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sister ann connolly, ASC retires from catholic urban programs

Story and photo by LIZ QUIRIN
Messenger editor

Close to 140 people gathered for a liturgy and dinner to honor Sister Ann Connolly, ASC for her service to the poor.

At 82, she retired Aug. 31 after 25 years at Catholic Urban Programs in East St. Louis.

“Thank you for being a good example to all of us,” Father Ken York, pastor of St. Henry’s in Belleville, said in his homily.

At Catholic Urban Programs she answered the telephone, served as a payee for some who could not manage their finances, filled orders for emergency food, and could be found on the Santa bus as an elf and photographer, donning an Easter Bunny costume or baking her world-famous cookies.

“Sister Ann is a wonderful, gifted woman who had the ability to reach out to the poor and the broken,” Joe Hubbard, Catholic Urban Programs coordinator, said.

Hubbard described Sister Ann’s ministry at the diocesan agency as bringing the Gospel to the poor in a different way.
“She touched those others could not reach,” Hubbard added.

Now she will return to Ruma, to the regional center where she will continue to help others.
“I have a number of projects in mind,” she said.

At the dinner in her honor, she was slicing cake, continuing to serve others, making sure everyone had what was needed.