Sister Mary Ann Donovan, CSJ

Sister Mary Ann Donovan was born in Louisville, Kentucky. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 1949 and was received into the novitiate in 1950 as Sister Mary Ronald, later returning to her baptismal name. She earned a bachelor’s degree in speech and drama from Fontbonne College (now University), St. Louis in 1962.

Sister Mary Ann taught at numerous St. Louis Archdiocesan schools throughout the 1950s and early 1960s, starting at St. Mary Magdalen Grade School. She served at Holy Name Grade School, St. Louis Cathedral Grade School, and Our Lady of Lourdes Grade School. She then relocated to Chicago in 1963 and taught at St. Bede the Venerable Grade School for the next five years.

In 1968, Sister Mary Ann moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where she would remain for the next 50 years. She began her ministry work there as a teacher in several schools throughout the area: Visitation Grade School (1968-75 and 1984-1992), Our Lady of the Americas Grade School (1975-82), and St. Peter’s Grade School (1982-84).

She then continued her ministry work by serving in the Sisters of St. Joseph Development Office in Kansas City for the next 25 years. She held a number of roles throughout her years of service, including director, assistant director, staff member and director emerita.

Sister Mary Ann retired to St. Louis in 2017 and continued to volunteer for her CSJ community. Since 2022, she has resided at Nazareth Living Center where she carries out her mission of prayer and presence.

In the 1990s, Sister Mary Ann opened the CSJ Development Office in Kansas City (now Mission Advancement) with the help and guidance of some wonderful people. Sister Mary Ann also began the annual St. Joseph Table, a fundraiser for the Sisters of St. Joseph, which served a spaghetti dinner to over 1,100 donors each year for 15 years.

Would you like to make a donation in honor of Sister Mary Ann Donovan?

Make a donation in her honor here.