Diversified Ministries

Beginning in 1935, Father Patterson, former pastor of SSPP parish, was given charge of the Gila Valley district. He immediately planned a vacation school for the summer months. Four Sisters from Tucson proctored CCD classes at Saint Rose Church in Safford, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Mission in Thatcher, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Solomonville, and St. Joseph Chapel in Santa Jose. Forty-eight miles of driving were required to get the Sisters to and from their summer missions - a great distance at that time. Nearly all of the children in these classes were Mexican-American.

1935, Large class of Mexican and Indian children at Safford, Arizona. Srs. James Marie Malone and Francis Mary Coleman taught catechism in the summer.

In a letter from 1935, Sr. James Marie Malone describes her work among the Indian populations. "This is a piece of cotton just recently picked by the Yaqui Indians here in Arizona... The place we go is called Fort Lowell. Many of the people have made their adobe homes from the ruins of the one-time American arsenal that was located here."

Later, Sr. James Marie, recalls, "I only regret that I can't express in words the real pleasure there is in working among the Mexicans in this little Gila Valley (Safford)."

It was also around this time that Father Patterson would drive a bus every weekend to the State School for the Deaf and Blind to transport students for Sunday Mass and catechism classes taught by the Sisters at SS. Peter and Paul.

1934, First class of students that the Sisters taught CCD from the State School for the Deaf and Blind.

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1935, Excerpt of a letter from Sr. James Marie Malone about the Yaqui Indian Village. She attached a piece of the cotton to the letter.

This was just the beginning of the Sisters' "diversified" ministries among the people of Arizona, California, and Mexico. From the 1930s until present day, the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill have dedicated their lives to working with Indian villages, immigrants, the elderly, youth, and at-risk populations in the fields of social service, fine arts ministry, healthcare, religious education, and more.

Below is a list of the many diversified ministries of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill.

Explore the Gallery of images to see more.

1941, Vacation School ofr Yaqui Indians. First Communion class with Sister Harold Ann Jones and Sr. James Marie Malone.

1^st Way Women’s Crisis Center, Scottsdale
Apaches at San Carlos
Archdiocese of Los Angeles
Blessed Sacrament Parish, Scottsdale
Catholic Schools Offices, Tucson and Phoenix
Casa Victoria, Center for Art, Tempe
Casa Elizabeth Seton, Tucson
Chancery Office, Phoenix
Catholic Charities
Catholic Social Services, Tucson and Phoenix
Comstock Children's Hospital
Counseling Services, Case Grande and Globe
Diocese of Tucson
Directors of Religious Education
Fine Arts Ministry, Los Lunas, New Mexico
Forrestor’s Old Pueblo Casita
Good Samaritan Hospital
Hacienda Virginia, Mazatepec, Mexico
Helping Associates, Inc.
Holy Cross Hospital
Holy Family Mexican Church
Immaculate Conception Parish and School, Ajo
Indian Oasis Baboquivari United School District
Kino Institute
Liaison for Korean Catholic community
Lourdes Catholic High School, Nogales, AZ
Malta Center, Phoenix
Mexican-American Cultural Center, San Antonio, TX
Mount Claret Center, Phoenix
Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos
Our Lady of Blessed Sacrament, Miami, AZ
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Guadalupe
Our Lady of Joy Parish, Carefree
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Glendale
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish and School, Scottsdale
Papago Indian Reservation
Phoenix Job Corps, Phoenix
Phoenix Valley Hospitals
Red Cloud Indian School on Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota
Resurrection Parish, Tempe
Sacred Heart Parish, Tucson
Queen of Peace Parish
Saint Anne Parish, Gilbert
Saint Bridget Parish, Mesa
Saint Catherine of Sienna Parish, Phoenix
Saint Cyril Parish, Tucson
Saint Daniel the Prophet Parish and School, Scottsdale
Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Tucson and Sun City
Saint Henry Parish, Buckeye
Saint John the Evangelist Parish and School, Tucson
Saint John Vianney Parish, Sedona
Saint Joseph Hospital
Saint Margaret Parish, Tempe
Saint Martin de Porres Parish, Phoenix
Saint Mary Parish and Saint Mary-Basha School, Chandler
Saint Mary Hospital, Tucson
Saint Michael Parish, Olympia, Washington
Saint Monica Parish, Tucson
St. Nicholas of Myra Child and Family Centers
Saint Pancratius School, Lakewood, California
Saint Pius X Child Development Center/The Dorothy Kieckjefer Child and Family Education Laboratory
Saints Peter and Paul Parish and School, Tucson
Saint Stephen Byzantine Parish
Saint Theresa Parish and School, Phoenix
Saint Vincent de Paul Parish, Phoenix
San Carlos Mission
San Xavier Mission
Topawa Indian Reservation
Tribunal Office, Santa Maria, California
Tribunal Office, Phoenix
Tuberculosis Preventorium
University of Arizona Hospital
Valle de Sole
Yaqui Indian Reservation

