Our Lady of Guadalupe Convent

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Respect Life Apostolate Statement on Our Lady of Guadalupe Convent


mission

The mission of the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity, who reside at Our Lady of Guadalupe Convent, is to provide a place of prayer and hospitality for pilgrims who come to witness and pray for life outside of Missouri's last abortion facility in St. Louis. Through this ministry, the Sisters help build a culture of life and a civilization of love. 

hospitality

The Sisters welcome those pilgrims for life who come to witness and pray outside of the St. Louis abortion facility. As the convent is located directly across the street, Sister Sue Ann and Sister Delores welcome those of all faith communities to fellowship and prayer. Refreshments, restrooms and quiet prayer time in the chapel are available.

spiritual opportunities

There are a number of prayer opportunities at Our Lady of Guadalupe. Please contact [email protected] or 314.792.7555 for scheduling and more information.

  • Adoration & Benediction: held on the first and third Wednesdays of every month, followed by fellowship and light refreshments.
  • Adoration, Mass & Lunch: held on the second and fourth Fridays each month.
  • Prayer Patio: this large, tranquil garden space -- complete with seating, lighting and religious imagery -- is ideal for parish, youth, student, and pro-life groups of up to 25 and is available for fellowship, prayer vigils and pro-life training.
  • Adoration Chapel & Meeting Rooms: the adoration chapel on the first floor and meeting rooms on the upper floors are available for inside prayer, fellowship and meetings for small groups.

Help Support the OLG Mission

 

OLG Adoration


meet the sisters & team

Sister Sue Ann 

Sister Sue Ann is a Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity whose motherhouse is in Manitowoc, Wisconsin: Packer Country!

Her home town is Manitowoc, Wisconsin. She is the youngest of three children. She grew up having the sisters in grade school and it was easy to become friends with the sisters. After eighth grade she went to the Academy at the Motherhouse for high school. After her formation years, to become a sister, she chose to be a home maker/cook for the sisters she lived with, wherever that may be, the Motherhouse, Nebraska, Ohio, California, and Michigan.

Sister also volunteered a number of years in some of the community’s sponsored ministries just before she came to St. Louis. The Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity responded to the invitation to staff Our Lady of Guadalupe Convent, which is starting its fifth year. 

Sister Delores 

Sister Delores is a Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity from Manitowoc, WI. Sister Delores came to join Sister Sue Ann at Our Lady of Guadalupe Convent in July 2018.

Sister Delores grew up on a small dairy farm in southwest Wisconsin. She is the oldest in her family with three younger brothers and two younger sisters. She enjoyed driving the tractor, picking berries in the woods, and working outdoors. She had the School Sisters of Notre Dame and the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity in grade school. After high school she went to Silver Lake College in Manitowoc, majoring in elementary education and minoring in theology. She received her Master in Christian Spirituality at Creighton University in Omaha, NE.

Sister Delores loved teaching second grade at schools in Wisconsin, Mississippi and Arizona. It was a privilege to prepare children for the sacrament of reconciliation and their first communion. Sister also gave vocation talks in schools and parishes for four years before guiding young women coming to the convent as a postulant.

Sister Delores now enjoys meeting people and welcoming them to Our Lady of Guadalupe Convent for prayer and hospitality. “God is a God of surprises who fills my life with many beautiful people.”

Amy, Program Coordinator

Amy joined the Respect Life Apostolate team in July 2021 as the Our Lady of Guadalupe Convent Program Coordinator. She is also involved in the Rachel’s Vineyard Abortion Healing Ministry.

Amy worked as a registered nurse for 27 years in patient care, with over 20 years of experience as a labor & delivery RN. She has the utmost reverence for life from conception to natural death and believes it is a privilege to stand as a witness for the most vulnerable among us, particularly the unborn.

Amy is a St. Louis native and cradle Catholic, receiving all her sacraments at the now-closed Holy Family Catholic Church in South St. Louis City. She has been active in the pro-life community in her home parish of St. Francis of Assisi and is the LIFE Runners St. Louis chapter leader. In her free time, Amy enjoys spending time with her family and doing all sorts of outdoor activities–especially running! Amy and her husband, Steve, have five children, a daughter-in-law and three grandchildren!   

 

history of our lady of guadalupe convent

On September 29, 2017, the St. Louis Archdiocese dedicated the Our Lady of Guadalupe Convent with mass celebrated by Archbishop Robert Carlson. The convent is located on Forest Park Avenue across the street from the only remaining abortion facility in Missouri. The inception of the convent, an initiative of Archbishop Emeritus Robert J. Carlson, began in 2015 with an idea from a group of concerned Catholics wanting to establish a chapel next to the abortion facility in the hopes of serving women in need and ending abortion through prayer.

The property at 4311 Forest Park Avenue was purchased in 2015 by the Archdiocese and underwent extensive renovations to create a convent as well as a hospitality area. On August 28, 2017, Sister Sue Ann Hall and Sister Patricia Sevcik of the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity moved into the convent to offer prayer and hospitality to help end abortion in St Louis. In July of 2018, Sister Sue Ann was joined by Sister Delores Vogt to continue the mission of Our Lady of Guadalupe Convent.

In 2019, when the Respect Life Apostolate accepted the responsibility for oversight of the convent, many physical improvements and spiritual opportunities began. A prayer service is held on the second and fourth Friday of each month, which consists of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and celebration of holy mass followed by lunch for the participants. Bi-weekly adoration is held on the first and third Wednesday of the month followed by fellowship and light refreshments. Priests and parishioners from around the archdiocese are invited to attend these services to pray for an end to abortion as well as a change in the hearts of those working in the abortion industry. Additionally, through collaboration with the Coalition for Life St Louis, those involved in the 40 Days for Life campaign are invited to come into the convent chapel at any time and spend some time in prayer as well as use the convents facilities, find a reprieve from the weather and get a drink of water or enjoy one of the Sister’s famous cookies.

The physical changes to the convent began with the landscaping of the front courtyard of the convent in 2019.in the summer of 2020, renovations were completed in the backyard of the convent with a new patio, landscaping and outdoor furnishings. This new prayer patio is now available for pro-life groups to reserve to come and meet, pray and enjoy fellowship.

Since its opening in 2017, the number of abortions performed in St Louis has dramatically decreased, yet the true impact of Our Lady of Guadalupe Convent is unmeasurable. The Franciscan Sisters have made such a positive impact on the St Louis Archdiocese and the St Louis community as a whole by their prayerful witness at the convent, on the sidewalk of the abortion facility, and their participation in the many pro-life activities throughout the community. As they move toward the future, Our Lady of Guadalupe Convent and the Respect Life Apostolate are committed to continued spiritual growth, respecting all life, and working toward an end to abortion.

help support the olg mission

 

Our Lady of Guadalupe Convent Featured in Catholic News Agency Podcast 

In 2022, Catholic News Agency invited the sisters and coordinator to be interviewed on an episode of its "CNA Newsroom" podcast. 

"Abortions trickle at St. Louis clinic after convent opens across the street

This week on CNA Newsroom, we tell the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe convent in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. The convent has a unique dual ministry of prayer and hospitality in support of the local pro-life movement. Listen below or on your favorite podcast app."
 

LISTEN TO THE CNA PODCAST FEATURING OLG CONVENT

 

location, parking & more information

Our Lady of Guadalupe Convent is located at 4311 Forest Park Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63108. Parking is limited to the street only. Watch "no parking" signs carefully as regulations are strictly enforced. Normally, there are open spots on Boyle Avenue. Please contact [email protected] with any questions, for scheduling or more information at 314.792.7555.

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