Después de hacer sus tareas, los niños del Salón San José días jueves, tienen un momento para jugar, recrear el.espieitu y cuidar su bienestar emocional!
Ayudamos a las parejas a prepararse para una nueva etapa de su vida
Por: Hermana Yolanda Arribasplata, CSJ
En la Parroquia San Cristóbal, diferentes parejas se vienen preparando con entusiasmo para recibir el Sacramento del Matrimonio, dando un paso importante en su camino de amor y compromiso.
Como parte de esta preparación, yo, como psicóloga y religiosa, acompaña a las parejas a través de charlas que integran una mirada sistémica de la relación de pareja con una perspectiva espiritual. Desde este enfoque, se abordan temas como la comunicación, el manejo de los conflictos, las expectativas, la historia personal de cada uno y la importancia de construir un proyecto de vida compartido.
Esta combinación entre psicología y espiritualidad busca que las parejas no solo se preparen para celebrar su matrimonio, sino también para fortalecer el vínculo que están construyendo, reconocerse mutuamente, aprender a caminar juntos y afrontar los desafíos de la vida matrimonial con amor, diálogo y compromiso.
Así, la preparación se convierte en un espacio para detenerse, escucharse y descubrir que el matrimonio no es solamente un día de celebración, sino un camino que se construye cada día, en el encuentro, el cuidado y la decisión de elegirse mutuamente.
Children from the San José Classroom
After finishing their homework on Thursdays, children from the San José Classroom have some time to play, have fun and take care of their emotional well-being!
Helping Couples Prepare for a New Stage of Life
By: Sister Yolanda Arribasplata, CSJ
At St. Christopher Parish, several couples have been enthusiastically preparing to receive the Sacrament of Matrimony, taking an important step on their journey of love and commitment.
As part of this preparation, I, as a psychologist and religious sister, guide the couples through sessions that integrate a systemic view of the couple’s relationship with a spiritual perspective. From this approach, topics such as communication, conflict resolution, expectations, each partner’s personal history and the importance of building a shared life plan are addressed.
This combination of psychology and spirituality aims to help couples not only prepare to celebrate their marriage but also to strengthen the bond they are building, recognize each other, learn to walk together and face the challenges of married life with love, dialogue, and commitment.
Thus, the preparation becomes a space to pause, listen to one another and discover that marriage is not just a day of celebration, but a journey built day by day through connection, care, and the decision to choose one another.
In August, I participated in the annual workshop for sisters with temporary vows or who have made perpetual vows within the last three years. Held at the Jesuit Retreat House in Tokyo, there were 31 participants this year (only seven were Japanese).
We engaged in learning and sharing about topics such as the meaning of the three vows in the modern world and how to navigate our relationship with AI and smartphones. We also enjoying fellowship in the evenings.
I sense that the group is becoming increasingly multicultural each year; this likely reflects the future face of the Church in Japan. Despite the various challenges we face—such as an aging society with a declining birthrate and increasing multicultural diversity—I hope we can transform each of these challenges into hope and walk this path together.
December 30, 1936 – September 3, 2026
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Sister Angela Schreiber, CSJ, who died peacefully at Carondelet Village in St. Paul, Minnesota, on September 3, 2026.
Angela Schreiber, CSJ, was a faithful friend, an avid gardener, and an innovative educator, who had a true gift for hosting a wonderfully cooked meal. She loved music, books, travel, sewing, baking and most of all her family. She was born on a farm in Ghent, Minnesota, to Joseph and Helene on December 30, 1936.
At eighteen, Angela received a scholarship from the League of Catholic Women to attend the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, where she was required to teach at a Catholic school while earning a teaching license. It was during this assignment that Angela discerned and made the decision to enter the community of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 1958.
Angela’s love of education earned her a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the College of St. Catherine (1963), a master’s degree in education and special reading from Ohio State University (1969) and a master’s degree in theology from the College of St. Catherine (1997).
After teaching elementary education, Angela returned to the College of St. Catherine, bringing her passion for nurturing young minds with her (1969). There, she served at the Catholic Education Center, as professor of education, six years as chair of the education department and fourteen years as an adjunct professor of English. During this time also she worked as a language specialist and education secretariat at Highland Catholic School in St. Paul (1972) and as the assistant providence director for the Sisters of St. Joseph (1979). Additionally, she was a writer and editor for Good Ground Press, designing and writing Good News for Children, weekly reflections for second and third graders on Sunday’s scriptures. After retirement, she lovingly served as coordinator of community living at Bethany Convent in St. Paul (2001).
Through the years, Angela served on many committees and task groups where her organized leadership and clear, wise voice always contributed to the common good. Angela’s simplicity, openness, warm smile and great sense of humor will be dearly missed; she was a calming presence and a blessing to all.
