Jubilarian 2023 - Associate Patricia Cole

I live in Kansas City Missouri with my husband Gene who is also a CSJ associate. Originally from Omaha Nebraska, I have siblings, nieces, nephews and their families who live there, as well as a brother in California. When Gene and I married, I became a member of another wonderful family, including a step daughter, Ann and her family who all live in St. Louis. Our two grandchildren are married and we have two delightful great granddaughters who are 8 and 10. Our grandson and his wife are expecting their first child in August.

After graduating from Mercy High School in 1965, I entered the Sisters of Mercy in what was then the Omaha Province. The motherhouse was on the campus of the College of St. Mary where I began my liberal arts education with the intention of working toward a degree in nursing. At St. Mary’s and for the first three years of my religious formation, I was exposed to women who were embracing the spirit of Vatican II. My studies of the charism of Mercy, Scripture and Theology were all extremely instrumental in forming my spirituality. After taking temporary vows in 1969, I was part of a group of six sisters who went to the Scranton Pennsylvania Province to continue our religious formation and to complete my nursing degree. I knew that home health care was where I wanted to minister and I was able to do that in Missouri, Idaho, Iowa and Nebraska.

As a single woman I moved to Kansas City in 1981, where Gene and I met at a lector meeting at St. Charles parish. A few years after he was widowed, our friendship deepened and led to our marriage in 1985. In addition to the Sisters of Mercy who were ministering at St. Charles Parish, I met Marilyn Peot, CSJ in 1995. Marilyn, Gigi Oram CSJA, Gene and I were part of a Core Team for the development of Small Christian Communities in the parish. Connecting with Marilyn through her Companioning ministry, I learned about the CSJ charisms and made my initial commitment as an Associate on October 25th, 1998 at Holy Family Chapel at Carondelet.

I was always interested in holistic health so after 30 years as a nurse, 10 years at St. Charles School as bookkeeper and Peace and Justice teacher, I started my own business as a Reflexologist in 2005. I recently retired from this third wonderful career. Gene and I moved to an Independent Living community 18 months ago; daily contacts with other residents here provide many opportunities to be present
to the Dear Neighbor.

Due to Covid and to other factors, my connection with the CSJ community the past three years has been through individual relationships with other Associates and Sisters, as well as being part of two small communities of faith and prayer, virtually, when it is not possible to gather in person. My spirituality has been even more enriched and deepened through these relationships. I am most grateful to all those in the CSJ community with whom I have walked the past 25 years.