Catherine "Kate" Filla, CSJ
January 9, 1944 - September 9, 2024
(S. Joan Thomas)
Loved teaching, sharing CSJ history and providing care for the elderly
Francis and Rose (Zemann) Filla of University City, Missouri, welcomed Catherine Maria — known as “Kate” — their fifth daughter, on January 9, 1944. Eventually, four sons completed the family. Kate shared, “After a child was born, my mother would make a novena to the Mother of Perpetual Help for each child and basically she would recommit that child back to God."
Kate grew up in All Saints Parish, attended the parish school, then Rosati-Kain High School. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1961, receiving the habit and the name Sister Joan Thomas in August of 1962. Graduating from Fontbonne College (now University) in 1966, Sister Kate was assigned to teach French at Little Flower High in Chicago. “Martin Luther King was shot when I was in Chicago. ... I remember how devastating that was to the country and to the Black community,” she said.
In 1985, S. Kate moved back to St. Louis and taught English at the St. Louis Prep Seminary North and then at St. Louis Prep Seminary South (1987). Teaching at the seminary almost seemed like “a healing time ... The classes were small, [and] the faculty and administration were … wonderful to work with.” When the prep seminary closed, S. Kate accepted a secretarial position at the St. Joseph Provincialate. She was also studying reflexology. After passing her qualifying exam, she began seeing clients in her home. Pat Cole, RN, a certified integrative reflexologist, wrote, “I shared my deep gratitude to her for introducing me to to a truly “direct” way in which I could connect with others and be of service to them.”
From 1993 until 2000, S. Kate ministered as the office manager at Our Lady of Life Apartments
at the Cardinal Ritter Institute in St. Louis. Then, she joined the administrative assistant team of CSJ Care, founded by Sister Ann Chamblin, CSJ. Its purpose was to help senior citizens remain comfortable in their own homes. The caregivers were sisters from as many as 14 different religious communities. CSJ Care sent them to clients who needed help such as getting groceries, meals, light cleaning or laundry. S. Kate "really valued that experience working with the other religious.” The agency closed in 2013.
In 2004, in addition to her other activities, she began giving tours of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet (CSJ) Provincial House. She enjoyed interacting with people and loved delving into the history of the CSJ community to share with visitors.
“S. Kate was a storyteller — her stories could evoke booming laughter, surprise and even curiosity.” shares Associate Christine Holladay. “God's love and consolation shined brightly in
S. Kate when she listened to someone sharing a painful story.”
From 2010 to 2012, S. Kate was also the candidate director for the CSJ community. In 2013, she was given the title of docent for the Provincial House tours. In 2024, she moved to Nazareth Living Center.
By Sister Helen Oates