Angela is preceded in death by her parents and her brothers David, Allan and Terry. She is survived by her sisters Barbara Guttormsson and Marcia Maertens; brother Brian; nieces, nephews, grandnieces and nephews; dear friends; and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet and Consociates.
A Celebration of Life will take place on Tuesday, September 22, at 11 a.m. in Our Lady of the Presentation Chapel, 1884 Randolph Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota. Memorials in her honor preferred to the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Paul Province Retirement Fund.
Dear Angela, rest in love and peace.
February 22, 1938 – September 11, 2026
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Sister Rita Anne Scherrei, CSJ, who died peacefully on September 11, 2026 at St. John of God Care Center in Los Angeles.
Rita was born on February 22, 1938 in Los Angeles. She enjoyed a life in sunny Santa Monica with her three brothers. She excelled at St. Clement School and Bishop Conaty High School. Two teachers who were Sisters of St. Joseph stood out to her, and she saw how the sisters interacted and loved one another. “It gave me my vocation on a platter. It was a great thing for me,” she said. She was received into the community of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in March 1956.
During her years of ministry, she became passionate about peace and justice issues and embraced the admonition: “Act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly with God.” In 1973, she requested a dispensation from her vows, but her incredible journey led her back to our community, and she pronounced her vows again in 2018; our sisters shared her joy and rejoiced in her return!
A summary of her life might say: Rita found Christ as the center of her life, the joy of her heart, and the answer to her yearnings.
May she rest in peace.
January 26, 1939 – September 6, 2026
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Sister Madeline (Maddie) Pallotta, CSJ, who died at Ellis Hospital in Schenectady, New York, on September 6, 2026. She was a Sister of St. Joseph for over 60 years.
A native of Amsterdam, New York, Sister Maddie was born to Horace and Magdalene Pallotta. In 1959, she entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet.
Sister Maddie earned a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s degree in special education from The College of St. Rose in Albany. She did post-graduate studies in special religious education at Cardinal Stritch College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Sister Maddie also completed a master’s degree in religious education from St. Michael’s College in Winooski, Vermont.
Sister Maddie’s ministry career took her to many sites in the Albany and Syracuse Dioceses as well as to California. She was the first sister to minister at Rome State as the director of religious education. She was the first director of special education in the Diocese of Syracuse and also opened Hope House, a residence for handicapped men and women. She ministered as a staff member at the Carondelet Education Center in Latham, New York.
Sister Maddie was a very active woman who loved those who were downtrodden or neglected by society. Her deep love for special needs children led her to become a fund development specialist for Good Counsel, Inc in Poughkeepsie and Several Services in New Jersey. The National Library once awarded her with the Editor’s Choice Award for her poem, “look kindly on me”—an ode to those who are ”different.” In her final years of ministry, she worked as a caregiver for the elderly and as a pet groomer.
Sister Maddie was predeceased by her parents, Horace and Magdalene, and by her brother, Robert. She is survived by her sister-in-law, a niece and nephew and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet.
Sister Maddie requested a green burial, and she was laid to rest on Wednesday, September 9, at the cemetery at St. Joseph’s Provincial House in Latham. She asked that there be no wake. A funeral liturgy will be celebrated in the Provincial House Chapel on Thursday, September 10, at 10:30 a.m.
Contributions in Sister Maddie’s memory may be made to: Office of Mission Advancement, St. Joseph’s Provincial House, 385 Watervliet Shaker Road, Latham, NY 12110 or donate online.
October 3, 1947 – September 6, 2026
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Sister Barbara Dreher, CSJ, who passed away on September 6, 2026, at Nazareth Living Center in St. Louis. She was 78 years of age.
Sister Barbara Lynn Dreher, baptized Barbara Jean, was born on October 3, 1947, in St. Louis to parents Henry Ernst and Bernice M. (Fahrner) Dreher. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 1965 and was received into the novitiate in 1966. She earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Avila College (now University), Kansas City, Missouri, in 1971, a master’s degree in religious studies from the University of San Francisco in 1977; and a master’s degree in theological studies from the Jesuit School of Theology, Berkeley, California, in 1990.
After teaching first grade at Visitation Grade School in Kansas City, Missouri, from 1971 to 1975, Sister Barbara ministered in several parish religious education programs in Colorado. From 1971 to 1991, she served as consultant, teacher trainer and author at William H. Sadlier, Inc., a textbook company for religious education in Catholic Schools. During that time, she was also coordinator of adult education at St. James Parish in Denver (1977-1978), co-director of religious education at St. Mary’s Parish in Littleton (1975-1983) and director of religious education at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Boulder (1983-1988).
