Sister Loretta Finn

(Sister Francis Regis)

A native Chicagoan, Sr. Loretta attended St. Sebastian and St. Vincent Schools on the north side. Later, she and her two sisters attended Holy Family Academy in Beaverville, Illinois, where they were taught by the Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary. She graduated in 1946 and went on to receive her Bachelor degree from DePaul University and Masters from Loyola.

Loretta was attending DePaul University when she received an invitation to the final vow ceremony of one of her friends, and it was there that she received her calling to the religious life. “I was sitting in the back of the Church, and the Spirit said to me, ‘You should be here.’“ One week later, she quit her job and entered the congregation of the Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary.

For over sixty years, Sister Loretta served as teacher or principal in various schools in Chicago, Beaverville and Joliet in Illinois and in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. She also taught ESL (English as a Second Language) in Chicago and Kankakee. She loved working in education.

In 2005, after a long-time ministry at St. Gall Parish in Chicago, Sr. Loretta moved to Kankakee. Shortly after arriving, she began volunteer work as a Pastoral Care minister in St. Mary’s Hospital. “Here,” she said, “I found great fulfillment in praying and sharing my faith with those going to surgery and visiting with those in the surgery waiting room. I also had the opportunity to greet, bless, listen to or give a hug to others.” Sister also takes a personal interest in the lives of the hospital staff and is there with a hug, prayer, or quiet presence when they need it.

During the Covid19 pandemic, which made routine visits around the hospital an impossibility, Sr. Loretta found ways of continuing her ministry. She began by writing weekly letters to the staff. When someone responded, she sent them a text or email in reply. She continues to support, with phone calls or texts, those who ae dealing with personal challenges, such as a cancer diagnosis or the loss of a family member, as well as to anyone who needs encouragement. Sister is also called upon, at times, to bless a room. For instance, she was asked to do this after the renovation of a room damaged by fire and the opening of a new room with massage chairs for the associates. She is happy to keep the memory of the SSCMs visible at St. Mary’s by being available in any way she can.

It is faith that motivates Sr. Loretta’s life and keeps her moving each day. She says “Each day is a gift, especially when you are in your 90s.” She expresses her gratitude to God in daily prayer for her life, faith, health, vocation, family, friends, and her ministry. She closed this interview with the words, “God loves me. He spoils me. I thank Him and ask Him to keep it up. So far, He is listening!!! I am still here.”

Sister would like to be remembered for her faith, joy and peace and for her love of being a Servant of the Holy Heart of Mary.

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