Sister Mary Lou Owens, OP

Sister Mary Lou Owens, a Chicago native, has been the Spiritual Life Coordinator of Logan County Illinois since 2007.  In that role she visits those who are sick, oversees the Rite of Christian Initiation for persons coming into the Church, and makes herself available to parishioners who desire her accompaniment and prayer. Her commitment includes four parishes in the county: Holy Family, Lincoln; St. Mary, Atlanta; St. Thomas, Mt. Pulaski; and St. Patrick, Elkhart.

She loved her years of ministry in her hometown, where she was principal at St. Walter,  and Our Lady of Grace schools, and early in religious life taught primary grades at St. Edward, and St. John Bosco, schools in the city and at St. Thomas More, Elgin.

In the Springfield diocese Sister Mary Lou's ministries included Little Flower, Springfield; Holy Family, Decatur; Holy Ghost, Jerseyville, SS Mary and Joseph, Carlinville; and Formation Director at Sacred Heart Convent.

Sister Mary Lou's parents Hugh and Florence Owens, and her brothers John, Fred, and Hubert are deceased.

"Accompanying people on their journeys has brought me the most joy, " she said. "I’ve accompanied everyone from tiny tots up to the wisest seniors. I’ve learned something from everyone. My vocation has been Spirit-led from the time I began thinking about religious life until the present day. ”