50th First Profession
Sister Maria Teresa de Llano
Birthplace: Laredo, Texas
Entrance: 1966
First profession: 1969
Final profession: 1974
Education: Bachelor’s in biology, Marillac College, 1972
Service in the archdiocese: Teacher, Immaculate Conception School, Arnold, 1972-73
Teacher, St. Peter School, Kirkwood, 1973-75
Provincial councilor, Ursuline Provincialate, Kirkwood, 2017-present
Service outside the archdiocese: Teacher, O’Connell High School, Galveston, Texas, 1975-79
Teacher, St. Aloysius School, Springfield, Ill., 1979-82
Principal, Ursuline Elementary, Laredo, Texas, 1982-85
Executive director, Mano A Mano, a nonprofit health organization in Brownsville, Texas, 1997-99
Hispanic ministry, Brownville, Texas, and Matamoros, Mexico, 2001-2007
General councilor, Ursuline Generalate, Rome, Italy, 2007-2013
Catholic Charities volunteer in Laredo, Texas, serving immigrants and refugees, 2013-17
About Sister Maria Teresa de Llano: Sister Maria Teresa has a special heart for Hispanic ministry, especially in service of immigrants and refugees. She transferred to the Ursulines’ Mexico Province in 1985, where she ministered until 1996. Before being called to serve on the provincial leadership team in 2017, Sister Maria Teresa spent four years serving immigrants and refugees on the border in Laredo. In June she went to McAllen, Texas, for a week of service to migrants.
Sister Margaret Mary (Peggy) Moore
Birthplace: Springfield, Ill.
Entrance: 1966
First profession: 1969
Final profession: 1974
Education: Bachelor’s in chemistry, Catholic University of America, 1972
Master’s in theology, St. John’s University, 1983
Service in the archdiocese: Teacher, Corpus Christi High School, Jennings, 1972-73
Teacher, Laboure High School, St. Louis, 1973-80
Campus minister, Ursuline Academy, Kirkwood, 1983-90
Provincial councilor, Ursuline Provincialate, Crystal City, 1996-2002
Provincial prioress, Ursuline Provincialate, Crystal City, 2002-2008
Teacher, Ursuline Academy, Kirkwood, 2010-present
Service outside the archdiocese: Teacher, O’Connell Junior High School, Galveston, Texas, 1980-82
Prioress, Ursuline Convent, Springfield, Ill., 1991-97
About Sister Margaret Mary (Peggy) Moore: She is currently in the 10th year of her second time around teaching theology at Ursuline Academy, St. Louis. She enjoys both outdoor activities: biking, hiking and camping; and indoor activities: baking, knitting and reading. She is deeply grateful for 50 years of Ursuline life and for the abundant grace given by God throughout those years.
60th First Profession
Sister Ann Mangelsdorf
Birthplace: Dallas
Entrance: 1956
First profession: 1959
Final profession: 1965
Education: Bachelor’s in history, College of New Rochelle, 1962
Master’s in counseling psychology, Lindenwood College, 1979
Service in the archdiocese: Teacher, Corpus Christi District School, Jennings, 1975-77
Ministry to the elderly, Cardinal Ritter Institute, St. Louis, 1979-84
Service outside the archdiocese: Teacher, Ursuline Academy, New Orleans, 1962-65
Teacher, St. Angela Merici School, New Orleans, 1965-67
Teacher, Sacred Heart School, Dallas, 1967-68
Teacher, Ursuline Academy, Dallas, 1969-74
Counselor to the elderly, St. Anthony’s Hospital, Alton, Ill., 1986-88
Counselor, Blessing Place, a personal growth community, Lacombe, La., 1988-90
Senior center coordinator, St. John’s Community Center, New Orleans, 1990-93
Teacher, St. Francis of Assisi Middle School, New Orleans, 1993-94
Teacher, Our Lady of Lourdes School, New Orleans, 1994-96
Religious coordinator, Our Lady of Lourdes School, New Orleans, 1996-2001
Case manager, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Dallas, 2006-16
About Sister Ann Mangelsdorf: She is retired and living in Dallas, Texas, where she has a ministry of community service.
Sister Mary Ellen Neeves
Birthplace: Bloomington, Ill.
Entrance: 1956
First profession: 1959
Final profession: 1964
Education: Bachelor’s in history, College of New Rochelle, 1962
Master’s in religious studies, Providence College, 1975
Service in the archdiocese: Teacher, St. Peter School, Kirkwood, 1962-65
Teacher and assistant principal, St. Joseph School, Clayton, 1965-68
Teacher, St. Rose of Lima School, De Soto, 1975-76
Provincial prioress, Ursuline Provincialate, Crystal City, 1978-84
Novice directress, Ursuline Center, Crystal City, 1988-90
Teacher, St. Mary Magdalen School, St. Louis, 1990-92
Director, Learning Club, St. Vincent De Paul School, St. Louis, 1999-2000
Provincial councilor, Ursuline Provincialate, Crystal City, 2002-08
Service outside the archdiocese: Principal, St. Ambrose School, Alton, Ill., 1968-71
Principal, St. Angela School, New Orleans, 1971-74
Spiritual director, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 2008-09
Principal, St. Aloysius School, Springfield, Ill., 1985-88
Tertian directress, Ursuline Generalate, Rome, Italy, 1996-2002
Volunteer and retreat director, St. Vincent’s Parish Outreach Center, 2009-16
About Sister Mary Ellen Neeves: She is retired from active ministry but continues to serve God’s people through volunteer work. She helps at the TEAM Food Pantry in Florissant as well as serving as a teacher’s aide at Most Holy Trinity School in north St. Louis. She finds great joy in and appreciation for her Ursuline community and her wonderful family. She is grateful for the time and space to live a more contemplative life.
