Summary
Sister Hedwig Neff, ASC, celebrated 70 years as a vowed member of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ at Benedictine Living Community at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows on July 1, 2023.
Sister Hedwig Neff, ASC, celebrated 70 years as a vowed member of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ at Benedictine Living Community at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows on July 1, 2023. She made her first profession on July 1, 1953, and her final vows on July 1, 1958. Joined by the ASC community, she celebrated her anniversary with the Eucharist and a reception.
Sister Hedwig was born in Paderborn, IL, to Gregory and Hedwig (Wachtel) Neff. She earned her certificate in Supervisors’ Food Services from Fontbonne University in St. Louis, MO, in 1969.
Sister Hedwig’s ministry included a variety of services: dietary, housekeeping, sacristan, seamstress, lunch program worker, elder home caregiver and inner-city service. Her work in the dietary field was done in institutions rather than smaller convents. She served at the Loretto Home and the Catholic Children’s Home in Alton, IL; Cantian Seminary in St. Louis and St. Henry Seminary in Belleville, IL; De Mattias Hall in St. Louis; St. Ann Home in Chester, IL, the Ruma Center in Ruma and Clementine Residence in Red Bud, IL, where she also worked as seamstress. She served as Housekeeper at several convents in Illinois: St. Stephen in Flora, St. Bernard in Albers and St. Clare in O’Fallon. She assisted with the lunch program at St. Ann School in Nashville, IL.
She worked for several years with Catholic Urban Programs in East St. Louis at Holy Angels Shelter. She served as sacristan at Regina Cleri, a home for retired clergy in St. Louis. Sister Hedwig’s last 10 years in ministry in the St. Louis Archdiocese were with CSJ Home Care.
Sister Hedwig now resides at Benedictine Living Community where she is Living Mission in Later Life.