Sister Marie Dolores Bland, CSJ

Sister Marie Dolores Bland, baptized Virginia, was born in Hannibal, Missouri. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in February of 1949 and was received into the novitiate six months later. She received a bachelor’s degree in Latin from Fontbonne College (now University) in 1958 and a master’s degree in Latin from St. Louis University in 1963, both in St. Louis.

Sister Marie Dolores served over 60 years in education. She served the first nine years of her ministry in the Archdiocese of St. Louis beginning in 1951, teaching at schools throughout the St. Louis area. She taught grade school at St. Margaret of Scotland until 1953 and then the following year at St. Edward. Sister Marie Dolores taught grade school at St. Patrick until 1956 and then at St. Cecilia until 1959. The following year, she taught high school at St. Thomas Aquinas.

Sister Marie Dolores spent the next 49 years serving outside of St. Louis teaching at: St. Francis de Sales in Denver, Colorado from 1960 to 1965; Little Flower High School in Chicago from 1965 to 1968; St. Joseph’s Academy in Green Bay, Wisconsin from 1968 to 1975; Reicher Catholic High School in Waco, Texas from 1975 until 1976; Bishop Conaty High School in Los Angeles from 1976 to 1977; Denver Central Catholic High School in Denver from 1977 to 1982; Holy Family High School in Broomfield, Colorado from 1982 to 1983; and St. Patrick Grade School in St. Joseph, Missouri from 1983 to 1984.

Sister Marie Dolores served the last 28 years as a teacher at Holy Family High School in Broomfield, Colorado.

Sister Marie Dolores retired in 2012. Since 2022, she has resided at Nazareth Living Center in St. Louis and continues to carry out her mission of prayer and presence.

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