75 Years
Sister Joan Lorraine Kreutz, born in Brooklyn, NY, entered the Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity (MSBT) at just 18 years of age on September 24, 1949, and professed her final vows on March 25, 1954. Prior to entering the MSBT, Sr. Joan was a member of the Missionary Cenacle Apostolate, a branch of the Missionary Cenacle Family, for seven years. Her missionary zeal and love for God were nurtured through her experiences with other group members and the MSBT who guided them.
Throughout her exceptional 75 years as an MSBT, Sr. Joan has been a devoted educator and administrator, serving in various locations across the South, including Alabama, Mississippi, and North Carolina, and the North in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. Notably, she spent three years at St. Francis of Assisi School in Lumberton, New Mexico, where she worked closely with the local Native American and Hispanic communities. Her longest tenure as a teacher was at St. Pius X Catholic School in Mobile, AL, where she served for 15 years. During summer breaks, Sr. Joan’s creative talents shone through at Trinita, our MSBT retreat center in New Hartford, CT, where she earned the title of “Queen of Arts and Crafts.”
Sr. Joan Lorraine currently shares life with four other MSBT in Barrington, NJ. In 2016, She took on a new mission at Rosebud Academy Preschool in Barrington, where she has been joyfully sharing God’s goodness and love ever since. Her roles include leading prayers, caring for and teaching children religion, supporting staff, and fostering a faith-filled environment. Her signature greeting, “hello beautiful!” rings out through the halls with an infectious warmth. Sr. Joan is widely celebrated as a true blessing to all she serves.
Our founder, Fr. Thomas Judge, CM once shared in a letter to early Cenacle members, ‘What a life work is that which finds its expression and happiness in teaching little ones a knowledge of the Holy Trinity – to trace upon themselves its blessed symbol, the sign of the Cross and putting into their hearts those sacred words, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.’ Throughout her 75 years as a Missionary Servant Sr. Joan Lorraine certainly has embraced this call and given glory to our Triune God through her dedicated service to thousands and thousands of her students.