Sister Beth Murphy, OP

Sister Francis Mary has touched many lives by sharing her gifts as a liturgist, choir director, and music teacher throughout 60 years of religious profession. Born, baptized, and raised in Springfield, with few exceptions, she has stayed close to home. Her first assignment was teaching sixth graders and directing the choir at St. Mary School,

Sister Mary Jean was born and raised in the Quad Cities, and with one exception has spent her entire ministerial life in the Springfield diocese. Sixteen of those years were spent in community leadership as a member of the general council 1989-1997 and then as prioress general 1997-2005. Early in religious life, she often taught

Sister Susan Karina’s early years of ministry were spent in Chicago, where she served as an adjunct instructor at Barat College and DePaul University, 1997-1999. She was archivist for the Diocese of Springfield, 1999-2007, during which time she researched diocesan history and authored Come to the Water, a book published for the sesquicentennial of the

Sister Linda Mary said that when she first entered Sacred Heart Convent chapel for prayer more than a quarter century ago she was struck by the sheer beauty. “I knew God was calling me to religious life in community and was searching for that community. I was swept up in the beautiful voices of the sisters singing in prayer and was

Sister Catherine Mary began her religious life teaching grade 3, first at St. Frances Cabrini School, Springfield, 1973-1977, then at Holy Family School Decatur, 1977-1979, before she headed north, where she taught grades 3, 5, and computer at St. Edward School, Chicago, 1979-1990. She moved on to grade 8 at St. Thomas More School, Elgin,

Sister M. Paulette has a sister and two aunts who are also Springfield Dominican Sisters and has served in the Archdiocese of Duluth, Minn., and her home diocese of Peoria as well as the diocese of Springfield. She is currently assistant principal, Holy Family School, Decatur, but next school year will teach junior high at

Sister Geraldine’s longest ministry was the 23 years she served as principal at Holy Family School Decatur, Ill., (1992-2015)—nearly half of her life as a Dominican Sister of Springfield. Since 2015 she’s become a familiar face at Rosary High School in Aurora where she is outreach coordinator and facilities manager. She welcomes families to the

A native of Taylorville, Ill., Sister Kristin spent decades in health care ministry as a respiratory therapist at St. Mary-Rogers Memorial Hospital, Rogers, Ark., St. Dominic Hospital, Jackson, Miss., and as a pastoral visitor at St. Catherine’s Village, Madison, Miss. Her early years of ministry were spent in primary grade classrooms. She taught grades 1-2

Sister Beverly Jeanne Howe’s years of ministry can be considered in three phases: elementary education, canon law, and English language instructor. She taught elementary school at St. Margaret Mary School, Algonquin, Ill., (1962-1963 and 1978-1983); Our Lady of Grace School, Chicago (1963-1969); Our Lady of Lourdes School, Decatur, Ill., (1969-1971); and St. Christina School, Chicago

Sister Rosemary McGuire is a lifelong educator who enjoyed learning as much as she enjoyed teaching. Her first teaching assignment was a double classroom of first and second graders at St. Thomas School, Crystal Lake, Ill., 1962-1969. From there she moved on to St. Augustine School, Richmond, Mich., 1969-1970, then St. Vincent De Paul, Peoria,

Caring for children has been at the heart of Sister Josetta’s vocation. If she was not teaching primary grade students she was supporting families by caring for their children in day care settings in Bourbonnais, Ill., or Rogers, Ark. After 18 years serving her sisters at Sacred Heart Convent, where she was a driver oversaw