- December 30, 2025 Association, Community
By Associate Maureen Wessels
In late September, Associates Gerry Rauch, Lori Fick and I made a road trip to Okolona, Mississippi, a community well known to many of our sisters and associates. The easy six-hour drive from St. Louis was long enough for us to get better acquainted with each other. Lori had been to Okolona once, earlier this year, with a few of our sisters. Gerry and I were about to experience Okolona for the first time. We knew from all who had been before us that it would be a week of work with gardening, painting, cleaning and tutoring.
Sister Liz Brown welcomed us as if we were old friends. After settling in, we ventured to the grocery store to pick up some food for the week. Gerry brought lasagna that we paired with a salad, and we enjoyed our first meal with S. Liz and the six Sisters of St. Francis who live and serve in Okolona.
Each morning, we met at the EXCEL Community Commons on Main Street before work. EXCEL stands for Enrichment, Excellence, Community, Education and Leadership. We were introduced to sisters and leaders who started EXCEL in 1988 and continue working there today to maintain its many programs.
Each one of us found our niche. Gerry weeded and mulched a garden area behind the senior apartment, after battling the red ants. Lori handled a few paint jobs, and I cut lumber for shelves for a storage closet. We also organized linens and other items to create more space. In the afternoons, Lori and I both assisted in EXCEL's after-school program, working with children from kindergarten to Grade 5. We assisted them with math and reading, including phonics, sentence structure and reading retention. I really enjoyed how responsive and eager the kids were to learn and have the one-on-one attention.
What really impacted us was recognizing the vestiges of systemic racism and its impact on the vitality of the town and its ability to thrive. It was witnessing the vision of the sisters, their call to be the eyes, ears and face of God to the people of Okolona, bringing new life and hope in the face of great challenges and resistance.
There is a lack of resources to update the sewage system, crumbling buildings on Main Street, closed factories, no public transportation and substandard schools. Yet, Sisters Liz Brown and Nancy Schrek, OSF, who have been here since 1988, are still listening to the needs and creating hope. Their love for the dear neighbor was evident everywhere. One of the EXCEL board members stated, “Okolona would not be here if it weren’t for the sisters.”
Throughout the past 37 years, they have created an after-school program, an adult learning center that has trained 120 certified nursing assistants (CNA), a senior center, senior apartments, a community center, a resale store, homeless housing for women, a family park, and a coffee shop, to name a few.
“The contribution of our local community is an important focus,” says S. Liz. In the past year, 143 people from Okolona and 52 out-of-town volunteers have volunteered in various programs. Five volunteers run the One of a Kind Resale store. S. Liz totaled the number of hours they spent volunteering just for the store, which equalled 1,523 hours.
Our last morning there, Sister Nancy Meyerhoefer, OSF commented, “Look at Okolona and think about other towns like Okolona.” There are needs to be met. We had much to absorb and give thought.
On our journey home, we wondered: How can we best continue to support the work that we are privileged to have experienced? How might we encourage St. Louis associates to be a part of the mission that S. Liz started 37 years ago?
Our Green Bay associates have been volunteering in Okolona for many years. We hope to establish a similar opportunity in St Louis.
If this piques your interest, please email one of us:
- Maureen Wessels: [email protected]
- Lori Fick: [email protected]
- Gerry Rauch: [email protected]
Help us build our dream to support and help sustain this important mission.