60th Reception of the Habit
Sister Mary Louise Denny
Birthplace: Carmel, California
Entrance: 1964
First profession: 1967
Final profession: 2005
Education: Bachelor’s in theology, Webster University, Webster Groves, 1969
Registered nurse, DePaul Hospital, St. Louis, 1975
Service in the archdiocese: Teacher, Rock Community School, St. Louis, 1970-71
Teacher, New City School, St. Louis, 1971-72
Nurse, City Hospital, St. Louis, 1975-76
Loretto Women’s Social Change Team, Loretto Community, St. Louis, 1976-81
Instructor, Jewish Employment Vocational Services, St. Louis, 1981-82
Program staff, Loretto Center, St. Louis, 1982-2002
Board member, Marian Middle School, St. Louis, 1998-2004
Board member, Intercommunity Housing Association, St. Louis, 2004-06
Healthcare advocate, St. Louis Community, 2002-20
Interim on call nurse, Loretto Center, St. Louis, 2006-20
About Sister Mary Louise Denny: My work over the last 60 years can be described as a spiral. A pattern of working, learning, applying those experiences into new work, more learning, combining these experiences into yet another work, etc. An example would be teaching, then wanting to learn more about the human body, realizing that the one thing humans have in common with each other is our bodies; then nursing school, then combining and teaching nursing to unemployed people. All the while, trying to integrate values I learned in Loretto with employment — to unionize nurses at City Hospital, to take part in starting a women’s free clinic. Working on Loretto’s administrative staff called on my skills as a teacher, nurse, organizer, community member and responsible member of the world community. Along with my work life, I have learned the value of friendship. We are Friends of Mary, not team members, colleagues or relatives. We are friends. A skill not easily learned and sometimes even harder to live. But this gift is one that is perhaps the most important of all. All of this, a spiral of working, learning, creating and learning again. I am grateful to Loretto for encouraging me, supporting me in this.
Sister Mary Catherine Rabbitt
Birthplace: St. Louis
Entrance: 1964
First profession: 1967
Final profession: 1978
Education: Bachelor’s in history and theology, Webster University, Webster Groves, 1969
Master’s in theology, Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, California, 1974
Juris doctor, University of Denver, Denver, 1984
Service outside the archdiocese: Theology teacher, Loretto in Kansas City, Missouri, 1969-70
Religious education director, Fairfield, Iowa, 1970-74
Social advocate, Loretto Staff Office, Denver, 1975-81
Sisters of Loretto Executive Committee, 1982-86, 1990-92, 1994-2000 and 2019-24
Staff, Denver University Journal of International Law, Denver, 1982-84
Staff attorney, Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Denver, 1984-2000
President, Sisters of Loretto/Loretto Community, 2001-06
Colorado legal assistance developer, Disability Law Colorado, Denver, 2008-18
About Sister Mary Catherine Rabbitt: When I entered I had no idea what “the life” would be like. I just knew that the sisters who taught me in grade school and in high school were wonderful role models. I received my J.D. from University of Denver in 1984 and worked as staff attorney at the Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Denver from 1984-2000. I continued my legal career at Disability Law Colorado after finishing my term as President of Loretto, retiring in 2018. I can honestly say that my nearly 40 years as a lawyer brought me the greatest personal and professional satisfaction. The work consisted of representing seniors and people with disabilities in securing access to Medicaid and needed health care and housing benefits through litigation and advocacy efforts. From the very beginning I was drawn to mission and community in Loretto. I take seriously our commitment to “work for justice and act for peace because the Gospel urges us.” It has been and continues to be a rich and fulfilling life. I am very grateful for all that has transpired in those 60 years and for my companions on the journey.
