Rest in peace, Mother Celine de la Visitation, former Superior General
deceased on Saturday December 3, 2022, at La Tour St Joseph
We will always remember her welcoming, warm and smiling face…
Mother Celine de la Visitation was part of the General Council of our Congregation since 1976 and remained faithful to this service until the last moments of her life.
Born in San Francisco, California, Mother Celine discovered her vocation as a young girl volunteering at the Little Sisters’ Home in that city. She entered the Congregation and pronounced her first vows at St. Ann’s Novitiate in Queens Village, New York, on December 10, 1958. After completing nursing studies in Baltimore, she made her final profession at La Tour St. Joseph in 1963 and then returned to Baltimore. She was named superior of this Home in 1969 and then served as superior in St. Louis, Missouri, and Denver, Colorado, before being elected Assistant General in 1976.
Mother Celine was named Vicar General in 1990. She was elected Superior General for the first time in 1996, replacing Mother Marie Antoinette de la Trinité.
Mother held this position for 19 years. She then continued to serve on the General Council as Vicar General, seconding Mother María del Monte Auxiliadora, until September 2022.
A woman of duty, Mother Celine had a charism of simplicity and kindness. Always positive and smiling, she knew how to listen and welcome anyone.
During her generalate, she had the immense joy of participating in the Canonization of Saint Jeanne Jugan for which she had worked tirelessly, in 2009.
Her funeral, to be presided over by Most Reverend Pierre d’Ornellas, archbishop of Rennes, Dol and St-Malo, will be celebrated on Wednesday December 7 at 3 p.m. at La Tour St Joseph, our Congregation’s motherhouse.
Mother General María del Monte Auxiliadora, all the Little Sisters of the Poor and Mother Celine’s family thank you for joining them in prayer for our beloved Little Sister.
Mother Celine’s funeral Mass will be livestreamed Wednesday, Dec 7 at 9 a.m. (EDT), here: https://petitessoeursdespauvres.org/actualite/hommage-a-mere-celine-de-la-visitation/