Nuns will return to St. Catherine School in 2024

By Christine Bordelon
Clarion Herald

Father Tim Hedrick never gave up on the idea of having nuns teach at St. Catherine of Siena (SCS) School in Metairie.

Now, nine years after speaking to several religious orders, Father Hedrick will realize his and parishioners’ dreams when the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia from Nashville arrive on campus in the 2024-25 school year.

“I want the presence of religious sisters here,” Father Hedrick said. “People want to see the nuns. They are so excited about the nuns.”

Idea began at coffees
The goal of restoring nuns to St. Catherine of Siena – the Incarnate Word sisters served from the school’s 1926 opening to 2011 – was sparked by parishioners at coffees held by Father Hedrick, then the parochial vicar, and Father Ronnie Calkins, pastor, when they arrived in 2014.

In order for the sisters to consider staffing a new school, the local bishop has to invite them. Father Hedrick asked Archbishop Gregory Aymond to invite the Nashville Dominicans to St. Catherine.

Since the archbishop knew the sisters from their days of teaching at St. Louis Cathedral School, he was happy to invite them.

By November 2019, Father Hedrick made formal connections with the congregation. Gayle Benson, a philanthropist and owner/chief executive officer of the New Orleans Saints and New Orleans Pelicans, also encouraged their return. She also knew the nuns from the Cathedral School and sits on the national Dominican board.

The Dominicans, dressed in white habits and black veils, were a hit when they made their first visit to St. Catherine of Siena in 2021 and on a return visit in January 2023. They were embraced by inquisitive students.

“They wanted to see the rosary and say hello,” said Sister Anne Catherine Burleigh, vicaress general. “The beauty of the religious habit, in some way, reminds us and other people about God – that he’s with us in this world, and he loves us. … The religious habit is a sign of God’s presence among us. I find the children are usually intrigued. They don’t know what our outfit is called, but certainly at St. Catherine, I noticed a great openness. The kids came right up and talked, and it was fun to see. I think they are already getting a great faith formation at St. Catherine.”

A vibrant parish, school
On each visit to the Metairie parish, the Dominicans witnessed the vibrancy of the parish and school. The nuns were delighted about its name – St. Catherine is a Dominican saint.

“In God’s world, there are no coincidences,” Sister Anne Catherine said. “We laughed at the name of St. Catherine. It was a wink from God that ‘this might be a good place to go.’ More than anything, it gave us a confirmation that this seems like a great next step. We love St. Catherine of Siena, and it’s very clear that the people of (the) parish love her as well. … I like to think that the saints are our friends in heaven and she wanted to introduce us to our friends in New Orleans.”

Sister Anne Catherine said her community of nuns is growing, and that growth has enabled them to meet some requests for nuns to teach in Catholic schools nationwide. Currently, more than 310 sisters teach in 52 schools in 31 dioceses in the U.S., Canada, Ireland, Scotland, the Netherlands, Italy and Australia.

“I think there is a hunger for God,” Sister Anne Catherine said. “We see people are looking for happiness and meaning in a lot of different ways in our world that lead to a dead end. I think religious life is really a call to happiness. I think for young women who discover that Jesus might be inviting them to this way of life, it is a life of great peace, happiness and fulfillment. The world will tell us otherwise, but God calls, and he also brings about great happiness when we follow him.”

The order generally sends a community of three to four nuns to establish a new mission house where the sisters live, work and pray together in the fullness of religious life. Their new mission house in Metairie will be built with a chapel on Codifer Street, across from the school’s “Field of Dreams,” using talents and skills of school parents.
“I told them we would take 10, if they want to send 10,” Father Tim said. “If you have an 80-year-old nun who can’t teach but wants to come down here, she could help rock babies in our teacher nursery. We want some teachers, for sure, but if you have other sisters who want to come and be part of our community, we’re happy to take them.”

Sister Anne Catherine said the sisters were impressed by the vibrancy of the parish and the collaboration between the school and the parish.

“Father (Tim) loves the church, loves religious life, loves his people, the school and parish,” she said. “We loved meeting the students, the teachers and we met a number of the parents volunteering or just in the parking lot. It seems like such a warm and enthusiastic community. Maria (LaFleur, the St. Catherine principal) is already doing such a great job. We feel like we can just step in and be partners in the good work that is already being done.”

Attract female vocations
Father Hedrick couldn’t be happier to welcome such a thriving community of sisters, who are devoted to education and the love of Jesus and the Catholic faith. While the number of sisters or what grades or subjects they will teach has not been finalized, the Dominicans will assist with sacramental preparation.

“They might be teaching English or math or science, but they are also bringing to the classroom their presence as religious women who have dedicated their lives to following Christ and being poor, chaste and obedient,” Sister Anne Catherine said. “Whether we talk about it every day or not, it’s the witness of religious life for students – within the context of the school – for teachers, for the families.  … When you add religious life (to the classroom), you have the fullness of the church in vocations for the students to see.”

Just as important as teaching, they will be role models for girls just as the boys have with priests, deacons and seminarians.

“We’ve had three young men (from St. Catherine) enter the seminary in the last year, and one entering this year,” Father Hedrick said. “Young women aren’t entering because they don’t know what religious sisters are. When these sisters walked on the schoolyard, they were asking, ‘Who is that?’ They’ve never seen religious sisters dressed in a habit. They don’t have that example to think this is a viable option for them to consider. But, when they meet these sisters who are young, joyful and faith-filled, it’s going to become a reality.”

“This was the perfect environment – for what they were looking for – to return,” Father Hedrick said.

“We are very excited that God has really seen this as a time for us to come to Metairie,” Sister Anne Catherine said. “We are looking forward to a great partnership. So many blessings are in store for all of us, and we’re looking forward to finding out what they all are for everybody. It’s exciting.”

“When I was a student at SCS, I have fond memories of the sisters teaching me,” La­Fleur said. “I am thrilled that our students will soon have that same opportunity.”

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