Our Lady of Fatima School, Florissant, 1952-53
Elementary teacher, St. Maurus School-Biehle, Perryville, 1953-55
Elementary teacher, St. Agatha St. Louis, 1955-58
Elementary teacher, Assumption School, New Haven, 1958-59
Volunteer, Motherhouse, O’Fallon, 1977-78, 2018-present
Maintenance, Motherhouse, O’Fallon, 1980-81
Maintenance, St. Elizabeth Academy, St. Louis, 1989-91
Ministry to the poor, St. Agatha’s Food Pantry, St. Louis, 1988-89
CPPS Ecclesiastical Art Department, O’Fallon, 1993-99, 2000-18
CPPS local coordinator, Motherhouse, O’Fallon, St. Joseph Community, 1999-2000, 2002
Service outside the archdiocese: Elementary teacher, St. Cecilia School, Meta, Mo., 1951-52
Elementary teacher, Guadalupe School, Lima, Peru, 1959-65
Adult religious education teacher, Novitiate, Lima, Peru, 1965-68
Secondary teacher, Reyna de Las Americas, Lima, Peru, 1969-71
Pastoral minister in Santa and Santo Toribio, Peru, 1971-77, 1978-85
Pastoral minister, Sacred Heart Parish, Kansas City, Mo., 1986-88
About Sister Josepha Bauer: She has been serving as a volunteer at Villa Theresa Apartments since 2018. She enjoys relaxing music, reading, travelogues, gardening for the joy of “tending the earth” and hearing from her former students and adults.
Sister Mary William Pezold
Birth name: Geraldine Pezold
Birthplace: St. Louis
Entrance: 1946
First profession: 1949
Education: Bachelor’s in art, Fontbonne College, St. Louis, 1965
Master’s in art, Notre Dame University, Notre Dame, Ind., 1972
Service in the archdiocese: Elementary teacher, Holy Innocents School, St. Louis, 1952-55
Elementary teacher, St. Patrick School, Wentzville, 1955-57
Elementary teacher, St. Joseph School-Josephville, Wentzville, 1958-62
Elementary teacher, St. Alphonsus School, Silex, 1964-65
Elementary teacher, Gateway Academy, Hazelwood, 1992-94
Teaching elementary principal, St. Patrick School, Wentzville, 1962-64
Teaching elementary principal, St. Mary’s School-Moselle, Villa Ridge, 1965-66
Secondary teacher, Bishop DuBourg High School, St. Louis, 1966-74
Secondary teacher, St. John the Baptist High School, St. Louis, 1975-84
Secondary, teacher St. Mary’s Academy, O’Fallon, 1984-85
Secondary school department chair, Bishop DuBourg High School, St. Louis, 1967-74
Secondary school department chair, St. John the Baptist High School, St. Louis, 1975-84
Assistant, Ecclesiastical Art Department, O’Fallon, 1974-75
Artist/teacher, Motherhouse, O’Fallon, 1985-2013
Service outside the archdiocese: Elementary teacher, St. Peter School, Mendota, Minn., 1957-58
About Sister Mary William Pezold: She has been serving in prayer and presence since 2013. She is an avid lover of art and taught it for 28 years.
Sister Marcella Scego
Birthplace: Owensville, Mo.
Entrance: 1946
First profession: 1949
Service in the archdiocese: Hand-stitcher, CPPS Ecclesiastical Art Department, Motherhouse, O’Fallon, 1949-59
Seamstress, CPPS Ecclesiastical Art Department, Motherhouse, O’Fallon, 1961-2018
Sacristan, Motherhouse, O’Fallon, 1959-59, 1961-2009
Elementary teacher, Holy Family School, St. Louis, 1959
Service outside the archdiocese: Elementary teacher, St. Henry School, Charleston, Mo., 1960-61
About Sister Marcella Scego: She has been serving in prayer and presence since 2018. She loves gardening and praying for others.
