Sisters of Mercy of the Americas (RSM)
60th Entrance
Sister Marie Annette (Mary Charisse) Seymour
Birthplace: Meridian, Mississippi
Entrance: 1962
First profession: 1965
Final profession: 1970
Education: Bachelor’s in English, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, 1967
Master’s in communication studies, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana, 1974
Certificate in spiritual direction, Mercy Center, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 2001
Certificate in Healing Touch as a practitioner, 2011-2026
Service in the archdiocese: Incorporation and vocation minister, Sisters of Mercy, Regional Community of St. Louis, St. Louis, 2004-08
Healing Touch practitioner, Pratt Cancer Center, St. Louis, 2011-15
Healing Touch practitioner, Mercy Conference and Retreat Center, St. Louis, 2017-present
Service outside the archdiocese: Teacher, St. Joseph School, Greenville, Mississippi, 1967-69
Teacher/vocation coordinator, St. Joseph School, Jackson, Mississippi, 1969-70
Teacher, St. John’s Interparochial High School, Gulfport, Mississippi, 1970-72
Teacher, Sacred Heart High School, Biloxi, Mississippi, 1972-77
Chaplain and campus ministry, Millsaps College, Belhaven College, and University Medical School, Jackson, Mississippi, 1977-82
Campus ministry, Mercy High School, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1983-87
Campus minister, St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, 1988-2000
Director of campus ministry, Radford University, Radford, Virginia, 2002-03
Taught reading to adults, Mound Bayou, Mississippi, 2003-04
About Sister Marie Annette Seymour: Sister Annette enjoys working as a Healing Touch practitioner, which is a heart-centered therapy that helps the entire person’s well-being. She also enjoys singing, walking in nature, and traveling around the country, especially to the deep South to visit her family.
70th Entrance
Sister Mary Carmen Gonzalez
Birthplace: Edinburg, Texas
Entrance: 1952
First profession: 1955
Final profession: 1958
Education: Bachelor’s in elementary education, Incarnate Word College, San Antonio, Texas, 1963
Master’s in elementary education, Incarnate Word College, San Antonio, Texas, 1973
Service in the archdiocese: Teacher, St. Joan of Arc School, St. Louis, 1979-80
Prayer and works of Mercy, Catherine’s Residence, St. Louis, 2018-present
Service outside the archdiocese: Teacher, Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, Kenner, Louisiana, 1957-59
Teacher, Immaculate Heart of Mary School, Harlingen, Texas, 1959-60
Teacher, Our Lady of Mercy School, Mercedes, Texas, 1960-61
Teacher and vocation moderator, St. Paul School Mission, Texas, 1961-62
Teacher and vocation moderator, Sacred Heart Parish School, McAllen, Texas, 1962-65
Teacher and vocation moderator, Our Lady of Refuge School, Refugio, Texas, 1965-66
Teacher, St. Benedict School, Shawnee, Oklahoma, 1966-72
Teacher, St. Joseph School, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 1972-74
Teacher, Our Lady of Guadalupe School, Mission, Texas, 1974-79
Teacher, Sacred Heart Parish, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 1980-97
Staff, Mercy Health Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 1997-98
Office assistant, St. John’s Hospital/Mercy Hospital-Springfield, Springfield, Missouri, 1998-2018
About Sister Mary Carmen Gonzalez: Sister Carmen has a rich history of a quiet presence and a generous spirit among those with whom she has given witness in community and ministry. Her passion for those in need is a hallmark of her service in multiple expressions through card writing, and anonymous donations for direct assistance with food, clothing, etc. For enjoyment, she has always found renewal of heart in her prayer, ministry and simple watching of movies, especially Hallmark programs. Her loyalty to family and friends is a constant witness to many.
Sister Mary Jeanette Noonan
Birth name: Carolyn Rose Noonan
Birthplace: Jefferson City, Missouri
Entrance: 1952
First profession: 1955
Final profession: 1958
Education: Bachelor’s in English, Webster College, St. Louis, 1957
Master’s in education, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, 1965
Service in the archdiocese: Teacher, guidance counselor and vocation moderator, Mercy High School, University City, 1957-63
Retreat director and vocation moderator, Mercy Retreat House, Webster Groves, 1964-68
Child care worker, Mercita Hall, St. Louis, 1970-72
Director of formation and novices, Mercy Conference and Retreat Center, St. Louis, 1973-79
Retreat director, Mercy Conference and Retreat Center, St. Louis, 1979
Director of ongoing development, Mercy Center, St. Louis, 1980-85
Provincial administrator, Sisters of Mercy, St. Louis, 1985-92
Lifelong development director, Mercy Center, 1993-99
Spiritual direction ministry, St. Louis, 2002-present
Service outside the archdiocese: Teacher, St. Joseph High School, Jackson, Mississippi, 1963-64
Instructor, guidance counselor and vocation coordinator, St. John’s Interparochial High School, Gulfport, Mississippi, 1968-70
Lifelong development director, McAuley Place, Metairie, Louisiana, 1999-2002
About Sister Mary Jeanette Noonan: Captured by the spirit of travel, Sister Jeanette loves her “heart” journeys with folks in her spiritual direction ministry. She has travelled to numerous countries in the world, learning and hearing stories from many people of different backgrounds and cultures. Two favorite journeys made countless times in the past and on the agenda for November, 2022 are Ireland’s Mercy of Catherine McAuley’s green sod and Israel’s Holy Land of walking hand in hand with Jesus. Creative arts and crafts, visiting new places, patio flowers and beauty of nature delight her.
