Sister Kathleen Desautels

Sister Kathleen, formerly Sister Mary Colleen, is a native of Indianapolis. While she ministered for many years at 8th Day Center for Justice in Chicago, she currently ministers as a volunteer at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

Sister Kathleen entered the Congregation on September 12, 1960. She professed first vows on August 15, 1963, and final vows on August 15, 1968.

She is a graduate of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and also has a degree from LaSalle University in Philadelphia. She completed her post-graduate work at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis.

Of her ministries, Sister Kathleen has taught grade school at St. Mary’s Village School at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana; St. Joseph School in Jasper, Indiana; and St. Peter’s School in Linton., Indiana. Following her teaching ministry, she became the Director of Religious Education at St. Peter’s Parish in Linton before moving to St. John the Apostle Parish in Bloomington, Indiana. She then ministered at St. Joseph Parish in Jasper before becoming an instructor of theology, campus minister and alumnae director at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College from 1975 to 1985.

Sister Kathleen – also known as Sister “Kak” – also ministered as the prison chaplain at the Indianapolis Youth Center and began her ministry as a staff member at 8th Day Center in 1986.

As a justice advocate, Sister Kathleen has traveled to many countries, including Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, Iraq and China.

“Learning first hand from the people of these countries who are most affected by U.S. military and economic policies, as well as living in Humboldt Park in Chicago is what has fed my passion as a justice activist over the years,” she said.