Update: Sister Nancy Murphy completed her ministry in Belleville, Ill., in 2010 when she began serving her six-year term on the Ursuline Leadership Council, and served as congregational secretary. Since 2016 she has continued as congregational secretary. After graduating from Mount Saint Joseph Academy in 1959, Sister Nancy Murphy said she was floundering. “I babysat…
Meet the Sisters
The Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph are a vibrant group of women who continue the call to serve God wherever they see a need. Take a moment to learn more about their lives and how they serve.
Sister Marilyn Mueth, OSU: Wearing many hats to serve the Lord
Update:Sister Marilyn Mueth completed her ministry at St. James School in 2012. She served as librarian, religion and math teacher at Holy Trinity Catholic School in Fairview Heights, Ill., until 2014, when she served in family ministry until 2016. She returned to St. James in 2016, where she is now a K-8 resource teacher. When…
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Sister Mary Ellen Backes, OSU: Bringing compassion to all she meets
Sister Mary Ellen Backes brings concern for the poor and homeless, as well as those in need of a comforting word at St. Joseph Parish in Springfield, Ill.
Sister Karla Marie Kaelin, OSU: Serving the Lord one smile at a time
Sister in Ministry Update: In 2013, Sister Karla Marie Kaelin became director of religious education at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, Louisville, Ky. She served there until her retirement in May 2022, and now lives at the Motherhouse. It took Karla Marie Kaelin 11 years to join the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph after…
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Sister Monica Seaton, OSU: Sharing a life of laughter and joy
Sister Monica Seaton completed her ministry at Daviess County High School in 2009. She served as a teacher in Memphis, Tenn., from 2012-16, and since August 2016, serves as director of vocation ministry for the Ursuline Sisters. On July 17, 2022, she also began serving as a member of the Ursuline Leadership Council. When Monica…
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Sister Mary Celine Weidenbenner, OSU: Joyful and creative
Sister Mary Celine challenges herself and her students to keep finding creative ways to serve God.
Sister Sara Marie Gomez, OSU: “Always ready to help”
Sister Sara Marie retired to Maple Mount in 2019. She went to heaven on July 24, 2022. When Sister Sara Marie Gomez was a small child playing with neighborhood children near her grandparents’ home in Pagosa Springs, Colo., she mentioned that she would like to become a sister some day. “The mother of the kids…
Sister Joan Riedley, OSU: “Bringing joy and music to her hometown”
Sister Joan Riedley brings her welcoming presence to the people she serves.
Sister Mary Matthias Ward, OSU: “ Prayerful, loyal, and down to earth ”
(Sister Mary Matthias retired as director of the Mount Saint Joseph Conference and Retreat Center in 2019. She now serves in faith formation with Ursuline Associates.) In 1994, Ursuline Sister Mary Matthias Ward came to the Sacred Heart Retreat & Conference Center in Gallup, N.M., for a day of prayer. The following morning, she was…
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Sister Larraine Lauter, OSU: Caring and responding wherever she travels
Sisters in Ministry Update: Since 2012, she has been executive director of Water with Blessings in Louisville, Ky. When Sister Larraine Lauter tries to pinpoint how she got such a heart to help the suffering, she thinks of her mother and of turtles at the five and dime. When she was 5 or 6, she…
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