50th First Profession
Sister M. Anne Maskey
Birth name: Marilyn Kay Maskey
Birthplace: Springfield, Illinois
Entrance: 1974
First profession: 1977
Final profession: 1981
Education: Bachelor’s in theology and secondary certification in English, Saint Louis University, 1980
Service in the Archdiocese of St. Louis: Certified nurse’s aide, Mother of Good Counsel Home, St. Louis, 1970-74, 1976
Office work, Mother of Good Counsel Home, St. Louis, 1985-86
Manager of scheduling adoration hours for community’s San Damiano Adoration Chapel and editor of community calendar, Mother of Good Counsel Home, St. Louis, 2026-present
Service outside the Archdiocese of St. Louis: Vocation directress for American Province, Alton, Illinois, 1977-84
Teacher, St. Patrick’s Grade School, Alton, Illinois, 1981-84
Provincial secretary for American Province, Alton, Illinois, 1984-90
Teacher, Pius X High School, Lincoln, Nebraska, 1990-92
Teacher, St. Cecilia’s High School, Hastings, Nebraska, 1992-95
Office work in the American Province, Alton, Illinois, 1995-2004
Manager of scheduling adoration hours for community’s San Damiano Adoration Chapel and editor of community calendar, Alton, Illinois, 2008-26
About Sister M. Anne Maskey: When I was 10 years old, my family moved from Springfield, Illinois, to St. Louis. I attended St. Sebastian Grade School and Corpus Christi High School. When I was 15 years old, I wanted to become a pediatrician and serve in the missions. So, I decided to get a job as a nurse’s aide. I worked at our community’s Mother of Good Counsel Home (the Home) in St. Louis. That was the beginning of my religious vocation! I worked at the Home for four years. I attended Saint Louis University as a freshman. At the University of Missouri-St. Louis, I continued to study pre-med as a sophomore. Each day, I attended holy Mass and prayed the Rosary. Jesus was speaking to me in the depths of my heart! I came to love our sisters at the Home, especially those on second floor where I worked. Sister M. Saloma, Sister M. Stephanie and all our sisters taught me what it means to give your life to God as a sister by their love, generosity and joy, through their words, actions and prayers. I am very grateful to God and to our sisters for my religious vocation!
60th First Profession
Sister M. Bernard Simmons
Birth name: Patricia J. Simmons
Birthplace: St. Louis
Entrance: 1964
First profession: 1967
Final profession: 1971
Education: Bachelor’s in social work, Marillac College, 1971
Master’s in religious studies, Notre Dame Pontifical Catechetical Institute, 1985
Master’s in education, University of Michigan, 1990
Certificate in administration, University of Nebraska in Lincoln, 1996
Service in the Archdiocese of St. Louis: Mother of Good Counsel Home, 2011-present
Service outside the Archdiocese of St. Louis: Comanche Park Housing, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1971-76
St. Francis Convent, Alton, Illinois, 1976-77
St. Matthew’s Elementary School, Alton, Illinois, 1977-83
St. Edward’s on the Lake Elementary School, Lake Port, Michigan, 1983-90
St. Catherine’s Elementary School, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1990-92
St. Michael’s Elementary School, Hastings, Nebraska, 1992-10
Holy Spirit Elementary School, Kansas City, Kansas, 2010-11
About Sister M. Bernard Simmons: I thank our Lord for these unbelievable 60 years in professed religious life and for the multiple ways in which He has graciously guided me. It is for this reason, and others, that I love the quote from St. Paul: “Praised be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
