Jubilarians | Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul (DC)
60th Entrance
Sister Helen Negri
Birth name: Helen Rita
Birthplace: San Mateo, California
Entrance: 1960
Education: Bachelor’s in Sociology, Marillac College, St. Louis, 1964
Master’s in social work, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, 1968
Service in the archdiocese: Caseworker, Catholic Charities, St. Louis, 1968-70
Executive director, Child Center of Our Lady, St. Louis, 1986-89
CEO, Marygrove, Residential Treatment Center, Florissant, 1983-2018
Local community superior, Russell Residence, Maryland Heights, 1983-89
Local community superior, St. Joseph Residence, St. Louis, 1989-95
Local community superior, Jacobson Residence, Bridgeton, 1999-2018
Development advisory board, 1990-94
St. Mary’s Special School board, 1993-98
Guardian Angel Settlement Association board, 1997-2007
Assistant in fund development, Marygrove, 2019-present
Local community superior, Oak Hill Residence, 2018-present
Service outside the archdiocese: Elementary teacher in Birmingham, Alabama
Social worker, supervisor, director and associate administrator, New Orleans
Local community superior, New Orleans
Board member in New Orleans and Texas, including National Board of Catholic USA
Board member of St. Joseph Services, Inc., Chicago 2018-present
About Sister Helen Negri: I have always enjoyed nature, especially watching birds. Through my ministry at Marygrove, showing pedigree cats has been a true joy for me and the children with whom I have shared this love. For many years, as a thank you to the children who helped care for our cats, we would take a weekend trip to one of the exhibitions. The children considered these trips a great honor and everyone had such fun! I also enjoy fishing, finding it relaxing and the perfect time to spend with God. I am grateful to my sisters in community, those whom I have served throughout my 60 years as a Daughter of Charity, and to my God, who has guided me and loved me throughout my life journey.
60th Entrance
Sister Emile Morgan
Birth name: Frances Morris
Birthplace: St. Charles
Entrance: 1960
Education: Bachelor’s in English, Marillac College, St. Louis, 1963
Master’s in film, Columbia College, Chicago, 1975
Service in the archdiocese: Secondary teacher, St. Vincent High School, Perryville, 1963-67
Secondary teacher and chairperson of English department, St. Vincent High School, Perryville, 1971-74
Service outside the archdiocese: Secondary teacher in Illinois
Director of communications for Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Missionary in Africa for 29 years
Board member, Opportunity Center and DCCS-EP DC Community Services, El Paso, Texas, 2010
Assistant director at Reynolds Home, 2009-present
Chairperson of Centro San Vincente Family Clinic in El Paso, Texas
About Sister Emile Morgan: Although I thoroughly enjoyed my early years of ministry teaching teenagers and serving in diocesan media communications, I was particularly drawn to following the charism of St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac to serve the abandoned poor. For just under 30 years, I was blessed to serve in the Congo-Congo Province, where I loved helping educate women, who wanted a better quality of life for their children. I also found being involved in the formation of young Congolese Daughters of Charity serving in today’s Africa especially rewarding. I am very grateful to my sisters in community and blessed to have served for over 30 years in a country that needs so much. It is a small miracle to be able to continue serving moms and kids in El Paso for the last ten years.
60th Entrance
Sister Kathleen Miles
Birth name: Kathleen Ann
Birthplace: New Orleans, Louisiana
Entrance: 1960
Education: Bachelor’s in Spanish, University of Louisiana, Lafayette, 1955
Exchange student, University of Madrid, Spain through University of Louisiana, Lafayette, 1955-56
Bachelor’s in education, University of Louisiana, Lafayette, 1957
Service in the archdiocese: Upper elementary teacher, St. Vincent Grade School, Perryville, 1966-68
Ministry of prayer, The Sarah Community, Bridgeton
Service outside the archdiocese: Educator in Missouri and Texas
Rural community services in California
Parish administrator at two rural parishes, Diocese of Little Rock, Arkansas, for 20 years
Parish ministry in North Platte, Nebraska
Hispanic Ministry in Texas
Local community superior in Texas and Arkansas Director of religious education in Texas
Patient representative and volunteer in Arkansas
Board member of DC Services of Arkansas
About Sister Kathleen Miles: In my 60 years as a Daughter of Charity, I have been blessed and challenged. Through the years, God has called me to a deeper commitment of fidelity and of service to His people. Each mission has been life-giving, but it has been serving with the Hispanic community that I am most grateful. I thank God, the Hispanic community and my Daughters of Charity Community for the many blessings of my ministries. Now that I have a bit more time on my hands, I enjoy listening to music (from jazz to opera), watching movies on Netflix, reading and keeping in touch with family and friends! I am grateful to have served with my sisters in community and to our Lord, who continues to guide me and replenishes me daily with His love.
