Sister Barb Kearney-Schupp celebrates 25 years as a CSJP

A big delegation from Sister Barb's parish, St. Patrick's, Seattle, celebrated with her. Sr. Barb is 7th from the right in this photo.

Sister Barb at the Jubilee celebration, June 9th, 2007

Sister Barb Kearney-Schupp grew up in Cleveland, OH, where she earned her B.S. at St. John College.  Sr. Barb started teaching in Rocky River, OH after graduation, then decided to join the Jesuit Volunteer Corps to teach in Alaska.  In 1977 she met Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace in Ketchikan and was attracted to the community’s charism of peace through justice.  She entered the novitiate five years later, in 1982. 

Sr. Barb has continued to minister as a creative and dynamic teacher in Catholic schools: Holy Rosary, Edmonds; St. Edward, St. Benedict, and St. Therese, Seattle.  She has most often taught second grade, and enlivens classrooms with living lessons learned from raising and releasing salmon and quail.  Sister Barb’s students travel in imagination to a far away country each year, learning about the language and customs of other parts of the globe.  She has long been a parishioner at St. Patrick's, where she recently served on the Parish Council.

Sister Barb will be on  sabbatical during 2007-2008, after which she plans to return to teaching.  She says of her Jubilee year, “I am thankful for all the opportunities I have had for growth, healing, and change. I have been so blessed in ministry. What a delight it has been to teach (and learn!) at schools in Rocky River, Ohio, Ketchikan, Angoon, and Anchorage, and also at Holy Rosary, Edmonds, St. Edward, St. Benedict, and St. Therese in Seattle. It is an honor to live my call as a Sister of St. Joseph of Peace.”

Sr. Barb with her college friend Chris Krol, Chris' husband Dave Sagerser (left) and her nieces Sarah and Katie King (right) at a dinner given by Sr. Barb's Prospect House community.

Sr. Barb with fellow teachers from St. Therese school and their families. Sr. Barb has taught at St. Therese for the past ten years.