Meet the Sisters

I entered religious life during the beginnings  of Vatican II.  I was blessed to be part of all the changes that have taken place in the Church and in religious life.  Being a missionary community, I was also able to minister to/with the Hispanic immigrant communities for many years in Southern California.  Pastoral ministry has been my passion, it’s what has given me purpose and meaning and a love for the poor and marginalized. I am also deeply grateful that I have been able to serve my own religious community as a member of elected leadership.

Coming from Portland, OR, I entered the Congregation in 1975. My educational background is a combination of theology and organization development. My initial ministries included diocesan religious education, pastoral planning, and serving as Chancellor in the Diocese of San Bernardino. Since 2000 I have served three terms in congregational leadership, including president from 2016-2022, and continue to serve as a consultant and process facilitator for religious congregations in the United States.

In God’s plan and grace, I began the special journey from rural Iowa to become an OLVM Sister in 1957. This journey guided me through years of initial preparation and ongoing studies along with OLVM Catechetical and Missionary Ministry in Michigan, California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Indiana, New Mexico, etc. Prayer and Creativity remain mainstays in my life. Now, in my Elder Years I marvel at all the wonderful people and experiences along the way and realize more gratefully that all of life is both a Miracle and a Grace.

I was born in New Brunswick, Canada of Irish parents. I felt the call to be a Missionary. For 10 years, I was in religious education, then, for five years, Vocation Director for the Victory Noll Congregation. With an MSW in Social Work, I was employed at Denver Catholic Community Services for 10 years, coordinating Social Justice and Social Services with Denver parishes. In 1983, I became Executive Director of Catholic Charities of Larimer and Weld Counties in Fort Collins. We built The Mission, a shelter for the homeless. I was called back to be on the Leadership Team. After returning to Fort Collins, we started CARE Housing, Homelessness Prevention, Hand UP, and the Dedicated Navigators. At 80, I retired in Fort Collins.

I was born in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas Mexico, on December 3, 1947. With my brothers and sisters became a permanent resident of the United States on March 6, 1957. I became a US citizen in 1982 in San Antonio, TX. I received my BA in Religious Studies and my Masters in Pastoral Studies. I worked in parishes that serve the poor, immigrants, and most of the population were Hispanics. I worked with a Law Center that helped immigrant victims of crimes, and with lawyers represented children that traveled alone across the border.

A native of Kokomo, Indiana I felt the call to our congregation after visiting migrant camps in the Kokomo area. I have done religious education work in parishes with children, teens and adults in Iowa, California, Illinois and catechist formation for the Archdioceses of Detroit, Michigan, and Denver, Colorado and the Diocese of Fall River, Massachusetts. Over the years I have had the privilege of serving in a number of areas of Community leadership. 

65 years ago I came to Victory Noll from NW Pennsylvania to learn how to be a Missionary Sister of Our Lady of Victory. Starting out as a catechist of 1st graders through adults, in Indiana, California, Utah, Michigan and Pennsylvania, I soon found myself happily involved with individuals and small groups as they engaged in spiritual direction, retreats and houses of prayer. Though officially "semi-retired", I still find my greatest joy helping people deepen their awareness of and response to God's amazing and faithful love at work in their lives.

I was born in Upland, California in 1937. My family attended mass at Our Lady of Guadalupe where the Victory Noll Sisters prepared children and adults for the Sacraments. The Sisters were present to us as they visited the families. I came to Victory Noll in 1965. My first mission was East Chicago, IN. I have ministered in Utah, and Texas as Director of Religious Education and in Bolivia, S. A. with Youth and Director of a Family Counseling Center. Ministry for my Congregation has been that of Committee member, Formation Director, and President.

I was never interested in religious life until I saw in the Our Sunday Visitor an advertisement for teaching Catholic children their religion. Religion was always a precious part of my family. Working 10 years in a a business office and seeing so many people suffering problems with no religion to strengthen them — this caused the desire to teach religion to people, to aid them when facing difficulties. Besides teaching, I also became a registered nurse and served in that capacity for many years.

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I was born in Needles, California near the Colorado River in the land of the Mojave First Peoples. My educational background include social work, religious studies, and teacher education. My ministries have included catechetical, adult education, and English as a Second Language. I have enjoyed teaching adults from many parts of the world. As a Victory Noll Sister, I have been able to enflesh Christ’s immeasureable love and compassion, especially among our marginated people.

I am grateful to have joined Our Lady of Victory Missionary Sisters. It is the best decision I ever made in my life. I have lived a life of some personal suffering over the poverty and unjust social structure of both our nation and international systems but one of much joy that Victory Noll was committed to service of the poor and the least of God’s people. I am pleased with the many opportunities for a variety of ministries that have been available to me.The freedom to choose a ministry with the approval or encouragement of the sisters continues to give both joy and peace.