Sister Mary Dorothy Calhoun
Birthplace: New Orleans, Louisiana
Entrance: 1952
First profession: 1955
Final profession: 1958
Education: Certificate in nursing, St. John’s Hospital, St. Louis, 1958
Bachelor’s in nursing, St. John’s Hospital, St. Louis, 1960
Master’s, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, 1968
Service in the archdiocese: Ministry of prayer and works of Mercy, Catherine’s Residence, St. Louis, 2020-present
Service outside the archdiocese: Nursing supervisor, Mercy Hospital, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1958-59, 1960-65
Director of nursing, Mercy Hospital, Brownsville, Texas, 1965-66
Administrator, Mercy Hospital, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1968-73
Administrator, St. John’s Hospital, Springfield, Missouri, 1973-77
Administrator, Mercy Health Center, Laredo, Texas, 1977-80
Pastoral associate, Mercy Regional Medical Center, Vicksburg, Mississippi, 1981-82
Director of pastoral services, Mercy Hospital, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1983-85
Chaplain, Mercy Hospital, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1986-89
Local leader, Mercy Convent, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1990-92
Director of pastoral services, St. Joseph’s Mercy Health Center, Hot Springs, Arkansas, 1992-95
Patient representative, St. Joseph’s Mercy Health Center, Hot Springs, Arkansas, 1995-2005
Mercy Minister, St. Joseph’s Mercy Health Center, Hot Springs, Arkansas, 2005-12
Volunteer, Mercy Ministries, Hot Springs, Arkansas, 2012-14
Volunteer, Mercy Hospital-Fort Smith, Fort Smith, Arkansas, 2014-20
About Sister Mary Dorothy Calhoun: Sister Dorothy provided a lifelong witness of God’s gentle goodness and attentiveness to the co-workers and all those entrusted to her care where she served. Her pastoral presence bought a sense a God’s loving calm, especially to those patients, family members and co-workers in the various ministries in which she was involved. In addition, her passion for the Charismatic Renewal Program inspired many of her community members and others with whom she encountered. We are truly grateful to still experience her joyful presence in the Catherine’s Residence Community of retired Sisters of Mercy in St. Louis.
Sister Patricia Jane (Mary Antonia) Litter
Birthplace: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Entrance: 1952
First profession: 1955
Final profession: 1958
Education: Bachelor’s in biology, St. Xavier College, Chicago, Illinois, 1959
Master’s in biology, University of Illinois, 1970
Service in the archdiocese: Volunteer, St. Augustine Wellston Center, St. Louis, 2016-present
Activities assistant, Catherine’s Residence, St. Louis, 2016-present
Service outside the archdiocese: Teacher, St. Gabriel School, Chicago, Illinois, 1957-58
Teacher, St. Catherine of Genoa, Chicago, Illinois, 1958-59
Teacher, St. Malachy High School, Chicago, Illinois, 1959-61
Teacher, St. Columba School, Ottawa, Illinois, 1961-63
Teacher, Notre Dame High School, Burlington, Iowa, 1963-65
Teacher, Mercy High School, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1965-69
Teacher, Mercy High School, Chicago, Illinois, 1969-72
Teacher, Unity High School, Chicago, Illinois, 1972-78
Parish ministry, St. Mary Parish, North Little Rock, Arkansas, 1978-83
Parish ministry, Our Lady of Good Counsel, Little Rock, Arkansas, 1983-99
Coordinator, Senior Outreach Program, St. Gabriel Mercy Center, Mound Bayou, Mississippi, 1999-2008
Volunteer, Mercy Crest, Barling, Arkansas, 2008-11
Librarian and convent duties, McAuley Convent, Barling, Arkansas, 2011-16
About Sister Patricia Jane Litter: Sister Patricia Jane is passionate about pastoral outreach and creative efforts to help those in need. An example of both has been her commitment to gathering of plastic grocery bags and crocheting them to provide sleeping mats for the homeless. She is also a talented leader of liturgical prayer, worship and music. Her avid enjoyment of card games, puzzles and cheering for the Milwaukee sports teams bring her and others fun, laughter and renewal.
Sister Shirley Jean (Mary Dennis) Murphy
Birthplace: Casper, Wyoming
Entrance: 1952
First profession: 1955
Final profession: 1958
Education: Bachelor’s in business education, Fontbonne College, St. Louis, 1965
Master’s in business education, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, 1975
Certificate in healing touch, 2005
Service in the archdiocese: Assistant procurator, Mercy Conference and Retreat Center, St. Louis, 1965-66
House administrator, Mercy Conference and Retreat Center, St. Louis, 1976-78
Chaplain, St. Francis Mercy Hospital, Washington, 1980-81
Director, pastoral care, St. John’s Mercy Hospital, Washington, 1981-86
Volunteer, Mercy Conference and Retreat Center, St. Louis, 2011-17
Service outside the archdiocese: Taught business education at four high schools sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy
Director, pastoral care, Mercy Health Center, Laredo, Texas, 1986-89
Staff chaplain, The Kitchen, Inc., a homeless shelter housing 250 residents, Springfield, Missouri, 1998-2005
Certified healing touch practitioner, 2005-19
About Sister Shirley Jean Murphy: Sister Shirley enjoys reading, especially historical and documentary books, as well as fiction. She also likes listening to classical music, watching real-life movies and walking in nature, especially on the grounds of Mercy Conference and Retreat Center. Sister Shirley is an avid fan of the St. Louis Cardinals and enjoys rooting for them.