70th Entrance
Sister Patricia Elder
Birth name: Patricia Anne
Birthplace: St. Louis
Entrance: 1950
Education: Bachelor’s in nursing, Marillac College, St. Louis, 1960
Certification as nurse-midwife, Catholic Maternity Center, St. Louis, 1960
Master’s in nursing, The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., 1965
Service in the archdiocese: Nursing supervisor, St. Vincent Hospital, St. Louis, 1956-58
Faculty member maternity-nursing, Marillac College, St. Louis, 1966-73
Staff nurse and midwife, St. Louis City Hospital, St. Louis, 1973, 1974-76
Faculty member graduate program in midwifery, Saint Louis University School of Nursing, St. Louis, 1973-74
1976-80
Director of graduate program in nursing/midwifery, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, 1980-84
Clinical nurse and midwife, DePaul Health Center, Bridgeton, 1986-87
Ministry of prayer, The Sarah Community, Bridgeton, 2013-16
Service outside the archdiocese: Supervisor, director and nurse practioner in nursing-midwifery in Illinois, Tennessee, Indiana, Kentucky and Texas
Faculty at Catholic University of Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
Education coordinator in Kentucky
Local community superior in El Paso
Community ambassador and board chair in Austin
Ministry of prayer at Seton Residence in Evansville, Indiana, 2016-present
About Sister Patricia Elder: I am basically a happy person who enjoys good conversation and humor. My vocation has afforded me the opportunity to serve the poor and bring the gift of life into the world. My experiences have taken me far and wide across the globe, making me grateful for a glimpse of God’s people and creation. My life now in the ministry of prayer keeps attuned to our suffering world. As I celebrate my 70th jubilee, I say with the psalmist, “I will praise you Lord, with all my heart!”
70th Entrance
Sister Maria Liebeck
Birth name: Shirley Dorothy
Birthplace: Gleason, Tennessee
Entrance: 1950
Education: Bachelor’s in science, Fontbonne College, St. Louis, 1957
Master’s degree, University of Dallas, Texas, 1968
Service in the archdiocese: Preschool/early childhood education and art teacher, St. Patrick Day Care Center and St. Patrick School, St. Louis, 1951-52
Primary teacher, St. Patrick School, St. Louis, 1954-57
Assistant postulant directress, Marillac Provincial House, and art instructor, Marillac College, St. Louis, 1958-66
Dean of students and art instructor, Marillac College, and assistant art professor, Cardinal Glennon College, St. Louis, 1967-72
Activity director, Marillac Provincial House Villa Infirmary, St. Louis, 1978-79
Parish minister, St. Paul the Apostle Parish, St. Louis, 1979-82
Art ministry and ministry of prayer, The Sarah Community, Bridgeton, 2015-20
Service outside the archdiocese: Art educator and administrator in Iowa, Puerto Rico and Texas
Pastoral ministry and as local community superior in Texas and Arkansas
Ministry of Prayer, Seton Residence in Evansville, Indiana, 2020
About Sister Maria Liebeck: I have been gifted with creativity and it has brought great peace and joy to my soul. I am a very positive person who celebrates each day with the joys and experiences that it brings. I have been blessed in community to be able to bring beauty to the poor I served in so many ways, to my companions and to my prayer life. The Lord has done great things for me over these 70 years and being in the ministry of prayer affords me the opportunity to give time and thanksgiving to my Lord.
70th Entrance
Sister Carmela Molini
Birth name: Mary Louise
Birthplace: St. Louis
Entrance: 1950
Education: Bachelor’s in history, Marillac College, St. Louis, 1965
Service in the archdiocese: Middle grades teacher, St. Catherine Laboure School, 1959-60
Primary teacher, Perryville, 1975-79
Tutor, Holy Spirit School, Maryland Heights, and Our Lady of Guadalupe School, St. Louis, 2013-16
Ministry of prayer, The Sarah Community, Bridgeton
Service outside the archdiocese: Primary and secondary teacher, librarian, and tutor in Mississippi, Louisiana, Missouri, Iowa and Texas
Pastoral minister in Missouri
Parish minister in South Carolina and Arizona
Docent in Emmitsburg, Maryland
About Sister Carmela Molini: I was born in St. Louis to immigrant parents from Domodossola in Northern Italy. I had two brothers and two sisters, and we were a very close-knit and loving family. Our Catholic faith was an important part of our family life, and we children all attended Catholic schools. I met the Daughters of Charity in my sophomore year, and fell in love with their friendliness, simplicity and joy. My primary ministry throughout the 70 years as a daughter has been in education, as a teacher, a librarian, a tutor, and most importantly, to faithfully follow our charism “to be of service to the poor.” One of my favorite memories is being on mission in Guatemala and all the wonderful people I met there. They had few possessions but were spiritually rich in love for God and family. I feel blessed to have served as a Daughter of Charity for 70 years, and grateful to my community for their support and to my God, whose mercy has nourished and sustained me throughout my years of ministry and whose love continues to fill me with faith and joy.