Sister Janet Marie Rabideau
Birthplace: Kankakee, Illinois
Entrance: 1964
First profession: 1967
Final profession: 1977
Education: Bachelor’s in education and social studies, Loretto Heights College, Denver, 1969
Master’s in education, Webster University, Webster Groves, 1983
Service in the archdiocese: Teacher, St. Pius V School, St. Louis, 1983-94
Teacher, Corpus Christi District School, Jennings, 1996-97
Teacher, St. Jerome School, St. Louis, 1997-2003
Teacher, John Paul II School, St. Louis, 2003-04
Service outside the archdiocese: Teacher, Highland Park, Illinois, 1969-74; Taylorville, Illinois, 1975-80; Santa Fe, New Mexico, 1980-81; Albuquerque, New Mexico, 1981-82
Assistant archivist, Loretto Motherhouse, Nerinx, Kentucky, 2004-10
About Sister Janet Marie Rabideau: Loretto has gifted me with an education and opportunity for continued education and growth so that I could remain teaching for more than 30 years. Each year has had its challenges and opportunities to help meet the needs of the children and their parents. I liked living in the area of the schools and became active in parish functions. In 2004, I moved to our Motherhouse in Kentucky where I began working in the archives. It was new work for me and I learned much. Working on the development of the new Loretto Heritage Center was exciting. Life at the Motherhouse is never dull. We have lots of visitors to make welcome, meetings to attend and events to enjoy. I am a local driver, enjoy reading, observing nature and taking care of my elderly cat. I always seem to find projects to work on.
Sister Barbara Roche
Birthplace: St. Louis
Entrance: 1964
First profession: 1967
Final profession: 2005
Education: Bachelor’s in history, minor in English, Webster University, Webster Groves, 1969
Service in the archdiocese: Social advocate for congregation, St. Louis, 1972-75
Researcher, Neighborhood Housing Information Center, St. Louis, 1976-77
Lobbyist Housing Alliance, St. Louis, 1977-81
Associate director, National Nuclear Weapons Freeze Campaign, St. Louis, 1981-85
Executive director, Sisters’ Energy Conservation Project, St. Louis, 1985-86
President, Nerinx Hall High School, Webster Groves, 1986-2013
Administrative assistant, Marian Middle School, St. Louis, 2014-21
Service outside the archdiocese: Military caseworker, Office of U.S. Sen. Stuart Symington, Washington, D.C., 1969-72
About Sister Barbara Roche: When I joined Loretto, I pictured my life would be pretty much like that of the sisters I admired and liked. We were on the verge of many changes. In fact, Sister Mary Luke Tobin left to participate in Vatican II the morning after I arrived as a postulant. Serving as president of Nerinx for 27 years capped my work life. I brought the variety of experiences I had to that job: fundraising for a housing advocacy group, supervising staff and preparing budgets for the Nuclear Weapons Freeze Campaign and understanding facility management from working for an energy conservation project. Most importantly, I worked with a wide variety of people so I was able to relate to faculty and staff, parents, students and alums. What means the most to me about belonging to Loretto is being part of a community that challenges me and broadens my perspective. I support and advocate for migrants, because Loretto is; I am part of a worldwide movement for peace and nonviolence because Loretto is; and I fight for climate justice because Loretto does. Loretto keeps me aware and urges me to do my small part to “work for justice and act for peace.”
65th Reception of the Habit
Sister Mary Ann (Sister Mary Meghan) McGivern
Birthplace: Bloomington, Illinois
Entrance: 1959
First profession: 1962
Final profession: 1967
Education: Bachelor’s in English, Webster University, Webster Groves, 1964
Master’s in education, Stanford University, Stanford, California, 1971
Service in the archdiocese: Education director and staff member, Peace Institute, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, 1973-82
Member of the St. Louis Catholic Worker Community, 1977-2005
Founder and first director, Midwest Coalition for Responsible Investment, leading religious orders to challenge red-lined loans, sale of the Krugerrand and weapons manufacture, 1977-82
Founder and director, Economic Conversion Project (now Peace Economy Project), 1978-81, 1988-2001
Staff director, Loretto Peace and Justice, St. Louis, 2001-05
Executive director, Project COPE (a prisoner re-entry program), St. Louis, 2006-09
Writer and criminal justice reform activist, 2010-present
Member, Loretto Executive Committee and Community Forum, 2016-18
Development director, Loretto Community, St. Louis, 2019-22
Board member, Peace Economy Project, St. Louis, 2015-present
Service outside the archdiocese: Teacher, Highland Park, Illinois, 1964-65; Englewood, Colorado, 1965-67; Kansas City, Missouri, 1967-70;
Organizer, United Farm Workers, Florida, 1976
About Sister Mary Ann McGivern: Sister Mary Ann began picketing for the United Farm Workers in St. Louis in 1972. She learned nonviolent direct action, calling on shoppers to boycott grapes and lettuce and Gallo Wine. She was arrested several times then and again later during protests of military production and deployment. She called on local corporations to plan for civilian production and she spoke at U.N. conferences on conversion after the Berlin Wall fell in Germany, the UK, Moscow, Beijing and Panama. For 10 summers she was an observer during the “Marching Season” in Northern Ireland as a member of the Irish Parades Emergency Committee. During this time, for 29 years, she lived at the Catholic Worker, first at Karen House and then at Little House, offering housing to women and children. She learned something about what it means to have no resources. She writes about these experiences extensively, including in a bi-weekly St. Louis Review column for two years and on KWMU as a weekly commentator for 20 years and as a National Catholic Reporter blogger for 15 years. Look for her Scripture reflections on the Loretto website! She also wrote a cookbook and is an avid gardener.
