Gather, Loretto, Gather!

An older woman with gray hair sprinkles holy water in a church — Loretto President Buffy Boesen SL blesses members in the Motherhouse church on the Gathering’s opening day.
Photo: Will Myers

We spend all our lives learning how to belong. And that is a very healthy way to live. The recent Loretto Gathering encompassed our energy to belong in a very positive way. We are called to have a heart big enough to love each other; this gives shape to our Community of faith, and focuses our belonging, as the way we live out our Constitutions, I Am the Way. We come together to adapt to what is being asked of us today.

We all know we are on a journey, a journey searching for a common future that is always imbedded in our hearts. A story, “The Jeweled Heart” by Barbara Helen Berger, told us that we must share our heart, our truth, our wisdom with one another, for they are all gifts of God’s grace for now and for the days to follow on the journey.

Two women in their 80s sit in a wooden church pew talking. They have short white hair and glasses. One woman on the left is wearing a green shirt and black cardigan. The woman on the right is wearing a purple shirt with a light purple flowered shirt over it. — Kathleen Corbett SL and Mary Catherine Widger SL await the start of Mass.
Photo: Will Myers

A priest in green and gold vestments stands in a church door to welcome Mass attendees — The Rev. Marty Lally CoL welcomes Community members into the Church, where he will celebrate Mass.
Photo: Will Myers

The parable of the jeweled heart is new every day; it is not a searching for what our Loretto elders searched for, but it is a searching for what they sought, what seeds they planted as instruments of God’s love. As they opened their hearts to God’s abundance, so must we.

The call? Come to clarity so we know how to continue. It is indeed time to trust in Providence. It is indeed time to come to clarity so we know how to manage the road ahead. We have, as our Gathering theme reminded us, “strength for the journey.” Yes, indeed we are on that journey, for we belong to one another. Our “jeweled hearts” are beating together, even as we search for what reflects the values of 200-plus years — it is not always instantly visible.

Grab your street veil and shawl; we are going to board the train.*

Mother Praxedes Carty SL, 1894, upon learning that the mortgage on Loretto Heights in Denver would not be extended

Because we are present to each other, to our ancestors on that train, to our common joy and hope, we have a new energy. The more our heart opens, the larger our vision becomes. The seeds we have planted thrive. And our belonging is profound.

*Mother Praxedes Carty SL first traveled to Mexico City in an attempt to arrange loans, but found the exchange rate prohibitive. She went on to Milwaukee and asked the mortgage-holding institution’s trustees for time. They said no. Mother Praxedes responded, “Gentleman, if you take the building you will have to take the sisters with it.” She came away with a two-year extension. Mother Praxedes placed firm reliance on Divine Providence, a practice Loretto has followed from the start. Deus providebit: God will provide.

An older woman with brown and grey hair sings joyfully at a podium at Mass. A crucifix and white brick wall are behind her. — Maria Visse SL sings during the opening Mass.
Photo: Will Myers

Love one another, have only one heart, one soul and one mind.
The Rev. Charles Nerinckx, Loretto cofounder with Ann Havern, Mary Rhodes and Christina Stuart

Two elder women smiling and delighting in each other's company. The woman on the left has short white hair, big glasses, gold hoop earrings and a paisley blue shirt. The woman on the right has her hair in a dark head wrap and is wearing a white collared shirt. — Lillian Moskeland CoL and Jeannine Gramick SL delight in one another’s company.
Photo: Will Myers

An older woman with grey hair glasses and a purple shirt listens intently. — Cathy Smith SL listens during the Community’s morning conversation.
Photo: Will Myers

A Pakistani woman with brown hair held up with a white claw clip, wearing a blue flowered shirt is shown laughing at a joke. — Maria Daniel SL laughs at a table partner’s witticism.
Photo: Will Myers

An older white woman with short white hair, blue framed glasses, a blue shirt smiling softly at the photographer as she holds her head up with her hand. — Regina Drey SL is caught during a quiet moment by the photographer.
Photo: Will Myers

An older white woman with white hair, glasses and a checkered blue shirt ponders during a discussion. — Ruth Routten CoL ponders during the discussion.
Photo: Will Myers

Three elder women smile for a group photo at a gathering. The woman on the left has brown hair, glasses, a blue long sleeved shirt and blue vest. The woman in the middle has short grey hair, glasses, and polka dot red long sleeved shirt. The woman on the right has a white bob with hair clips pulling the hair out of her face wearing a blue and white collared shirt. — Sharon Kassing SL, Donna Day SL and Helen Santamaria SL smile for the camera during an active day.
Photo: Will Myers

An elder white woman and middle aged Black man work on an activity at a table together. — Neil Tucker CoL and Karel Disponett CoL take part in a table activity.
Photo: Will Myers

Three older women sitting at a table during a gathering having a lively discussion with one another. — Anna Koop SL, Johanna Brian SL and Barbara Roche SL take part in lively discussion.
Photo: Will Myers

Two women smiling and laughing together at a gathering. — Participating in discussion during Loretto’s Gathering are Terry Franco CoL and Eileen Custy SL.
Photo: Will Myers

Two older women in their late 80s having a lively discussion at a gathering. — Participating in discussion during Loretto’s Gathering are Roberta Hudlow SL and Mary Swain SL.
Photos: Will Myers

Read all the articles in the fall 2026 issue of Loretto Magazine.

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Donna Day SL

Donna entered Loretto in 1961 with the best class ever. The members gather often to renew friendships. Donna’s work in Loretto has included many years serving the Hispanic community in Colorado, the African-American community at Pillar Place in St. Louis and countless years on the Loretto staff in health care and as an Interchange editor. Participating on the Topical Committee and traveling to be present with the community all across the country is a real joy. Reading, Cardinal baseball and celebrating all things Irish are among her favorite pastimes.