A Letter from the President — Holidays 2015

Dear Friends and Alumni,

Saint Mary is the founding mission of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth.

We began as a little one-room school on Kickapoo Street in downtown Leavenworth. Growing and evolving over the years to meet the changing needs of God’s people—today, we are a university 1,500 strong. The sisters’ sense of mission and spirituality are still deeply embedded as the life force at Saint Mary. Our current faculty and staff proudly carry the SCL mission forward.

Though we have fewer teaching sisters today than we did 20 years ago, the sisters are still influencing and guiding Saint Mary students. Through our Faith Chats program students are paired with a sister to visit about faith and life. The sisters also faithfully support us in prayer and presence. They are the first at the lectures, recitals, and theater productions. They follow our sports teams and partner with the students for various class research projects. How blessed we are by their continued support.

The fruits of the mission and the sisters’ influence in the lives our students and graduates can be seen. Saint Marians have learned to trust God and have put their God-given talents at the service of others. They teach, nurse, run businesses, build computer programs, and work differently because they are Saint Marians.

This Christmas season, we give thanks for the sisters who have made Saint Mary what it is today. We pray we have the courage and integrity to carry their mission into the future.

Peace and blessings,
Sister Diane Steele, SCL, Ph.D., C’83