Sisters of Christian Charity (SCC)
70th Investing in Holy Habit
(Reception)
Sister Mary Albert Gensterblum
Birth name: Marie Helen
Birthplace: Portland, Michigan
Entrance: 1949
First profession: 1954
Final profession: 1960
Education: Certification in Child Care
Saint Louis University, 1959
Washington University, 1969
Theology classes
Service in the archdiocese: Group mother, St. Vincent Home Normandy, 1958-71
Help in school and convent, St. Boniface, St. Louis, 1972-73
Driver, local assistant, treasurer and medical records office, St. Vincent Home, 1973-95
Service outside the archdiocese: Sacred Heart Convent leadership team, treasurer, driver and other tasks, Sacred Heart Convent, Wilmette, Illinois, 1996-present
About Sister Mary Albert Gensterblum: My favorite years in ministry were the 36 years I spent as childcare worker at St. Vincent Home For Children in Normandy. Reflecting on my 70 years as a sister of Christian Charity my response is: “I am glad to have the SCCs as my family.”
75th Investing in Holy Habit
(Reception)
Sister Caroline Schafer
Birthplace: Westphalia, Michigan
Entrance: 1945
First profession: 1949
Final profession: 1955
Education: Bachelor’s in education
Master’s in education, Loyola University, Chicago
Lifetime Teaching Certificate in Missouri
Service in the archdiocese: Teacher, St. Boniface School, St. Louis, 1969-80
Principal, St. Boniface School, St. Louis, 1974-80
Service outside the archdiocese: Teacher, St. Gregory School, Chicago, Illinois, 1949-53
Teacher, St. Boniface School, Sioux City, Iowa
Teacher, Holy Trinity School, Chicago, Illinois
Teacher, Holy Trinity School, New Ulm, Minnesota
Teacher, St. Boniface, Minneapolis Minnesota, 1959-63
Teacher, Immaculate Heart of Mary School, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1963-66
Teacher, St. Anthony School, Gretna, Louisiana, 1966-68
Teacher, St. Martha School, Morton Grove, Illinois, 1968-69
Superior and principal, Holy Ghost School, South Holland, Illinois, 1988-93
Third provincial councilor and procurator, Sacred Heart Convent, Wilmette, Illinois, 1993
General councilor and representative of the North American Western Province residing in Rome, Italy, 1994
Third provincial councilor and superior of the motherhouse, 1995
Administrator of Sacred Heart Convent,
Resurrection Life Center and Intercommunity Retirement Committee Liaison, 1995-98
Leadership Team at Sacred Heart Convent, 1999-2019
Third provincial councilor, Sacred Heart Convent, 2001
Director of Mission Effectiveness program, Sacred Heart Convent, 2020-22
About Sister Caroline Schafer: During 73 of the last 75 years, I have been privileged to minister in the field of education in one form or another. As I look back, I entrust these students — children, young adults, seniors — to the good God. Trusting in His mercy we will all meet in a glorious hereafter.