On February 15 Catholic Extension Society honored Sister Jane Meyer, O.P., with its seventh annual Houston Spirit of Francis Award. Proceeds from the dinner will benefit the mission of Catholic Extension Society in Texas, where we support eight dioceses totaling nearly 3 million Catholics.
Sister Jane, pictured below, served at St. Agnes Academy in Houston, Texas for 40 years, including 25 years as head of school from 1997 until her retirement in 2022. During her ministry at St. Agnes, a Dominican, all-girls Catholic high school, Sister Jane’s vision consisted of building a school of excellence, developing women of faith and helping each student recognize and live out their talents.
Father Jack Wall, president of Catholic Extension Society, said, “Sister Jane is a great model of the spirit of Francis Clement Kelley, the founder of Catholic Extension Society, who said to go to the margins and awaken the missionary spirit. She lives the word of St. Francis and brings forth for everyone a great sense of their sacredness and dignity in the world.”
Father Wall is pictured below to the right of Sister Jane. They were joined by Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston, (second from left) and Most Reverend Curtis J. Guillory, S.V.D., D.D., bishop emeritus of the Diocese of Beaumont, Texas (far left).
Outside of education, Sister Jane’s passions extend to worldwide social justice advocacy. Following the 2010 earthquakes that devastated Haiti, St. Agnes students challenged Sister Jane to jump out of a plane if they raised $25,000 for disaster relief. The campaign far exceeded the original goal, raising more than $82,000.
Sister Jane kept her promise to the students, and was therefore dubbed, “The Flying Nun.” She’s seen below making the skydive jump.
“Empathy and compassion is who she is,” said Bishop Guillory. “Those values have transformed her and therefore, transformed others.”
Sister Jane’s passion and commitment to education began when she served at Monsignor Kelly High School in the Extension-supported Diocese of Beaumont as a teacher and principal from 1971 to 1981. She then transferred to Houston and St. Agnes. Under her quarter-century of leadership, St. Agnes’ enrollment increased by 50 percent to 900 students. She organized major initiatives to construct a new science center, student life center and a performing arts center.
A former student and colleague, Denise Stasio, praised Sister Jane as a “phenomenal teacher,” and said Sister Jane had the capability to “build a community wherever she went.”
The Dominican Spirit
The Spirit of Francis Award is inspired by its three namesakes: St. Francis of Assisi, Pope Francis and Father Francis Clement Kelley, the founder of Catholic Extension Society. All are known for embracing and helping the poor.
“As a Dominican Sister, I truly believe in the spirit of St. Francis, and I’m grateful to Catholic Extension Society’s mission of serving the most vulnerable populations and building up transformative, Catholic faith communities,” said Sister Jane.
In her remarks at the award dinner, Sister Jane highlighted a particular story about the mission of Catholic Extension Society that struck home with her: the ministry of fellow Dominican Sisters at an after-school center in Guánica, Puerto Rico.
At El Instituto Especial para el Desarrollo Integral del Individuo, la Familia y la Comunidad, Inc.—which translates to “The Special Institute for Integral Development of the Individual, Family and Community, Inc.—the Dominican Sisters of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima improve the lives of the people in Guánica. They do this by providing counseling, educational and recreational opportunities. Like so many who live in poor communities, the children are under-resourced, underestimated and underdeveloped. But they have come to the right place, a place that welcomes them with open arms and seeks to unearth all of their potential.
Pictured below, Sisters Maristella, (left), and Judith Maldonado, (right), are the indefatigable, ever-joyful and white-habited Dominican sisters running the center. The Dominican sisters say that their charism is to give away the love that God gives them. They give away the gift that they receive.
Sister Jane compared this community to the one she established a sister school partnership with in Kisumu, Kenya. Each year St. Agnes has an annual computer, calculator and book donation for the African-Catholic community.
“I know when we work in Africa every summer, it’s the most inspirational thing to see,” Sister Jane said. “The poverty there is just incredible. And for most of the people at our school, the food that we serve them is the only meal that they have. And so, I’ve always been attracted to the poor and the homeless and helping in any way that I could.”
She concluded,
I believe in the mission of Catholic Extension Society. And if I believe in something, I’m going to go full speed ahead and help further that particular mission.”
Sister Jane’s legacy at both Monsignor Kelly High School and St. Agnes Academy demonstrates her consistent commitment to serving others. She has instilled the Catholic message of service to the poor and marginalized in generations of women through her guidance and leading by example.
Catholic Extension Society works in solidarity with people to build up vibrant and transformative Catholic faith communities among the poor in the poorest regions of America. Donate today to support our mission!