In 1991, a year after directing the religious education program at St. Christopher’s Parish in San Jose, California, Sister Barbara returned to St. Louis to minister as co-director of vocation education for the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Louis Province.
In 1992, Sister Barbara began serving her CSJ community as a member of the St. Louis Province Leadership Team, as assistant province director (1992-1996) and as director (1996-2002).
She was the chancellor of Fontbonne University, St. Louis, from 2003 to 2006. Sister Barbara returned to serving her CSJ community as the executive director of the Office of Development for the St. Louis Province until 2013. She then went on to serve the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet as a member of the Congregational Leadership Team from 2014 to 2020.
Sister Barbara retired in 2020. She moved to Nazareth Living Center in 2023 to carry out her ministry of prayer and presence.
Sister Barbara readily admitted that prayer was the center point of her life. She collected words — especially verbs — that challenged her; dabbled in writing poetry; turned nouns into verbs and verbs into adjectives to unleash their meaning; grilled anything that fit on the grill; and was strengthened and challenged to live life with gusto and contagious faith by her sisters in community, and by all family and friends.
A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, September 11, 2026, at Nazareth Living Center Chapel, 2 Nazareth Lane, St. Louis, MO 63129. Visitation will be at 9 a.m. CT, followed by the Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. The Funeral Mass will be livestreamed at: video.ibm.com/channel/csjsl-general
Memorial contributions may be made to: Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Louis Province, 6400 Minnesota Ave., St. Louis, MO 63111-2899 or donate online.
On Saturday, August 15, Sister Pat Murphy, CSJ was among many who attended the Public Prayer and Witness to Stand with Migrants in Jefferson City, Missouri.
Sister Pat Murphy, CSJ inside the Missouri Capitol.
The prayerful procession into the capitol building.
Our prayer began with the rosary at St. Peter Catholic Church. Each decade’s meditation focused on the challenging and unjust realities facing our immigrant neighbors and was connected to a Catholic social teaching principle. Each decade was also prayed in a different language, reflecting the languages represented in that parish community.
Those gathered processed silently across the street to the Missouri State Capitol Rotunda and participated in a prayer service of solidarity for migrants and refugees, led by Bishop Ralph O’Donnell. During the prayer service, three people shared their migration stories.
Together, we asked the Lord’s mercy and protection for those who are far from home or in vulnerable situations and witnessed to the God-given dignity of every human person.
Religious leaders from around the world invite you to discover the Season of Creation 2026: Living Water and to join them on this journey of faith and action.
Reflect
Pope Leo XIV recently released his message for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation on September 1, 2026. We encourage you to read the full letter, but here is an excerpt for your reflection:
Today, we are witnessing many crises and much human suffering. At the same time, it seems that the disruption to the harmonious balance of creation is accelerating. These phenomena are not unrelated; they are a single plea for healing and peace arising from a wounded world.
The God of life, revealed in Jesus Christ, offers a peace that the world cannot give: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you” (Jn 14:27). This peace is neither superficial nor fleeting; it flows from the enduring love of Christ and his care for every human person.
Yet this promise of peace stands in stark contrast to the realities we see in many parts of the world. The prophet Isaiah spoke of a time when nations “shall beat their swords into plowshares” (Is 2:4), transforming what destroys life into what sustains it. But today, we too often witness the very opposite, as efforts continue to be directed toward violence and war.
Take Action
Share a thought that nourishes hope or brings peace to a situation of disharmony.
Take a walk in nature and spend time reflecting on the fact that God’s essence keeps all of nature alive.
What action are you committing to, to reduce the effects of climate change?
Spiritual Renewal
As human beings, we reflect the living presence of God in a unique manner, embodied through respect, kindness, and compassion. I encourage you to think of someone with whom you have lost connection, need to forgive, or have disrespected. Consider reaching out to them in a spirit of love to share a word of encouragement, expecting nothing in return, and focusing solely on giving.
Contribute to an organization that is fighting climate change:
Watch the Prayer Service for the Opening of the Season of Creation that took place the morning of September 1.
About us
The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet are a congregation of Catholic sisters. We, and those who share our charism and mission, are motivated in all things by our profound love of God and our dear neighbors. We seek to build communities and bridge divides between people. Since our first sisters gathered in 1650, our members have been called to “do all things of which women are capable.” The first sisters of our congregation arrived in St. Louis, Missouri in 1836, and we now have additional locations in St. Paul, Albany, Los Angeles, Hawaii, Japan and Peru. Today, we commit to respond boldly to injustice and dare to be prophetic.
Contact
Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet Congregational Offices
10777 Sunset Office Drive, Ste. 10 St. Louis, MO 63127