Sister Rose Margaret Wessels
Birth name: Margaret Mary Wessels
Birthplace: St. Louis
Entrance: 1947
First profession: 1949
Education: Bachelor’s in music, Fontbonne University, St. Louis, 1966
Service in the archdiocese: Teacher, St. Alphonsus School-Millwood, Silex, 1961
Elementary teacher, Sacred Heart School, Ozora, 1961-68
Seamstress, Ecclesiastical Art Department, O’Fallon, 1980, 1982-84
Machine-stitcher, Ecclesiastical Art Department, O’Fallon, 1982-2018
Service outside the archdiocese: Elementary teacher in Quincy, Ill.; Charleston, Conception and Morrison, Mo.; Stratton, Louisville, Denver, and Aurora, Colo.
Teacher and principal, St. Louis School, Louisville, Colo., 1970-71, 1976-80
Religious education teacher, St. Charles Parish, Stratton, Colo., 1971-72
75th First Profession
Sister Mary VÉnard LeBeau
Birth name: Georgine Adele
Birthplace: Zurich, Kan.
Entrance: 1941
First profession: 1944
Education: Bachelor’s in French, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, 1968.
Master’s in education, Helsinki University, Helsinki, Finland, 1979
Service in the archdiocese: Elementary teacher, St. George School, St. Louis, 1944-49, 1960-62
Elementary teacher, St. Stephen, Protomartyr School, St. Louis, 1968
Elementary teacher, St. John the Baptist School, St. Louis, 1983-84
Service outside the archdiocese: Preschool teacher, The English School, Helsinki, Finland, 1949-60, 1962-67, 1984-95
Elementary teacher, The English School, Helsinki, Finland, 1949-60, 1964-83, 1984-87, 1993-95, 1968-83
Elementary teacher, Vanalinna Hariduskolleegium, Tallinn, Estonia, 1995-2015
Elementary teacher, Tartu Katolu Kool, Tartu, Estonia, 2001-present
Administration preschool, The English School, Helsinki, Finland, 1969-72, 1992-93
Elementary principal, The English School, Helsinki, Finland, 1984-92
Curriculum developer, Vanalinna Hariduskolleegium, Tallinn, Estonia, 1993-2015
Ministry to refugees, Helsinki, Finland, 2015-16
Retired volunteer, Helsinki, Finland, 2016-present
About Sister Mary Vénard LeBeau: She has been in ministry to African migrants in Finland since 2017. She loves to chat with her former pupils from the past four decades of her teaching career.
Sister Mary Lou Roussin
Birthplace: St. Louis
Entrance: 1941
First profession: 1944
Education: Bachelor’s in geography, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, 1963
Bachelor’s in music education, St. Joseph College, Rensselaer, Ind., 1970
Master’s in geography, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, 1972
Service in the archdiocese: Elementary teacher, St. Paul School, St. Paul, 1944-45, 1946-52
Elementary teacher, Assumption School Mattese, St. Louis, 1945-46, 1964-66
Teacher, Sts. Philip and James-River aux Vases, Ste. Genevieve, 1952-56
Elementary teacher, St. Paul School, Fenton, 1957-58, 1972-75
Elementary teacher, St. Patrick School, Wentzville, 1960-61
Elementary teacher, Holy Rosary School, Warrenton, 1961-63
Elementary teacher, St. Alphonsus School-Millwood, Silex, 1963-64
Elementary teacher, St. Monica School, St. Louis, 1968-71
Elementary teacher, St. Sabina School, Florissant, 1975-81
Elementary teacher, Holy Family School, St. Louis, 1981-86
Elementary teacher, St. Agnes School, Bloomsdale, 1986-87
Teacher, Private Music Lessons, St. Louis, 1956-57
College instructor, St. Mary’s College, O’Fallon, 1980-81
Receptionist and assistant, South City Chiropractic Clinic, St. Louis, 1987-99
CPPS transportation driver, St. Elizabeth Convent, St. Louis, 1999-2010
Care of elderly, St. Elizabeth Adult Day Care, St. Louis, 2008-10
Service outside the archdiocese: Teacher in Pueblo, Colo., and Quincy, Ill.
