Sister Ellen Enright Retires

After 13 years as the pastoral associate at St. Albert the Great University Parish in Houghton and St. Anne Parish in Chassel, and more than four decades in the Diocese of Marquette, Sister Ellen Enright retired from active ministry on June 18.

Born and raised in Buffalo, NY, Sister Ellen graduated from Mount St. Mary Academy in 1960 and from Rosary Hill College (Daemen College) in Buffalo in 1964 with a degree in math and history. She later did graduate work at Canisius College in Buffalo, the University of Illinois-Chicago, Northern Michigan University, and the University of Detroit. Finally she got a Master’s degree in Pastoral Counseling from Loyola University in New Orleans.
 
On September 15, 1965 Sister Ellen entered the convent in Wheaton, IL and began the process of becoming a member of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (IBVM). She taught math, history, and religion in high school in New York, Illinois, and Michigan before arriving in the Upper Peninsula in 1968 to teach in Sault Ste. Marie.
 
Sister Ellen took her final vows with the community on November 27, 1971. She became coordinator of the religious education program in the Sault Ste. Marie area from 1971 until 1973, and then was a pastoral associate at St. Mary’s Pro-Cathedral in Sault Ste. Marie from 1973 to 1980. She served as the pastoral associate at Holy Spirit Parish in Menominee, MI from 1980 until 2000, and then returned to Wheaton to serve in leadership for her community for four years.
 
In 2004 Sister Ellen arrived in the Houghton area to become the pastoral associate for St. Al’s as well as St. Anne’s in Chassell. Over the last thirteen years she has been active with RCIA (Right of Christian Initiation of Adults), faith formation, retreats for both campus ministries and for the general public, mission trips, prayer shawl ministry, counseling, ministry to the sick, marriage preparations, and hospital chaplaincy.
 
Upon retirement Sister Ellen returned to the Chicago area, where the IBVM order is based. Her new contact information is included below, and she welcomes any visitors or calls.

You may also send a message to Sister Ellen using the form here>>
 
Sister Ellen Enright, IBVM
Casa San Carlo, Rm 218
420 North Wolf Road
Northlake, IL 60164
Phone: 630-542-9938
Email: [email protected]