70th Entrance
Sister Rosalie Digenan
Birth name: Rosemary
Birthplace: Easton, Missouri
Entrance: 1950
Education: Bachelor’s in elementary education, Fontbonne College, St. Louis, 1958
Master’s in special education, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, 1965
Studied spiritual direction and theology, St. Thomas Seminary, Denver
Service in the archdiocese: Middle school teacher, St. Malachy School, St. Louis, 1951-52
Board member of Missouri Child Care Association, St. Louis, 1974-99
Board member of DePaul Health Center, Bridgeton, 1977-81
Mission integration, Florissant, 2010-18
Board member of Vincentian Mission Corps., St. Louis 2014-18
Service outside the archdiocese: Teacher in Illinois, Mississippi, Utah, and Kansas City, Missouri
Elementary administration and executive director in Kansas City
Special services for Archdiocese of New Orleans
Vincentian Formation Team member in Denver
Education director and pastoral ministries in Evansville, Indiana
Local community superior in New Orleans and Missouri
Board appointments include Kansas, Missouri, Louisiana and Texas
Ministry of prayer at Seton Residence in Evansville, Indiana 2019-present
About Sister Rosalie Digenan: I have served in so many different capacities, both with children and adults, and enjoyed the challenges that each one provided me to grow personally. I have especially enjoyed serving the young people at Marygrove, which was the highlight of my life! Engaged in spiritual direction opened for me a special avenue to bring healing, hope and a new perspective to those who wished to deepen their relationship with God. It is with great joy that I give thanks to God for calling me to serve his people, the community and my companions for 70 years.
70th Entrance
Sister Anthony Barczykowski
Birth name: Mary LaVerne
Birthplace: St. Louis
Entrance: 1950
Education: Bachelor’s in education, Fontbonne College, St. Louis, 1957
Master’s of social work, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, 1958
Service in the archdiocese: Councillor, Marillac Provincialate, St. Louis, 1989-95
Board Member of DCNHS-WC Hospitals, St. Louis, 1989-94
Service outside the archdiocese: Teaching, social work and administration in Alabama, California and New Orleans
Associate director for Catholic Charities New Orleans for four years
CEO of Catholic Charities
Director of community services for Archdiocese of New Orleans for 21 years
Executive director of community services for 22 years
Local community superior in New Orleans
Board member in New Orleans at St. Vincent’s and St. Elizabeth’s, 1974-76, and Hotel Dieu, 1976-77
Volunteer, Chateau de Notre Dame in New Orleans, 2015-20
Ministry of prayer at Seton Residence in Evansville, Indiana
About Sister Anthony Barczykowski: I have had a full life of ministry and touching the lives of so many children, adults, staff, the disabled, immigrants, refugees and the needy with so many programs for the poor. I have thoroughly enjoyed the culture of New Orleans, the people, and the food and even the challenges. Oh, and the Saints! I am now ready to enjoy a new community life, the quiet of Seton Residence, and the beauty of my surroundings and my recliner!
75th Entrance
Sister Mary John Lindner
Birth name: Frances Louise
Birthplace: Cumberland, Maryland
Entrance: 1945
Education: Bachelor’s in English, Fontbonne College, St. Louis, 1951
Master’s in social work, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, 1956
Doctorate in education in psychology, St. John’s University, Jamaica, N.Y., 1966
Service in the archdiocese: Secondary teacher, Laboure High School, St. Louis, 1952-57
Instructor and teacher, Marillac College, St. Louis, 1957-61
Generalist for president of Marillac College, 1966
Chairperson of teacher education, Marillac College, St. Louis, 1966-71
Teacher, St. Ann Elementary School, Normandy, 2006
Tutor at Parkwood Elementary School and Holy Spirit School, Maryland Heights, 2006-12
Provincial councillor, 1971-74 and provincial, 1974-83, Marillac Provincialate, St. Louis
Local community superior at Marillac College, 1971, The Sarah Community, Bridgeton, 1999-2005, and Eldon Residence, Maryland Heights, 2006-09
Board member of DC Shared Services, St. Louis, 1974-83
Service outside the archdiocese: Teacher in Louisiana and Missouri
Superintendent of Schools for Diocese of Amarillo, Texas
Parish and pastoral minister in Texas and West Plains, Missouri
Ministry of prayer at Villa St. Michael in Emmitsburg, Maryland
About Sister Mary John Lindner: I was blessed to have been born to faith-filled parents, the ninth of 13 children and one of five who became Daughters of Charity. A lifelong interest of mine has been in writing poetry. These poems have been a source of inspiration and comfort in my spiritual life and a means to express my love and gratitude to God. In my ministry of education – as a tutor, a teacher, a councillor and even superintendent of schools – I have realized a progressive unfolding of God’s loving providence. As a councillor and provincial at our Marillac Provincialate in St. Louis, I received the loving support of community and drew on the beauty and strength of our charism in serving our God and those whom we are called to serve. Thanksgiving to God is my response to my 75 years as a Daughter of Charity and as a grateful daughter of our Lord.