Margaret Mertens, CDP

Sister Margaret Mertens, formerly Sister Mary, entered religious life in 1953 from St. Stanislaus parish in Wardsville, MO. She credits the support of her parents and the Sisters who taught her in school—particularly Sister Mary William Haug, CDP and Sister Mary Ann Haug, CDP (her 7th and 8th grade teachers)—with influencing her decision to enter religious life.

She earned a Bachelor of Science in American Studies from Marillac College and a master’s degree in elementary administration from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She taught at Annunciation School in California, MO (1956–1957), Ascension School in Normandy, MO (1957–1959; 1965–1972), St. Mary’s School in Madison, IL (1959–1962) and Mount Providence School in Normandy, MO (1962–1965). She served as principal and teacher at St. Mary’s School in Brussels, IL (1972–1978) and at St. John School in Imperial, MO (1978–1984).

Sister Margaret served at Mount Providence motherhouse as the local superior (1985), co-director (1987) and as the formation/vocation director (1988–1994). From 1995-2008, she was the program director at La Posada Providencia in San Benito, TX. La Posada is an emergency shelter for immigrants, asylum seekers and asylees seeking legal refuge in the United States. To learn the Spanish language and Mexican-American culture, she studied at Florissant Valley Community College in St. Louis and entered a language immersion experience for women in Guadalajara, Mexico. As a result of her language education and her ministry in the lower Rio Grande Valley, Sister Margaret is fluent in Spanish and international, intercultural communications.

From 2008-2012, Sister Margaret ministered to the retired Sisters at St. Clare’s Villa in Alton, IL, and assisted the novitiate director in Granite City, IL. From 2013-2020, Sister Margaret served as the site coordinator and driver for La Posada. Since 2020, she has ministered internally as a companion to the Sisters and helping where needed.

She said of the aspect of religious life she has found most rewarding, “The many opportunities afforded by my religious community to serve the Church and my own religious communities."

Self-described as prayerful, quiet, kind, helpful and blessed with a "green thumb," Sister Margaret enjoys assisting the elderly, sewing and working with plants.

CLICK HERE to make a gift in honor of Sister Margaret's 70th Jubilee.