Sister Helen Louise Williams, CSJ

Sister Helen Louise Williams, baptized Marguerite, was born in Hancock, Michigan. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 1944 and was received into the novitiate in 1945. She earned a bachelor’s degree in history/social studies from Fontbonne College (now University), St. Louis in 1962 and a master’s degree in religious education from Mundelein College, Chicago, Illinois in 1973.

In the 1940s, Sister Helen Louise began her career teaching first a St. Louis at Holy Guardian Angels and then at St. Mary Magdalen grade schools.

In 1950, she began 14 years of teaching in the Diocese of Marquette in Marquette, Michigan. She taught at the American Martyrs Grade School in Kingsford, Michigan, St. Paul Grade School in Negaunee, Michigan and Sacred Heart Grade School in L’Anse, Michigan. She taught high school and at Bishop Baraga High School in Marquette.

In the 1960s, she taught at Visitation Grade School in Kansas City, Missouri. She returned to the Marquette Diocese and was the principal at Mater Dei Grade School in Kingsford, Michigan. And returned to Sacred Heart Grade School as principal and teacher.

Sister Helen Louise was the diocesan director of religious education for the Diocese of Marquette from 1969 to 1979. She then served her CSJ community as the director of personnel at the St. Joseph Provincial House in St. Louis from 1978 to 1981.

In the 1980s, she served in the Diocese of Duluth, Minnesota, as associate director of religious education, director of education and as the diocesan director of education and personnel coordinator.

From 1991 to 1992, she was the administrative assistant at All Souls Parish in Alhambra, California.

Sister Helen then began 23 years in the Diocese of San Diego. She was the pastoral associate for Immaculata Parish in San Diego. At St. Francis Seminary, affiliated with the University of San Diego, she was a teacher, assistant administrator and ESL teacher and academic advisor at the San Diego University for the seminarians. She also served at the Diocesan Pastoral Center as a teacher of church history.

Since 2013, she has resided at the Village at Nazareth Living Center in St. Louis where she continues to carry out her ministry of prayer and presence.

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