65th Reception of the Habit
Sister Denise Ann Clifford
Birth name: Mary Margaret Clifford
Birthplace: St. Louis
Entrance: 1958
First profession: 1961
Final profession: 1966
Education: Bachelor’s in education, with a minor in history, Webster University, 1963
Master’s in special education, University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, 1970
Service in the archdiocese: Teacher, St. Cronan, St. Louis, 1965-67
Teacher and student choir director, St. Pius V, St. Louis, 1967-73
Service outside the archdiocese: Teacher, All Souls, Englewood, Colorado, 1963-65
Principal and teacher at St. Mary, Taylorville, Illinois, 1973-74
Principal, St. Michael, Houston, 1982-96
Director of development, Loretto Community, 1997-2019
Vice president, Loretto Community, 2001-06
Interim principal, St. Mary’s Academy Middle School, Denver, 2002-04
About Sister Denise Ann Clifford: Says Sister Denise Ann, “Music is my hobby and a part of my service everywhere I have lived. Directing children’s choirs and working with the adults in the parish gave me delight. My work in the Loretto Development Office with donors who believe in the Loretto mission was a joy. I have come to realize the impact and value of Loretto education through the years.” After many years of living in Denver, Sister Denise Ann now lives at the Loretto Motherhouse in Nerinx, Kentucky
Sister Jeanne (Eugenie Marie) Dueber
Birth name: Dorothy Jeanne Dueber
Birthplace: St. Louis
Entrance: 1958
First profession: 1961
Final profession: 1966
Education: Bachelor’s in art, Webster University, 1962
Master’s in art, University of Iowa at Iowa City, 1969
Service in the archdiocese: Studied with Rudolph Torrini, Webster College, while residing at the Loretto House of Studies, Webster Groves, 1961-62
Service outside the archdiocese: Teacher, Loretto Academy, Kansas City, Missouri, 1962-68
Art teacher and artist, Loretto Academy, Kansas City, Missouri, 1970-77
Artist in residence and sculptor, with her studio and art gallery at Loretto Motherhouse, Nerinx, Kentucky, 1977-2019
Retired artist in residence and sculptor, Loretto Motherhouse, 2019-present
About Sister Jeanne (Eugenie Marie) Dueber: Sister Jeanne has exhibited at more than 100 shows all across the Midwest and has work displayed at many locations, including Hallmark, Humana and Brown-Forman Distillers. She also has displayed her work in corporate connections at the University of Iowa and in schools and churches. Her work, entitled “Fiat,” is in Sculpture Park in Webster Groves. Says Sister Jeanne, “Art has always been important to me. I have an interest in constructing things and inventing.” She resides at Loretto Motherhouse.
Sister Roberta (Mary Claude) Hudlow
Birth name: Roberta Jacqueline Hudlow
Birthplace: Osage, Missouri
Entrance: 1958
First profession: 1961
Final profession: 1966
Education: Bachelor’s in art, with minors in English and French, Webster University, 1963
Master’s in art, Ohio State University at Columbus, 1969
Service in the archdiocese: Teacher, De Andreis High School, St. Louis, 1963-64
Art and humanities teacher, Nerinx Hall High School, Webster Groves, 1970-76
Instructor in technical writing, Ranken Technical Institute, St. Louis, 1981-83
Volunteer and manager, Focal Point Folk Music and Arts Coffee House, Webster Groves, 1977-87
Art teacher, K-5 in St. Louis Public Schools, 1987-2000
Art teacher, Marian Middle School, St. Louis, 2002-03
Part-time library staff, Nerinx Hall High School, 2000-16
Service outside the archdiocese: Art teacher, Bishop Toolen High School, Mobile, Alabama, 1964-66
Art teacher, Loretto and Flaget high schools, Louisville, Kentucky, 1966-68, 1969-70
About Sister Roberta (Mary Claude) Hudlow: Sister Roberta is an accomplished artist. Some of her commissioned artworks include the Slave Memorial at Loretto Motherhouse, Founder’s Plaque at Webster University and a wood-relief at the Community Center at Mount Loretto in Denver. Among her works, she constructed a stainless-steel work depicting sports played in the Nerinx athletic field. Her artistic contributions include plaques honoring Mary Rhodes Award recipients, original paintings, logos and brochure design. She also loves cats, including the one who resides in her home studio in St. Louis.
Sister Eileen (Charles Maura) Kersgieter
Birthplace: St. Louis
Entrance: 1958
First profession: 1961
Final profession: 1966
Education: Bachelor’s in education, with a minor in social studies, Webster University, 1962
Master’s in education, University of Missouri-Columbia, 1970
Service in the archdiocese: Teacher, St. Paul the Apostle, Pine Lawn, 1964-66
Teacher, St. Ann, Normandy, 1966-68
Principal, St. Pius V, St. Louis, 1968-88
Secretary in the counseling office, Nerinx Hall High School, Webster Groves, 1999-2011
Co-coordinator, Loretto Center, St. Louis, 2000-06
Community service, Loretto Center, St. Louis, 2007-17
Service outside the archdiocese: Teacher, St. Ann, Arlington, Virginia, 1962-64
Service coordinator, Loretto Motherhouse, Nerinx, Kentucky, 1988-99, where she coordinated all aspects of Motherhouse life and mission.
