Jubilarian 2020 - Sister Roberta Houlihan

Sister Roberta Houlihan, baptized Phyllis, was born in Peoria, Illinois. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 1944 and was received into the novitiate in 1945. She earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Fontbonne College in 1958 and a master’s degree in education counseling and guidance from the University of Notre Dame in 1966.

In 1947, Sister Roberta began her ministry as a teacher at St. Edward Grade School in St. Louis. From 1947 to 1955, she taught at Our Lady of the Presentation Grade School, St. Thomas of Aquin Grade School and St. Anthony of Padua Grade School, all in St. Louis.

She then taught at St. Bede the Venerable Grade School in Chicago from 1955 to 1959, and at St. Joseph’s Academy in Green Bay from 1959 to 1961. In the 1960s, she continued teaching at St. Joseph’s Academy in St. Louis and Macbeuf High School in Denver. Back in St. Louis, Sister Roberta served 10 years as counselor and teacher at Rosati-Kain High School from 1964 to 1974.

For the next 38 years, Sister Roberta served in Peoria, Illinois. She was a social worker at Catholic Social Services until 1978. For the next 10 years, she taught and was a counselor at Academy of Our Lady/Spalding Institute. In 1988, she began 18 years of service at Peoria Notre Dame High School as a counselor. While in Peoria, she served on many Cursillo teams and renewal weekends.

Sister Roberta retired in 2006. Since 2012, she resided at Nazareth Living Center in St. Louis where she continues to carry out her ministry of prayer and presence.

Sister Roberta passed away on May 9, 2020.