Teacher and principal, Redwood Falls, Minn.
About Sister Mary Lou Roussin: She loves to play bingo and do word puzzles. She has been serving in prayer and presence at Abbey Senior Health in O’Fallon since 2010.
Sister Estelle (Sister Tarcisia) Sullentrup
Birthplace: St. Louis
Entrance: 1941
First profession: 1944
Education: Bachelor’s in education, Quincy University, Quincy, Ill., 1958
Service in the archdiocese: Elementary teacher, St. Agnes School, Bloomsdale, 1945-47
Elementary teacher, St. Elizabeth Academy, St. Louis, 1947-48
Elementary teacher, Holy Family School, St. Louis, 1948-57 and 1985-89
Elementary teacher, All Saints School, St. Peters, 1965-67
Elementary teacher, Assumption School-Mattese, St. Louis, 1967-71
Elementary teacher, Most Precious Blood School, St. Louis, 1972
Elementary teacher, Most Sacred Heart School, Florissant, 1976-85
Elementary teacher, St. Lawrence Martyr School, Bridgeton, 1990-2004
Teaching elementary principal, Our Lady Help, Ste. Genevieve, 1960-61
Teacher and principal, St. Theodore School-Flint Hill, Wentzville, 1961-64
Office assistant, St. Mary’s Academy, O’Fallon, 1989-90
Office assistant, St. Lawrence Martyr School, Bridgeton, 1990-92
CPPS transportation driver, O’Fallon, 1989-90
Pastoral care volunteer, DePaul Health Center, Bridgeton, 1992-2014
Service outside the archdiocese: Teacher and principal, Las Cruces, N.M.
Teacher in Mexico and Murfreesboro, Tenn.
About Sister Estelle (Sister Tarcisia) Sullentrup: She has been serving in prayer and presence since 2014. She loves to be quiet, read and pray.
80th First Profession
Sister Mary Brendan Block
Birth name: Regina Block
Birthplace: St. Louis
Entrance: 1936
First profession: 1939
Education: Bachelor’s in education, Quincy University, 1958
Service in the archdiocese: Elementary teacher, Immaculate Conception School, Dardenne Prairie, 1939-40
Elementary teacher, Millwood Public School, Silex, 1940-43
Teacher, St. Joseph School, Wentzville, 1950-54, 1955-56, and 1965-66
Elementary teacher, St. Clement of Rome, Des Peres, 1954-55
Teacher, Sts. Philip and James-River aux Vases, Ste. Genevieve, 1956-58
Elementary teacher, Our Lady Help, Ste. Genevieve, 1958-62
Elementary teacher, Holy Rosary School, Warrenton, 1966-69, 1971-79
Elementary teacher, All Saints School, St. Peters, 1969-70
Elementary teacher, Sacred Heart School, Ozora, 1970-71
Elementary teacher, St. John the Baptist-Gildehaus, Villa Ridge, 1979-80
Elementary teacher, Assumption School, New Haven, 1980-82
Elementary teacher, St. Paul School, St. Paul, 1982-94
Crafts/needlework and volunteer, O’Fallon Motherhouse, 1994-98
Service outside the archdiocese: Elementary teacher, Sacred Heart School, Wynot, Neb., 1943-46
Elementary teacher, St. Anthony of Padua, Westphalia, Mo., 1946-50
Elementary teacher, St. Joseph School, Rhineland, Mo., 1962-65
Elementary teacher, St. Rose of Lima School, Murfreesboro, Tenn., 1965
About Sister Mary Brendan Block: She has been ministering in prayer and presence at Abbey Senior Health in O’Fallon since 1997. She loved doing crafts and needlework until her eyesight became poor. She also loved teaching grades 1-3. She turned 101 on July 28.