A woman and her camera: Peg Jacobs CoL, capturing Loretto

Peg Jacobs – photographer extraordinaire.

Anyone who has seen the photography of longtime Loretto Co-member Peg Jacobs knows that her images evoke something significant deep within every viewer. Her photographs speak to a wide range of society. They are full of the inner life of the Loretto Community and of the spirit … her own and so many others. The photos are a journey inward and outward of the person and of all that a person can love.

The reader will see acts of creation, beginnings and endings, works of art, community, needs of the world, and faces, faces that bring all joy and gifts galore. Peg’s work is creative. Her photos honor and thank God for God’s multiple acts of forming new life in ways that keep opening our hearts to wonder and peace.

Peg has been a valued member of the Loretto Community since her early visits to the Motherhouse, her co-membership commitment in 1998 and her residency at the Motherhouse in Nerinx, Ky., from 1999. (She had planned to stay a year.) As a member of the United Church of Christ where she was a leader, she became attracted to Loretto through meeting Mary Luke Tobin SL and then through her association with Elaine Prevallet SL.

Peg’s leadership in Loretto has included being retreat director for Knobs Haven, serving on the Loretto Co-membership Team and being on the Motherhouse Coordinating Board.

Through all these years, Peg was a splendid photographer, always willing to be the eyes and memories of events through capturing special sights and personalities. A glorious sunrise? Peg has pictures. A Loretto Assembly? Peg took photos. A Co-membership-sponsored gathering? Peg memorialized them. Student service trips? Peg took photos and provided visual summaries.

As Mary Swain SL says, “Peg was there for the event.” Furthermore, Mary says, “Peg was able to let people be themselves.” One could say the same of Peg and nature — she saw beauty and captured it just as it was and maybe as others had overlooked. She took numerous photos to be sure each person, animal or landscape presented the best face.

Peg is a gift to Loretto. As she focuses her camera on our faces we see joy reflected in hers.

“A person dances. An eagle soars. Our souls grow larger. Watch.”

The Loretto Archives contains many albums of Peg’s photos. We are pleased to offer a small selection of her photos this week on our Facebook and Instagram pages.