About Sister Eileen (Charles Maura) Kersgieter: Sister Eileen served on the Loretto Executive Committee from 1990-94. Music is her great love, and she has worked at schools and in the community in liturgy for many years. Sister Eileen also loves reading and puzzles of all kinds. She is now retired and resides at Loretto Motherhouse in Nerinx, Kentucky
Sister Vicki (Mary Jude) Schwartz
Birth name: Victoria Cecilia Schwartz
Birthplace: St. Louis
Entrance: 1958
First profession: 1961
Final profession: 1966
Education: Bachelor’s in education, with a minor in English, Webster University, 1963
Master’s in English, Saint Louis University, 1975
Master’s in theological studies, Franciscan School of Theology, Berkeley, California, 1989
Service in the archdiocese: Student, Webster University, while residing at Loretto House of Studies, Webster Groves, 1961-63
Service outside the archdiocese: Teacher in El Paso, Texas, and Kansas City, Missouri
Principal, Loretto Academy High School, El Paso, Texas, 1976-87
Director of administration, Huckleberry Youth Programs, San Francisco, 1989-97
Director of development, Huckleberry Youth Programs, San Francisco, 1998-2012
Executive Committee and Community Forum member, Loretto Community, 2007-12
Vice president, Executive Committee and Community Forum member, Loretto Community, 2013-15
Human Resource Coordinator, Loretto Community, 2013-18
Interim resident at St. Mary’s Academy, Denver, then Escuela de Guadalupe School, Denver, 2016-18
Executive Committee and Community Forum member, 2019-present
About Sister Vicki (Mary Jude) Schwartz: Sister Vicki has been active in all aspects of education. She chaired the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools with membership on the Advisory Board. Twice she received Women of the Year Awards in El Paso, Texas. Sister Vicki served as grant reviewer with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. She has an interest in art and enjoys swimming with dolphins and sea creatures. She lives her life in service with a joyful spirit of gratitude. A few cats along the way run her home.
Sister Mary (Peter Mary) Swain
Birthplace: St. Louis
Entrance: 1958
First profession: 1961
Final profession: 1966
Education: Bachelor’s in mathematics, with minors in education and English, Webster University, 1963
Master’s of arts in teaching, specializing in mathematics, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1966
Service in the archdiocese: Student, Webster University, while residing at Loretto House of Studies, Webster Groves, 1961-63
Service outside the archdiocese: Teacher, Machebeuf High School in Denver, 1963-65
Teacher, Loretto High School, Louisville, Kentucky, 1966-73
Assistant to director of finance for Loretto Community, 1973-78
Director of finance and treasurer, Loretto Community, 1978-2012
Community service, Loretto Motherhouse, Nerinx, Kentucky, 2013-present
About Sister Mary (Peter Mary) Swain: Sister Mary has been a consultant to the National Religious Retirement Office and has served on the board for the National Association for Treasurers of Religious Institutes. Along with her math background and service to the Loretto Community in the financial area, Sister Mary has experience as a church organist and plans and prepares materials for Loretto liturgies at Loretto Motherhouse and for special occasions. The grounds at Loretto Motherhouse in Nerinx, Kentucky, where she resides, receive careful tending and a loving touch from Sister Mary.
70th Reception of the Habit
Sister Agnes Ann Schum
Birth name: Margaret Catherine Schum
Birthplace: Champaign, Illinois
Entrance: 1953
First profession: 1956
Final profession: 1961
Education: Bachelor’s in elementary education, with a minor in philosophy, Webster University, 1958
Master’s in geography, Saint Louis University, 1971
Service in the archdiocese: Teacher, Good Shepherd, Hillsboro, 1961-63
Teacher, St. Catherine, Pagedale, 1963-65
Teacher, Visitation-Holy Ghost, St. Louis, 1965-67
Service outside the archdiocese: Teacher, St. Benedict, Louisville, Kentucky, 1958-61
Teacher, St. Patrick’s Elementary, East St. Louis, Illinois, 1967-69
Principal, All Souls, Englewood, Colorado, 1973-76
Teacher, St. Mary’s Academy, Englewood, Colorado, 1969-73
Loretto’s Third World Experience, Kenya, Africa, 1976-77
Loretto staff, social advocate, consultant to the Central American Concerns and Legislation and Social Concerns Committee, Denver, 1982-83
Staff aide to U.S. Congresswoman Patricia Schroeder, Denver, 1983-86
Field operations assistant, Bureau of the Census, Denver, 1989-90
Enneagram consultant, Denver, and director of Rocky Mountain Enneagram Resources, 1989-96
Executive director, Project AIMM (An Intercongregational Ministry Model), physically located in the Archdiocese of Louisville, Kentucky, 2001
Developed and member of Pastoral Team for Loretto Infirmary, Nerinx, Kentucky, 2010-18
Community service, Loretto Motherhouse and Infirmary, 2019-present
About Sister Agnes Ann Schum: Sister Agnes Ann, who resides at Loretto Motherhouse, says, “I have a busy retirement. I volunteer for community care, visiting and mentoring with Loretto Infirmary staff and coordinating the Enneagram work with the infirmary department heads and others. It keeps me going.”