Sister Ann Marie (Charles Marie) Owen
Birthplace: Chicago
Entrance: 1956
First profession: 1959
Final profession: 1964
Education: Bachelor’s in history, College of New Rochelle, 1962
Master’s in religious studies, Webster College, 1969
Service in the archdiocese: Teacher, Corpus Christi Grade School, Jennings, 1965-72
Teacher, St. Rose of Lima, De Soto, 1981-83
Teacher, St. Peter School, Kirkwood, 1983-84
Director of religion, St. Peter School, Kirkwood, 1984-85
Pastoral associate, Notre Dame de Lourdes, Wellston, 1985-92
Coordinator of services to homeless, St. Patrick’s Center, St. Louis, 1992-94
Service outside the archdiocese: Teacher, St. Patrick School, Alton, Ill., 1962-65
Principal, Blessed Sacrament School, Springfield, Ill., 1972-78
Religious education coordinator, St. Thomas Parish, Decatur, Ill., 1979-81
Case manager, The Kitchen, Inc., a family shelter for homeless women and children in Springfield, Mo., 1996-2001
Community support worker, Burrell Behavioral Health, Springfield, Mo., 2001-15
About Sister Ann Marie (Charles Marie) Owen: She is retired and living in Springfield, Mo., where she maintains a “ministry of love.”
65th First Profession
Sister Mary Denis Lessard
Birth name: Mary Louise Lessard
Birthplace: Glendale
Entrance: 1951
First profession: 1954
Final profession: 1958
Education: Bachelor’s in English, College of New Rochelle, 1957
Master’s in education, Saint Louis University, 1969
Service in the archdiocese: Teacher, Sacred Heart School, Festus, 1962-65
Teacher, Corpus Christi Grade School, Jennings, 1969-72
Teacher, Sacred Heart School, Festus, 1972-74
Teacher, Holy Child School, Arnold, 1990-93
Teacher, St. Clare of Assisi, Ellisville, 1994-2000
Service outside the archdiocese: Teacher, St. Patrick School, Galveston, Texas, 1957-60
Teacher, St. Bernard School, Alton, Ill., 1960-62
Teacher, Ascension School, Oak Park, Ill., 1965-69
Teacher, St. Thomas School, Decatur, Ill., 1974-75
Teacher, public school, Arcadia, Mo., 1981-90
Teacher, St. Eustachius School, Portageville, Mo., 2000-04
About Sister Mary Denis Lessard: Her Ursuline ministry was education, primarily to children in grades kindergarten through third. While she loved all of the students, kindergarten was the most enjoyable because the children were new to school, so innocent and eager to learn and ready to take on any activity.
70th First Profession
Sister Rosemary Meiman
Birth name: Mary Elizabeth Meiman
Birthplace: Covington, Ky.
Entrance: 1946
First profession: 1949
Final profession: 1952
Education: Bachelor’s in English, College of New Rochelle, 1952
Master’s in education, Saint Louis University, 1962
Service in the archdiocese: Teacher, St. Peter School, Kirkwood, 1954-58
Teacher, St. Joseph School, Clayton, 1958-59
Teacher, Eugene Coyle High School, Kirkwood, 1959-60
Teacher, Ursuline Academy, Kirkwood, 1960-65
Provincial councilor, Ursuline Provincialate, Crystal City, 1974-78
Teacher, Immaculate Conception School, Arnold, 1978-81
Principal, St. Rose of Lima School, De Soto, 1981-97
Provincial archivist, Ursuline Provincialate, Crystal City/Kirkwood, 1997-2014
Service outside the archdiocese: Teacher, St. Thomas School, Decatur, Ill., 1952-54
Teacher and principal, Villa Maria Academy, Frontenac, Minn., 1966-69
Principal, Ursuline Academy, Arcadia, Mo., 1969-71
Tutor, Ursuline Academy Learning Center, Arcadia, Mo., 1971-74
About Sister Rosemary Meiman: Sister Rosemary died suddenly on July 11, 2019, while leading a group through the Ursuline Missions in Montana, as she did each summer. A longtime teacher and principal, Sister Rosemary “retired” from her second career as the Central Province’s archivist in 2014 and moved to New Orleans, where she promptly undertook new responsibilities in the Ursuline archives and museum there. At age 90, and having celebrated her 70th jubilee in January, she died “with her boots on,” which is exactly how she would have wanted it.
Sister Will Ann (James Marie) Smith
Birthplace: Springfield, Ill.
Entrance: 1946
First profession: 1949
Final profession: 1952
Education: Bachelor’s in math, College of New Rochelle, 1952
Master’s in education, Saint Louis University, 1965
Service in the archdiocese: Teacher, St. Joseph School, Clayton, 1966-67
Teacher, St. Peter School, Kirkwood, 1967-74
Service outside the archdiocese: Teacher, St. Aloysius School, Springfield, Ill., 1952-57
Teacher, Ursuline Academy, Dallas, 1957-58
Teacher, Christ the King School, Dallas, 1958-61
Teacher, Sacred Heart School, Dallas, 1961-62
Teacher, Ascension School, Oak Park, Ill., 1962-65
Teacher, Blessed Sacrament School, Springfield, Ill., 1974-87
Teacher, Sylvan Learning Center, Springfield, Ill., 1987-90
Tutor, Springfield community, Springfield, Ill., 1990-2018
Teacher (part time), St. Joseph School, Springfield, Ill., 1992-2018
About Sister Will Ann (James Marie) Smith: Sister Ann died peacefully July 31 at St. Clare’s Hospital in Fenton. During her decades-long ministry as a teacher, she especially enjoyed teaching reading and math to small groups of high-risk students, using special methods and motivation. She continued tutoring up to age 90, only retiring fully in 2018.