Sister Joan Pitlyk, CSJ

Sister Joan Pitlyk was born in St. Louis, Missouri, entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 1948 and was received into the novitiate as Sister Mary Odelia in 1949. She received a bachelor’s degree in education from Fontbonne College (now University) in 1959 and two master’s degrees from St. Louis University, one in English in 1966 and one in Christian spirituality in 1980.

Sister Joan served as a teacher at various schools in the Archdiocese of St. Louis starting in 1951. She taught grade school at St. Edward’s, St. Mary’s in Bridgeton, St. Rita’s and St. Thomas of Aquin. She then moved to Shawano, Wisconsin to teach at Sacred Heart Grade school.

Sister Joan returned to St. Louis in 1960 and taught at Our Lady of Lourdes Grade School for two years, St. Anthony’s High School for six years and St. Joseph’s Academy for four years until 1972.

In 1973, Sister Joan began three years of service to her CSJ community as director of novices. In 1976, she began teaching in the Department of Theological Studies at St. Louis University. Her University teaching experience spanned 23 years of ministry with the Institute of Religious Formation, where she worked first as a staff member and then as Director of the Program until 1999.

In 2000 she began five years of service as a spiritual director at the St. Louis Consultation Center. Since then, she has continued with her spiritual direction and retreat ministry while living in Sacred Heart Parish in Florissant, Missouri.

Sister Joan states that the most rewarding years of her life were the 23 years of ministry with the Institute of Religious Formation at Saint Louis University. Priests, brothers and sisters from around the world came to study in preparation for their future ministry in religious formation. SheI met over 1,400 dedicated priests, religious women and men who have left a deep impression on her heart and on her life as a Sister of St. Joseph.

She enjoys creative writing and in 2018, she published a book of children’s poetry, “The Rabbit Who Nibbled and Other Poems.” In 2021, she published another book of short stories, “Five Dogs, a Rabbit and a Nun.”

As she celebrates now this milestone of 75 years, she feels a deep sense of gratitude to God for the many blessings in her life, especially her family, her Sisters of St. Joseph, her friends and all who have been a part of her journey.

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