Loretto Magazine – Winter 2026
Posted on February 27, 2026, by Loretto Community
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Loretto Spotlight Video – Mary Catherine Widger SL
A Letter from President Buffy Boesen SL
I have a small poster in my house that reads, “Take time to wonder, to give thanks and to praise!” As I walk into 2026 with you, I wonder about so many things.
Read the letter here.
Loretto legacy of excellence continues at schools
Read about four schools carrying on Loretto’s tradition of academic excellence.
Check out the feature here.
Living Loretto: Meet St. Mary’s educator & Loretto Co-member Christina Garcia
“It is important that nothing in our lives cuts us off from other human beings. Rather, we try to live so that everything about us, our words and works and manner of living, promotes understanding and peace among ourselves and others.”* Christina Garcia CoL recites a paragraph from the Loretto Constitutions, a quote she uses in a six-week class for eighth graders appropriately called Living Loretto — a quote she lives out daily.
Click here to read the article.
St. Mary’s Academy’s vibrant Loretto beginnings
“Amid tearful farewells and prayers for a safe journey, three travelers left Santa Fe, N.M., on June 22, 1864, for a five-day journey by mail coach that would change dusty Denver City forever. Sisters of Loretto Joanna Walsh, Ignatia Mora and Beatriz Maes-Torres would make history at a time when education was taking hold and Catholic Sisters were an anomaly in the Colorado Territory. They would found St. Mary’s Academy, which has continuously educated Denver students for 150 years [now — in 2026 — 162 years].
Read the article here.
Loretto educates for the times – Donna Day SL: Learning along the way
“The best teachers are the ones who show you how to use your heart.” Donna Day SL shares this quote that reflects her deepest belief about teaching. (Quote from Gabriel Andreas of Story People.)
Click here to read the article.
Pillar Place served as a safe haven
Donna Day SL served for eight years as director of Intercommunity Housing at Pillar Place, located in the former Loretto Academy building in St. Louis. Pillar Place brought critically-needed housing and services to the local mostly-Black community.
Read the article here.
A bridge to love
Mary Catherine Widger SL tells the story of a child with an intellectual disability whose parents hoped would make his First Communion. This was in the late 1970s. Mary Catherine served in the special education office for the Archdiocese of Denver, creating programs to bring religious instruction and sacraments to kids with developmental disabilities. In response to the parents’ request, a naysayer in the diocese rejoined that those who could not understand the sacraments should not participate. The Rev. Larry Freeman, with whom Mary Catherine served in the special ed office, asked, “Are you saying that Jesus doesn’t want to be part of this person’s life?”
Click here to read the article.
Vacation time! Fun for all!
Early on, Sisters Mary Catherine Widger and Sue Rogers felt that the archdiocesan special ed staff should get to know their students apart from a classroom, and that the students should experience vacations, summer camp, eating out.
Click to read the article.
Loretto celebrates our jubilarians!
Click on this link to read about Community members celebrating their jubilees this year.
Face to face with a heart-wrenching truth
Between 1812 and 1865, the Sisters of Loretto received, purchased, enslaved and sold individuals of African descent, selling a man named Tom for $200 to finance the purchase of the Sisters’ first land. Loretto benefited from the free labor of perhaps 150-200 persons, in at least 20 locations in four states by 1860.
Read the article here.
Loretto Archives documents slave ownership
Click here to view the historical documents.
Join the Ann Rhodes Legacy Circle!
Mother Ann Rhodes, the first superior of the Friends of Mary at the Foot of the Cross in 1812, embodied a pioneering spirit that set the stage for more than two centuries of Loretto service. Though her time in leadership was brief, the profound impact of her vision is still felt today in Loretto’s commitment to education, justice and community.
Click here to read the article.
Memorials and Tributes of Honor: September 2025-December 2025
Obituaries
Postscript
Dear Loretto Friends,
Welcome to the winter 2026 edition of Loretto Magazine, where we celebrate Loretto’s profound and enduring commitment to education and learning. This commitment, rooted in our founders’ vision, continues to shape our mission and guide our actions today.
Inside this issue, you’ll find inspiring stories of how Loretto’s legacy of knowledge lives on. We highlight Sister Mary Catherine Widger’s incredible work at the Bridge Community, which provides a stable, supportive and spiritual home for women with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Since the community’s founding in 1985, Sister Mary Catherine has lived alongside the residents, embodying Bridge’s core mission that everyone is seen, heard and valued, just as they are. We are also proud to share that Loretto Community Historian Eleanor Craig SL recently accepted the prestigious Father Louis J. Luzbetak, SVD, Award from the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate. This honor recognizes Sister Eleanor’s vital research into the history of enslaved peoples within our congregation, a testament to her lifelong passion for bringing historical injustices to light. We also shine a light on the many ways Loretto members — Sisters and Co-members — and employees continue to teach, mentor and learn from one another daily, demonstrating that education is a lifelong journey. Finally, we offer a special celebration for our jubilarians celebrating 75-plus years, whose lives embody decades of wisdom, ministry and dedication. Their endurance and wisdom are a lesson in themselves.
This issue also marks an exciting milestone in our shared future: the completion of the first year of the Ann Rhodes Legacy Circle. Named for a beloved Sister of Loretto and dedicated educator, this planned giving recognition society honors those who have committed to supporting Loretto’s mission beyond their lifetime. Legacy gifts ensure that the educational foundation and compassionate works of the Sisters of Loretto will continue to thrive for generations to come. Your generosity, whether through an annual gift or a future pledge, is truly transformative.
Thank you for being an indispensable part of the Loretto community and for supporting our mission of justice and peace through education. We wish you peace, joy and the warmth of learning this winter season.
With deep gratitude,
Lisa Smith
Director of Advancement
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