Sisters Margaret Munch, Mary Loretta Busch and Mary Jo McFayden celebrated jubilees during 2009
Mary Loretta Busch, RSCJ
St. Louis native Mary Loretta Busch, RSCJ is a 1956 graduate of the Academy, and recently celebrated the Golden Jubilee of her first vows made in 1959. She earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and library science from Xavier University in New Orleans and a master’s degree from Tulane University. Sister Busch has worked at two Sacred Heart schools in Louisiana, the Academy in Grand Coteau and the Rosary in New Orleans, where she taught middle school science. Returning to St. Charles in 1980, she taught math and science to fifth and sixth grades until 2007. Sister Busch now assists with special projects around the school, students’ after-school activities and the facilities calendar. She says, “I love this school! As long as I can say yes to whatever is asked of me, I will.”
Emma Fernandez, RSCJ
Born in 1929 in Bogota, Colombia, Sister Fernandez entered the Society in 1946, made her first vows in 1949 and her final vows in 1955. She earned associate degrees in early childhood education and elementary education from the Universidad Sagrado Corazon in Puerto Rico. She served in Puerto Rico for 12 years, then came to the United States in 1961 with eight other sisters. In Philadelphia, she learned English and took other courses. Sister Fernandez has worked at Sacred Heart schools in Princeton, NJ, Miami and Houston. From 1987 until 2005, she worked with our youngest students as a Pre-Primary Assistant, and now serves as Sacristan. She stays connected to the children by helping with Pre-Primary lunches each day.
Maureen Glavin, RSCJ
A native of Syracuse, New York, Sister Glavin holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York, and a master’s degree in theology conferred by St. Thomas University in Houston. In the early ’90s she taught seventh grade math and science at the Academy. In 1992 she made her first vows as a Religious of the Sacred Heart in the Shrine of St. Philippine Duchesne. She later served as Assistant Principal of Our Lady of Guadalupe School in Houston and as Principal of the Junior High School at Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart in Miami. Prior to joining the Society, Sister Glavin taught at several schools in the Eastern United States and spent three years teaching secondary level English, math and science at the Arusha Catholic Junior Seminary in Tanzania, East Africa. Sister Glavin has been Head of School at the Academy since 2004. [Read Sister Glavin's welcome message] .
Margaret Munch, RSCJ
Born in Omaha, Sister Munch entered the Society in 1956, made her first vows in 1959 and her final vows in Rome in 1965. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Duchesne College in Omaha in 1965 and a master’s degree in education from the National College of Education in Evanston, Illinois in 1970. She also studied religious education at Mundelein College, Chicago and theology at Weston School of Theology in Cambridge, Mass. Since September 1991, Sister Munch has taught sixth grade English and literature and served as a homeroom teacher at ASH. She loves reading and plays, and is esteemed for her direction of annual student productions about the lives of St. Madeleine Sophie Barat and St. Philippine Duchesne. Sister Munch enjoys sharing her knowledge of Philippine Duchesne by leading tours of the historic areas at both the Academy and Old St. Ferdinand Shrine in Florissant.
Mary Pat Thro, RSCJ
Sister Thro graduated from the Academy in 1955 and entered the Society shortly thereafter. Having earned her Ph.D. in physics, Sister Thro has taught extensively at Maryville University, where she served as President. She also chaired the Academy’s Board of Trustees. A serious bicycle accident interrupted her tenure at Maryville. Today she lovingly works in the Academy Spirit Shop and provides musical accompaniment for the school’s liturgical celebrations.
