Sister Ellen Roach, CSJ

Sister Ellen Roach, baptized Agnes Rita, was born in Chicago, Illinois. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 1949 and was received into the novitiate later that year. She received a bachelor’s degree in English from Fontbonne College (now University) in 1962 and a master’s degree in English from St. Louis University in 1968, both in St. Louis.

Sister Ellen was a teacher for her first 22 years of ministry. She taught at Our Lady of Lourdes Grade School in University City, Missouri (1951-54); St. Paul High School in Negaunee, Michigan (1954-58); St. Mary Magdalen Grade School in St. Louis (1958-62); Reicher Catholic High School in Waco, Texas (1962-65); Little Flower High School in Chicago (1965-70); and St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Florissant, Missouri (1970-73).

In 1973, Sister Ellen became the campus minister at the University of Missouri, Rolla, in Rolla, Missouri. Two years later, she went on to serve as a youth ministry coordinator for the Diocese of Montgomery in Alabama until 1980. Staying down south, Sister Ellen served as the pastoral assistant at St. John Evangelist Parish in Valdosta, Georgia, until 1989.

The following year, Sister Ellen continued her education as a student at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.

Sister Ellen went on to serve the next 25 years in Colorado. She served as the adult education coordinator at St. Mary Parish in Littleton for 11 years, and then as an ESL tutor at Front Range Community College in Westminster until her retirement in 2012.

Since 2015, she has resided at Nazareth Living Center in St. Louis continuing her ministry of prayer and presence.

Click here to make a donation in honor of Sister Ellen.