Sister Patricia Canty of Butte marked her 50th anniversary as a Sister of Charity of Leavenworth (SCL) this year. She celebrated with seven other members of her novitiate class during a special Golden Jubilee Mass and reception in Leaven-worth, Kan., on Sunday, June 28.

A native of Butte, Sister Patricia attended St. Patrick’s Grade School and Girls’ Central High School, both staffed by the SCLs. She earned her college degree at Gonzaga University of Spokane, Wash., and taught for two years following graduation in Milan, Wash. She entered the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth in 1959. She was a substitute teacher during her early years in the religious community.

In 1963, she began the first of 45 years of classroom teaching. Sister Patricia taught music, social studies or reading and other classes in a self-contained middle-grade classroom. She spent 16 of those years at Annunciation School, Denver, Colo. For the past four years, Sister Patricia has been part of the Foster Grandparent Program. She also assists teachers at Central Elementary and tutors students who need help.

Other members of the Golden Jubilee group include Sister Barbara Aldrich, Grand Junction, Colo.; Sister Donna Jean Henson, Leavenworth, Kan.; Sister Mary Kamperschroer, Santa Monica, Calif.; Sister Vickie Perkins, Kansas City, Kan.; Sister Constance Phelps, Leavenworth, Kan.; Sister Therese Marie Steiner, Gillette, Wyo.; and Sister Joan Williams, Cheyenne, Wyo.

The Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth serve in 10 states in the United States and in three missions in Peru. They work in a variety of ministries including parish and diocesan administration, health care, medicine and nursing, education (elementary, high school and university), social services, spiritual development and many others. For more information, visit www.scls.org.


Published in The Montana Catholic Online, Volume 25, No. 7, July 17, 2009.