70th Reception of the Habit
Sister Barbara (Sister Hildegarde) Schulte
Birth name: Barbara Ellen Schulte
Birthplace: Jefferson City, Missouri.
Entrance: 1954
First profession: 1957
Final profession: 1962
Education: Bachelor’s in elementary education, with minors in philosophy and social studies, Webster University, Webster Groves, 1958
Master’s in special education, Syracuse University, New York, 1965
Service in the archdiocese: Teacher, St. Ann, St. Louis, 1958-64
Service outside the archdiocese: Teacher, Pathway School, Norristown, Pennsylvania, 1965-67
Teacher, 1967-76; director, 1976-97; admissions, 1997-2004; volunteer tutor, 2004-10; all at Havern School, Littleton, Colorado
Volunteer, Catholic Charities Emergency Center, Englewood, Colorado, 2010-13
Part-time receptionist, Loretto Center, Littleton, Colorado, 2010-18
About Sister Barbara Schulte: When I was in high school, I was told that I was good with children. I was able to use this gift in my teaching career. It was great to have a group of young children to be with daily and to help them learn and, hopefully, to learn to love school. When I was asked to leave the classroom for an administrative job, I still saw the children daily in the halls at Havern School and tried to make them feel comfortable and enjoy school. What I miss most in retirement is the children. I think that the aspect of belonging to Loretto that has meant the most to me, especially as I get older, is community — being a part of this beautiful group of people who make up Loretto is priceless. I would not be the person I am today were it not for the community.
Sister Joan (Sister Joan Maura) Spero
Birth name: Joan Marie Spero
Birthplace: Denver
Entrance: 1954
First profession: 1957
Final profession: 1962
Education: Bachelor’s in elementary education, minors in social studies and English, Webster University, Webster Groves, 1959
Master’s in education, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, 1971
Registered nurse, St. Luke’s Hospital School of Nursing, St. Louis, 1978
Service in the archdiocese: Teacher, Immaculate Conception, St. Louis, 1959-61
Teacher, St. Pius V, St. Louis, 1961-63
Teacher, Ascension, Chesterfield, 1963-65
Teacher, Visitation-Holy Ghost, St. Louis, 1965-66
Teacher, St. Rose of Lima, St. Louis, 1966-73
Office staff, Cardinal Ritter Institute, St. Louis, 1973-75
Nurse, St. Mary’s Health Center, St. Louis, 1978-81
Staff, aging/health care, community life development, Sisters of Loretto, St. Louis, 1981-83
Staff, Wholistic Health Department, Sisters of Loretto, St. Louis, 1983-86
Staff nurse, St. Mary’s Health Center, St. Louis, 1986-87
Interim administrator, Lafayette Retirement Center, St. Louis, 1987-88
Assisted care administrator, Loretto Center, St. Louis, 1988-90
Nurse, Grace Hill Neighborhood Services, St. Louis, 1990-94
Service outside the archdiocese: Nurse, St. Francis Shelter, Denver, 1994-2006
Director, Loretto Spirituality Center, Littleton, Colorado, 2006-10
About Sister Joan Spero: Growing up in North Denver and for several years living just one block from Holy Family Church and School, I was a student there for 12 years and became acquainted with the Sisters of Loretto who staffed the school. I knew it to be a caring and happy community. It was not difficult then when considering religious life to choose Loretto. During the past 70 years I have been happy being part of this community and with Loretto’s work to bring about the evolution of religious life for our times. I have been fortunate to have participated in a variety of ministry works during these years, including teaching and nursing. These have brought great satisfaction and many blessings. Of these, possibly the most heart-engaging was providing healthcare for those experiencing homelessness through Grace Hill Neighborhood Services in St. Louis.
