Loretto Magazine – Fall 2025
Posted on October 9, 2025, by Loretto Community
Read Loretto Magazine
Loretto Spotlight Video – Chris Mattingly, Loretto Living Center director of pastoral care
A letter from President Buffy Boesen SL
As you will see in this issue of Loretto Magazine, Loretto’s work continues to be shaped by the goals we set in 2024: Care of the Sisters, Mission, Spirituality and Planning for the Future.
Students volunteer time and talent
Students and chaperones from Loretto Academy in El Paso, St. Mary’s Academy in Denver and Nerinx Hall High School in St. Louis arrived at the Motherhouse campus in Nerinx, Ky., on May 31 to kick off another Loretto Schools Volunteer Week.
An active summer at Loretto Motherhouse
Two of our summer events were Loretto’s first annual 5k trail run and a “Where the Wild Things Are” summer camp . The Motherhouse hosted its first annual Nature Run 5K, with more than 130 participants in person and virtually, making the wholesome fundraiser a resounding success. Then, in late June, Loretto hosted “Where the Wild Things Are,” a nature- and education-centered camp for kids 6 to 12 years of age. Check out the above links for more.
Loretto Justice Fellowship thrives
Facing the unique challenges of our times with determination and resolve, the Loretto Justice Fellowship program welcomes its largest cohort to date with 16 Fellows serving with eight partner organizations in El Paso.
Loretto Living Center a healing haven
The Loretto Living Center has consistently earned a 5-star rating with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Newsweek magazine recently listed the Center as one of America’s Best Nursing Homes, followed by US News and World Report awarding it highest ratings for long-term care and short-term rehabilitation.
Living Center staff: Our greatest asset
The Living Center is blessed with dedicated, compassionate staff members.
Staff members Missy Bickett, Donna Fogle and PJ Mattingly have worked for the Living Center (previously the Loretto Infirmary) for decades.
Read about these amazing women here.
Michelle Essex: Administrator extraordinaire
Michelle has worked for Loretto for 33 years! Michelle Essex is one of Loretto’s cherished longtime employees, having served as administrator of the Infirmary Loretto Living Center for the past 16 years. Michelle was initially hired as a nurse’s aide in 1991 at the age of 16 by Marie Lourde Steckler SL, the Infirmary’s director of nursing.
Click here to read about her Loretto journey.
Meet Chris Mattingly
Chris Mattingly is director of pastoral care at the Loretto Living Center. There is a piece of belonging for everyone in his program, which he has been continuing to develop since 2018.
Read about his work here. Watch our Spotlight Video featuring Chris here.
The Denver Catholic Worker: 46 years of love in action
Through more than four decades, tears, laughter, ups and downs, Anna Koop SL and Jennifer Haines, along with volunteers and residents, shared life with, and offered hospitality to, those in need in Denver. Anna was one of those who opened the Catholic Worker House in 1978. Jennifer came four years later.
Read the article here.
The Denver Catholic Worker in photos: 1978-2024
“… I have loved living in this community, loved the richness of a huge range of people in my life: people who have suffered and brought their incredibly strong spirits to share with the community, people who have come to bring their love and dedication to support our efforts at the CW. All have been amazing gifts.” – Anna Koop SL
Check out the photos here.
Celebrating Loretto’s 25-year jubilarians
25-year jubilarians in 2025 are Kathy Baldwin-Heitman CoL, Carol Colligan CoL, Patty Kane CoL, Cathy O’Grady-Melvin CoL and James Raab CoL. Congratulations!
Read about our celebrants’ Loretto journeys here.
Artists bloom at Loretto Motherhouse
Since 2022, the Loretto Motherhouse has partnered with Kentucky Foundation for Women to offer residencies to artists living in Kentucky through the Loretto Artist Residency Program. Residencies are for literary, media, performing and visual artists who have demonstrated achievement in creating work high in artistic merit and based on social justice issues/concerns.
Check out the article and enjoy original art here.
Loretto celebrates the art of quilting
In early August, the Loretto Heritage Center showcased the rich quilting tradition of the Central Kentucky region. Angela Selter, Heritage Center archival assistant, shares, “The final result was a stunning collection featuring 45 quilts from 21-plus regional quilt makers; several quilts were created by many hands. Additionally, nine quilts were added from Loretto’s collection. The show was a truly rich and colorful experience.”
Click to read the article and check out some of the beautiful quilts.
Opportunity knocks: A remarkable school built on faith and confidence
When the ceiling collapsed on their ecumenical school serving children with disabilities in Santa Fe, N.M., Mary Harold Savage SL and Miriam George Simon SL worried about the school’s future. The Santa Fe Opportunity School was an endeavor of the heart that had just opened the year before and served, as Mary Harold put it, “every pupil the other schools didn’t want.”
Read the article and enjoy historic photos here.
Memorials and Tributes of Honor: May 2025-August 2025
Obituaries
Postscript
Dear Loretto Friends,
Summer at the Motherhouse and across the Loretto Community was, as always, a vibrant season of connection, growth and joyful activity!
As you perused this issue, you may have glimpsed familiar faces and new ones alike in our photos of summer events, including Student Volunteer Week and our lively “Where the Wild Things Are” summer camp in which we partnered with New Pioneers for a Sustainable Future. These programs truly embody the intergenerational spirit of Loretto, bringing together young people with our Sisters and Co-Members in meaningful ways. We also celebrated our first annual Nature Run 5K at Loretto Motherhouse, a wonderful day of community and healthy fun that brought so many to Nerinx, Ky.
We’ve proudly highlighted the Loretto Living Center and its kind and caring staff, a testament to our enduring commitment to care for our Sisters and Co-Members. The Loretto Justice Fellowship affords the opportunity for college students to experience Loretto in community and serve the most vulnerable in El Paso. Our continued dedication to social justice shines through in the feature on the Denver Catholic Worker, now united with Angelica Village, extending its vital work. The Santa Fe Opportunity School reminds us of Loretto’s long legacy in education and empowerment. And you’ve been treated to art through a feature on quilts at the Motherhouse and works by a few of the artists who’ve participated in our residence program at the Motherhouse that fosters creativity and reflection.
We are thrilled to honor our 25-year jubilarians this year — all Co-Members whose dedicated service immensely enriches our Community. Their commitment is a beautiful reflection of the diverse ways Loretto’s mission lives on.
Finally, in our previous issue, we announced that we had received Candid’s Silver Seal of Transparency. I’m proud to let you know that the Loretto Community now has achieved the Gold Seal of Transparency! This recognition reflects our dedication to sound financial practices and open communication with our donors and supporters like you.
Your support makes all of this possible. Every program, every act of care, every step toward justice and sustainability is strengthened by your generosity. Thank you for being such an integral part of the Loretto story.
With deep gratitude,
Lisa Smith
Advancement Director
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