Vocations

“Only trust your vocation, expecting all from God’s goodness.” Charles Nerinckx, Loretto’s priest-founder, entrusted this charge to the Community, and we have carried it out faithfully for more than 200 years and counting. Father Nerinckx’s mandate has proven true. Learn about joining the Loretto Community.

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Loretto’s Emerging Forms: Searching for New Ways of Being

By Loretto Community / November 15, 2020 /

“Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing.” Arundhati Roy We are in a time of significant disruption…

7,600 collective years of Loretto service to the people of God

By Marlene Spero SL / November 5, 2019 /

As of the end of 2019, the vowed Sisters of Loretto currently living have collectively served in various ministries to the People of God for over 7,600 years. Sisters take…

Khush Amdeed! Welcome!

By Claudia Calzetta SL / November 1, 2019 /

Five women wearing headscarves standing together in a line holding candles while looking towards the camera. They are standing in a room with white walls, a large dark book shelf, and bright blue curtains covering a window.

Khush Amdeed! Welcome! These words spoken by Barbara Nicholas began a meaningful prayer service that welcomed four eager and confident women to Loretto’s first Come and See program — the…

Loretto Sisters Host Discernment Retreat in Lahore

By Nasreen Daniel SL / September 1, 2019 /

Nine women sitting together enjoying a meal at cafeteria-style benches and tables indoors on a sunny day.

Six young women from outside Lahore and ten teachers from our school joined the Loretto sisters for a three-day discernment retreat. The first day began with these questions: Why am…

Kay DeMarea Celebrates Her 70th Jubilee

By Loretto Community / June 10, 2019 /

Kay DeMarea celebrated her 70th Jubilee April 25 at Loretto Motherhouse in Nerinx, Ky. She was joined by her housemate and friend, Suzanne Reasbeck. They both enjoyed the delicious celebration…

On Foundation Day, Loretto Motherhouse Celebrates Jubilarians

By Kathleen Tighe SL / June 1, 2019 /

Six men wearing dark grey and black suits standing on a higher platform indoors and smiling with one woman standing lower, in the middle wearing a bright purple sweater.

(Editor’s Note: On April 25, 2019, Foundation Day, the Loretto Motherhouse Community celebrated Jubiliarians Genevieve Cavanaugh (80th), Mary Katherine Hammett and Kathleen Tighe (75th Diamond Jubilees), and Kay DeMarea (70th).…

Genevieve Cavanaugh: ‘Inspiration to All’

By Liz Perez SL / June 1, 2019 /

Two women pictured candidly, one woman is sitting and smiling, leaning forward placing her hand on the shoulder of her friend sitting in front of her. The friend in front is smiling and tilting her head to hear what her friend behind her has to say.

In my brief interview with Genevieve, she told me she was taught by the Sisters of Loretto in Kansas City, Mo., throughout all of grade school and high school. (Eleanor…

Mary Katherine Hammett Celebrates Her 75th Jubilee

By Loretto Community / June 1, 2019 /

A woman with short grey hair and wire-framed glasses smiling while sitting in a beige recliner chair with a bald man crouched next to her smiling for the picture with her.

(Editor’s Note: The following are remarks on Mary Katherine Hammett given April 25, 2019, at the Motherhouse by her niece, Jane Hammett O’Gorman.) By Jane Hammett O’Gorman Mary Katherine’s younger…

Welcome New Loretto Co-Member Earna Volk!

By Lisa Reynolds CoL / May 1, 2019 /

A woman with shoulder-length grey hair wearing a grey and white sweater with a red brick background.

Welcome to Earna Volk, our newest co-member! Earna was accepted as a co-member March 17. She lives in Lebanon, Ky., and works at the Loretto Motherhouse as the receptionist. She…

Karel Disponett Celebrates Co-membership

By Sister Anndavid Naeger SL / December 1, 2018 /

A man and a woman wearing dress clothes smiling for a picture together indoors while standing next to a pot of bright yellow and red flowers.

The dawning sun sent rays to color the stratus clouds in the wake of its coming. We walked out into a crisp 46-degree morning into a day that would contain…

Living Vows

By JoAnn Gates / December 1, 2018 /

Two small trees with minimal leaves in a green field next to a pond.

* Knowing our human need for security, I vow ongoing conversion toward rootedness in God. * Knowing our human longing for connection and generativity, I vow ongoing conversion toward a…

What is Emerging?/Emerging Mission

By Susan Classen CoL / November 1, 2018 /

(Editor’s Note: Part 1: A reflection at the one-year anniversary of the Nov. 4, 2017, vow celebration.) JoAnn Gates and I recently visited Natural Bridge State Park in Kentucky where…

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The Loretto Community consists of the congregation of the Sisters of Loretto and Loretto Co-members. The congregation of the Sisters of Loretto at the Foot of the Cross was founded in rural Kentucky in 1812. Today, our Sisters and Co-members continue to live out the Loretto Community’s mission to “work for justice and act for peace because the Gospel urges us.” In the United States and throughout the world, Loretto Community members serve in many fields, including education, healthcare, elder care, environmental stewardship and advocacy.