Author archive

Eleanor Craig SL

Eleanor has been a Sister of Loretto since 1963 and an educator since birth. She graduated from two of Loretto's best known St. Louis institutions, Nerinx Hall High School in 1960, and Webster University in 1967. She taught mathematics at Loretto in Kansas City, where her personal passion for adventure history inspired her to develop and lead treks along the historic Oregon Trail. From 1998 to 2010 she created an award-winning program of outdoor adventure along the Western trails for teens who are visually impaired. Eleanor claims to have conducted more wagon trains to the West than the Mountain Men! From 2012 to 2021, Eleanor led a talented staff of archivists and preservationists at the Loretto Heritage Center on the grounds of the Motherhouse. Now retired, she still serves in the Heritage Center as Loretto Community Historian.

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Reflection on the Third Sunday of Lent

By Eleanor Craig SL / March 23, 2025 /

Exodus 17:3-7 Romans 5:1-8 John 4:5-42 When speaking of the Scriptures, there is always a choice to be…

Remembrance of the Life of Sister Rita (formerly Sister Mary Ann Frederick) Bruegenhagen SL

By Eleanor Craig SL / March 22, 2025 /

Sister Rita (formerly Sister Mary Ann Frederick) Bruegenhagen SL died peacefully the afternoon of March 22, 2025, at Loretto Living Center, with Loretto members, including Irene Doody, her pew partner, by her side. Rita was…

Reflection on the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

By Eleanor Craig SL / January 26, 2025 /

Nehemiah 8:2-10 Corinthians 12:12-30 Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21 Today’s liturgical readings might best be read in the opposite order. The third reading, the Gospel, poses a question which…

Remembrance of the Life of Sister Marie Ego SL

By Eleanor Craig SL / January 23, 2025 /

Editor’s note: Sister Marie Ego SL died peacefully at Loretto Living Center Jan. 23. Marie was 86 and in the 59th year of her Loretto commitment. The following is her brief autobiography, provided by Marie for her remembrance:…

Putting the Pieces Together on Immigration

By Eleanor Craig SL / January 10, 2025 /

A group of mostly women and one man post for a photo holding crosses and a colorful banner that reads "Loretto Volunteers: Working for Justice, Acting for Peace."

One of the most intriguing aspects of an archival collection is that it contains many bits and pieces that, woven together, reveal entire stories. Sometimes a curious researcher comes upon…

Reflection on the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

By Eleanor Craig SL / December 29, 2024 /

1 Samuel 1:20-28 1 John 3:1-24 Luke 2:41-52 The focus of this Sunday in Christmas week is family. We celebrate the…

Loretto Roots tours past, present and future

By Eleanor Craig SL / December 12, 2024 /

A vintage picture of a large white building with red roofs.

Last month, Interchange included an article about a recent Loretto Roots trip from Loretto Motherhouse to Maryland, following the journeys of early Maryland Catholics and the first Loretto members. Several…

Reflection on the First Sunday of Advent

By Eleanor Craig SL / December 1, 2024 /

Jeremiah 33:14-16 Thessalonians 3:12–4:2 Luke 21:25-36 I struggled with today’s readings and was relieved to find that even the scholarly have difficulties with Advent. Words of several commentators mirrored my…

Remembrance of the Life of Sister Agnes Marie (formerly Sister Mary Cordula) Hagan SL

By Eleanor Craig SL / November 7, 2024 /

Sister Agnes Marie (formerly Sister Mary Cordula) Hagan SL died peacefully at Loretto Living Center early morning Nov. 7, 2024. Community members gathered for prayers at her bedside. She was…

Loretto Roots Trip to Maryland

By Eleanor Craig SL / November 7, 2024 /

Four friends smile together for a selfie shaded by a large tree on a sunny day.

Four years ago four Loretto friends ended a driving trip to Santa Fe, N.M., with a promise that our next trip would be to explore our Loretto roots in Maryland.…

Reflection on the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

By Eleanor Craig SL / October 27, 2024 /

Jeremiah 31:7–9 Hebrews 5:1–6 Mark 10:46–52 The combination of the three readings this morning raises some provocative questions. What is a miracle?…

Remembrance of the Life of Sister Mary Ann (formerly Sister Ann Michael) Cunningham SL

By Eleanor Craig SL / October 8, 2024 /

Sister Mary Ann (formerly Sister Ann Michael) Cunningham SL died Oct. 8, 2024, at Loretto Living Center on the grounds of Loretto Motherhouse in Nerinx, Ky. Her niece, Sister Cathy…

The Loretto Community consists of the congregation of the Sisters of Loretto and Loretto Co-members. The congregation of the Sisters of Loretto at the Foot of the Cross was founded in rural Kentucky in 1812. Today, our Sisters and Co-members continue to live out the Loretto Community’s mission to “work for justice and act for peace because the Gospel urges us.” In the United States and throughout the world, Loretto Community members serve in many fields, including education, healthcare, elder care, environmental stewardship and advocacy.