Sister Helen Vinton

Sister Helen, formerly Sister Helen Jean, entered the Congregation on July 22, 1953. Her final ministry was as the Life Quality Director and Senior Executive Officer for the Southern Mutual Help Association in New Iberia, Louisiana.

Sister Helen grew up on a ranch in western Nebraska. She met the Sisters of Providence while attending Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.

She said her life was profoundly influenced by the destruction caused by Hurricane’s Rita and Katrina.

In her final ministry, officials help distribute grants for the benefit of low income families in the southern United States.

Sister Helen Vinton (formerly Sister Helen Jean)

Complete Ministry

In Illinois: Teacher, St. Mary Carmelite School, Joliet (1956-58).

In Indiana: Teacher, St. Mary School, Richmond (1958-64); Teacher, Ladywood High School, Indianapolis (1964-75).

In Iowa: Publications and writing policy research, National Catholic Rural Life Conference, Des Moines (1975-80).

In Louisiana: Director of Plantation Initiative Program, Southern Mutual Help Association, Jeanerette (1980-81); Coordinator of Planned Initiative in Rural Development Advocacy and Assessment, Southern Mutual Help Association, Jeanerette (1981-82); Rural Resource Development with Sugarcane Farmworkers, Southern Mutual Help Association, Jeanerette (1982-91); Rural Resource Development of Sustainable Agriculture/Pesticide Policy, Southern Mutual Help Association, New Iberia (1991-95); Director of Rural Resource Development, Southern Mutual Help Association, New Iberia (1995-97); Assistant Executive Director/Life Quality Director, Southern Mutual Help Association, New Iberia (1998-2013); Life Quality Directeor, Southern Mutual Help Association, New Iberia (2013-14); Life Quality Director/Senior Executive Officer, Southern Mutual Help Association, New Iberia (2014-17); Life Quality Consultant/Senior Executive Officer, Southern Mutual Help Association, New Iberia (2018-2023).