Jubilarian 2022 - Sister Kathleen Crowley

Sister Kathleen was born in St. Louis, Missouri. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 1961 and was received into the novitiate in 1962 as Sister Patrick Ann. She received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Fontbonne University in 1966 and a master’s degree in social work from St. Louis University in 1973.

Sister Kathleen taught in St. Louis at St. Philip Neri from 1966 to 1967 and Our Lady of the Presentation from 1967 to 1971. After receiving her master’s degree, she worked as a social worker at Catholic Charities, Holy Rosary Parish and Northside Community Center located in St. Matthew’s Parish. Sister Kathleen then served as a staff member of the St. Louis Archdiocesan Human Rights Office for nine years, serving under director Monsignor John Shocklee.

Sister Kathleen then went to Washington, D.C., and served as a policy analyst for Bread for the World for four years, lobbying on domestic issues such as increasing the minimum wage and welfare reform. For the next four years, Sister Kathleen served with other Sisters of St. Joseph in Lima and Tacna, Peru. During this time, she especially enjoyed living in community with the many Peruvian sisters so that she could learn the culture and language, a true gift from the Peruvian sisters.

Returning to the United States, Sister Kathleen served in Tucson, Arizona, at a clinic for people who lacked health insurance. This eventually led her to Los Angeles where she spent 14 years at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, working as a licensed pediatric social worker in the Intensive Care Unit. She enjoyed working with the young interns and residents in a milieu where she could use her Spanish to be able to accompany the many families who were in need of compassionate support as they cared for their sick children. During this time in Los Angeles and Tucson, Sister Kathleen also had the honor of living with our sisters from the Los Angeles province, who showered her with loving hospitality.

Sister Kathleen retired in 2016 and returned to St. Louis where she continues her volunteer work of teaching English to immigrants, working at Migrant and Immigrant Community Action project, an immigration law firm. She also enjoys visiting with family and friends.

Sister Kathleen she has always loved music all her life and relishes the opportunities to have sung in choirs under the direction of the late Leon Roberts in D.C. and then with Christopher Walker in Los Angeles. Today, she has resumed her playing of the piano, even teaching some of the sisters at the Carondelet Motherhouse during this pandemic time.

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