70th Entrance
Sister Marilyn (Sister Mary Herman) Chall
Birthplace: St. Louis
Entrance: 1956
First profession: 1959
Final profession: 1962
Education: Bachelor’s in history, Marian College, Indianapolis, 1965
Service in the Archdiocese of St. Louis: Pastoral minister, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Washington, 1995-2023
Service outside the Archdiocese of St. Louis: Teacher, St. Rita School, Indianapolis, 1960-65
Teacher and principal, Mother of the Divine Shepherd School, Mendi, Papua New Guinea, 1965-73
Teacher, St. Joseph High School, Tari, Papua New Guinea, 1974-77
Teacher and dean of women, Holy Trinity Teacher’s College, Mt. Hagen, Papua New Guinea, 1977-83
Diocesan religious education coordinator, Diocese of Mendi, Papua New Guinea, 1984-89
National Christian education coordinator, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, 1990-94
About Sister Marilyn Chall: I am who I am because of all those who have loved me. Born the youngest of 13 children, I went to Holy Trinity School, taught by our sisters. At the age of 5, I told my mother that when I grew up I wanted to be a sister. I liked being around our sisters. They always seemed to be happy, joking with each other and singing. When I made the decision to enter the community, my family was totally supportive. As a novice and scholastic, I was privileged to care for our sisters in the infirmary, where I grew even stronger in my commitment because of theirs. Later, when Mother Marie asked for two sisters to go to Papua New Guinea, I said, “I’ll go.” In Papua New Guinea I taught from primary to college level and directed religious education at the diocesan and national level. I loved the work and the people, but by 1994, I felt the call to return home and to minister to my own people. For 29 happy years, I served as pastoral associate at Our Lady of Lourdes in Washington. Now I am retired at our motherhouse in Oldenburg.
75th Entrance
Sister Edna (Sister Vera) Martini
Birthplace: Cincinnati
Entrance: 1951
First profession: 1954
Final profession: 1957
Education: Bachelor’s in elementary education, Marian College, Indianapolis, 1960
Master’s in education, Marquette University, Milwaukee, 1970
Early childhood education certificate, State of Missouri, 2004
Service in the Archdiocese of St. Louis: Teacher, Holy Trinity School, St. Louis, 1957-59
Teacher, Holy Cross School, St. Louis, 1959-61
Teacher, St. Catherine of Alexandria School, St. Louis, 1961-67
Preschool director and teacher, St. Peter Claver School, St. Louis, 1988-92
Preschool program director and teacher, Holy Trinity School, St. Louis, 1992-2007
Tutor, St. Francis Cabrini Academy, St. Louis, 2007-08
Pre-kindergarten teacher, Cathedral Basilica School, St. Louis, 2008-12
Volunteer tutor, St. Margaret of Scotland School, St. Louis, 2012-15
Service outside the Archdiocese of St. Louis: Teacher, Holy Trinity School, Indianapolis, 1953-56
Teacher, Holy Rosary School, Indianapolis, 1956-57
Teacher, St. Michael School, Indianapolis, 1967-69
Teacher, St. Joseph School, Cincinnati, 1970-71
Teacher, St. Pius School, Cincinnati, 1971-87
About Sister Edna Martini: In my way of thinking, the most wonderful job in the world is taking care of young children. For over 60 years I was blessed with this opportunity as I ministered to the children in my classroom. Each morning I would give thanks that I had yet another day to spend with some of God’s most delightful creatures — God’s little ones. While teaching in St. Louis, I learned an acronym for FROG — FULLY RELY ON GOD. This saying greatly inspired me, and I have spread the message far and near. Today I am living in retirement at our motherhouse, and I remain faithful to the FROG message. God willing, I shall continue to until such time as I am living with God for all eternity.
