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Eleanor Craig SL

Eleanor has been a Sister of Loretto since 1963 and an educator since birth. She graduated from two of Loretto's best known St. Louis institutions, Nerinx Hall High School in 1960, and Webster University in 1967. She taught mathematics at Loretto in Kansas City, where her personal passion for adventure history inspired her to develop and lead treks along the historic Oregon Trail. From 1998 to 2010 she created an award-winning program of outdoor adventure along the Western trails for teens who are visually impaired. Eleanor claims to have conducted more wagon trains to the West than the Mountain Men! From 2012 to 2021, Eleanor led a talented staff of archivists and preservationists at the Loretto Heritage Center on the grounds of the Motherhouse. Now retired, she still serves in the Heritage Center as Loretto Community Historian.

A lifelong dream comes true

By Eleanor Craig SL / March 1, 2024 /
A black and white headshot picture of a woman with short, light-colored hair and oval-framed glasses smiling brightly wearing a white and floral patterned shirt in front of a plain background.

It was Aug. 15, 1980, and a novice was pronouncing her first vows at Loretto Motherhouse as so many had done before her, except … the ceremony was held in…

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Remembrance of the Life of Sister Pauline (formerly Sister Mary Agnesetta) Albin SL

By Eleanor Craig SL / February 18, 2024 /

Loretto Sister Pauline (formerly Sister Mary Agnesetta) Albin died Feb. 18 at the Loretto Living Center in Nerinx, Ky. Pauline had been accompanied by many Community members in her final…

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Remembrance of the Life of Loretto Co-member Patty Brush

By Eleanor Craig SL / February 11, 2024 /

Loretto Co-member Margaret Patricia “Patty” Brush died Feb. 11 at age 83 at Loretto Living Center in Nerinx, Ky. As Patty Batton, she entered the Loretto novitiate in 1958, leaving just…

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Reflection on the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

By Eleanor Craig SL / January 14, 2024 /
Heart, love symbol on beach

1 Samuel 3 1 Corinthians 6 John 1 One sentence in the reading from Samuel caught my attention: “At that time Samuel was not familiar with God because God had not…

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Reflection on the Third Sunday of Advent

By Eleanor Craig SL / December 17, 2023 /

Isaiah 61:1-11.     Thessalonians 5:16-24     John 1:6-28 This is a light machine – a device that produces bright light for these winter days. Today’s readings remind us…

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Remembrance of the Life of Sister Guadalupe ‘Lupe’ (formerly Sister Mary Aloysius) Arciniega SL

By Eleanor Craig SL / November 10, 2023 /

Lupe started her ministry many years ago as a teacher and had educated people in many more ways than in the classroom. Over the course of nearly 69 years as a…

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Reflection on the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

By Eleanor Craig SL / October 1, 2023 /
Watercolor heart

Ezekiel 18:25-28.   Philippians 2:1-11.    Matthew 21:28-32   Whether I am reading the Motherhouse bulletin board or the New York Times, listening to CNN or Fox News, I am uncomfortably…

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Remembrance of the Life of Sister Delores (formerly Sister Mary Laurian) Kincaide SL

By Eleanor Craig SL / July 30, 2023 /
A woman with short white hair and wire-framed oval-shaped glasses wearing a plain white shirt smiling brightly for a headshot picture indoors.

Loretto Sister Delores Kincaide, formerly known as Sister Mary Laurian, died July 30 at the Loretto Living Center at the Loretto Motherhouse in Nerinx, Ky. Dori was 93 years old…

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Reflection on the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time

By Eleanor Craig SL / July 2, 2023 /
Colorful Loretto Community banner shows a silhouetted family holding hands with the words "Danger?" above. A Gospel quote follows: "I was a stranger and you took me in," Matthew 25:35.

2 Kings 4:8-16         Romans 6:3-11         Matthew 10:37-42                   Good morning.  I want first to thank you all for your encouragement and prayers while…

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Remembrance of the Life of Sister Kay (formerly Sister Josita) DeMarea SL

By Eleanor Craig SL / June 8, 2023 /
A woman with short white hair and round wire-framed glasses wearing a navy blue collared shirt and a navy blue jacket with a white collar trim smiling brightly for a headshot picture outdoors in front of a large treetrunk.

Loretto Sister Kay (formerly Sister Josita) DeMarea died June 8 in the Loretto Living Center at Loretto Motherhouse, in the 75th year of her Loretto commitment.  Kay DeMarea was born in…

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Remembrance of the Life of Sister Mary Kenneth Lewis SL

By Eleanor Craig SL / May 20, 2023 /
A woman with short white hair and round glasses wearing a light-colored plaid collared button-up shirt smiling for a headshot picture outdoors in front of pine tree greenery.

Loretto Sister Mary Kenneth Lewis died May 20, 2023, surrounded by the Loretto Living Center staff who had cared for her for many years. Mary Ken celebrated her 80th year…

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Reflection on the Easter Vigil in the Holy Night

By Eleanor Craig SL / April 8, 2023 /
Study for 'Christ', Kenyon Cox

Our Jewish kin celebrate Passover this week. Around family tables they are passing on the stories of their ancestors, the story of themselves as a people. We have just read…

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