1939, Holy Family Mexican Church doctrine class. Sr. Agnes Marie Reuber is one of the teachers.

c. 1940s, Topawa Indian Mission where Sisters of Charity taught CCD.

c. 1930s, Sister Ann Augusta Schroth visits Comstock Hospital for Crippled Children.

1940, Sister Agnes Marie Reuber is shown with children at the Tuberculosis Preventorium in Tucson.

1948, Indian Mission in Ajo, Arizona, where Sisters taught religion classes.

1940, First Holy Communion Class, St. Mary's Parish, Chandler, Srs. Suzanne McIntyre, James Marie Malone, and Ann Augusta Schroth are pictured.

Pre-1960s, Sr. Mary Timothy Adams teaching CCD to blind students from the School for the Blind in Tucson.

1972, Sisters Marie Patrick Sullivan and LaSalette Hays with some of the school children from Lulac Villa, Arizona.

1983, 50th Anniversary Celebration of Sisters of Charity in Arizona at SS Peter and Paul, Tucson. Sr. Suzanne McIntyre, one of the pioneers, strikes a pose.

1985, The Arizona Leadership Team for the newly-formed Arizona region. Sr. Mary Richard Rixner, Treasurer; Sister Gertrude Foley, Regional Superior; Sr. Harold Ann Jones and Sr. Barbara Miller, Councilors.

1993, Sr. Regina Marie Boslet sitting near a sign for the Malta Center.

1995, Masters Art Show at Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ. Sr. Jeanne Batholomeaux stands next to one of her works (in weaving) submitted to the show.

1996, Summer Seton Volunteers, Arizona. Theresa Seroka (PA), Sr. Barbara Miller, Yani Geigeil (Washington D.C.) prepare for trip to the orange groves to take food to undocumented workers.

1996, Sr. Regina Marie Bostlet stands outside the Mt. Claret Diocesan Center where she serves as Pastoral Minister/Chaplain.

1996, Full view of Mt. Claret Diocesan Center where Sr. Regina Marie Bostlet served as Pastoral Minister/Chaplain.

1990s, Sr. Maria Consuelo Pacheco stands near her latest creation in her studio in Arizona.

1997, Summer Seton Volutneer Program, Arizona. Preparing for arts and crafts at Guadalupe. Pictured are Bridget Beggy, Sr. Diane Temple, and Meredith Moses.

1997, Summer Seton Volunteer Program, Arizona. Pictured are Sr. Rachel Blais, Bridget Beggy, Katie Pogge, Meredith Moses, Sr. Barbara Miller, and Frances Pasibe.

1997, Sr. Stephen's Byzantine Catholic Church, Phoenix.

2000, Sr. Mary Ann Winters, Chancellor of the Diocese of Phoenix.

2001, Sr. Eleanor Gibbons working at the Dan O'Meara Center, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Phoenix.

c. 2001, Sr. Mary Richard Rixner, teacher with the Arizona Job Corps, stands behind one of the students as she prepares for the GED test.

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Sr. Jeanne Bartholomeaux fine arts ministry article, The Catholic Sun, February 1995

Sr. Mary Ann Winters, Chancellor, Article, The Catholic Sun, June 1993

1998, Sister Leona Dolle ministers to Margaret and Arthur Heinson in Scottsdale, Arizona.

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Sr. Mary Inez Clark with children at the Tuberculosis Preventorium.

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c. 1930s-40s, Srs. Helen Louise Connelly and Mary Estelle Hensler with a summer vacation class.

1940, Vacation school in Chandler, Arizona. First Communion class with Sister Suzanne McIntyre and Sister James Marie Malone as teachers. A future Sr. Ramona Felix is circled.