Sister Elizabeth Salmon
Current ministry location – Center, NY
Elizabeth Salmon was born to Elizabeth (smith) Salmon and Benjamin J. Salmon on January 13, 1925 in Chicago, IL. She had 2 brothers: John Paul and Rev. Charles and 1 sister: Margaret. Elizabeth grew up in Denver, CO. and graduated from Holy Family High School in Denver in 1942.
Before her entrance into Maryknoll in 1948, she was a member of the Joy Cayler- All- Girl Orchestra, which traveled throughout The Orient during World War II as part of a USO entertainment unit. It was in Kyoto, Japan that Sister Elizabeth met Maryknoll Sisters and saw their work first hand, and it was while the band was playing in Seoul, South Korea that she returned home with the idea of entering the Maryknoll Sisters.
Elizabeth entered the Maryknoll Sisters Congregation September 6, 1948 at the Center in NY. She made her first profession of vows on March 7, 1951 at the Center and her Final Vows March 7, 1954 in the Philippines. She received a Bachelor of Education degree from Maryknoll Teachers College in 1952. That same year, she received her first overseas mission assignment to the Philippines, where she taught religion and music for thirteen years.
In 1965, Sister Elizabeth returned to work in St. Louis and at the novitiate in Valley Park, MO. From 1966-1968 she attended Saint Louis University and acquired a Master of Education degree in Counseling and Guidance. Sister Elizabeth then co-coordinated guidance programs in 12 schools for the St. Louis Catholic School Office until 1971.
Sister Elizabeth was assigned to Hawaii in 1972 where she taught grade school for 7 years. Sister Elizabeth continued to use her musical talents in planning the liturgy and music for the sacred Heart Parish in Honolulu, as well as counseling ministries. In 1977 she earned a Master of Arts in Education from Laverne College of California, Hawaii.
In 1983, Sister Elizabeth received a new assignment to Chicago where she served in the mission education program until 1989.
In 1989, Sister Elizabeth was assigned to Nicaragua in the rural area of Chacraseca outside Leon, where she was involved in various ministries with the poor including training of community leaders, and coordination of Community development. Sister Elizabeth oversaw the construction of shelters, the drilling of wells and the repair of homes. She was also involved in ecological spirituality by encouraging restoration of ecosystem through reforestation.
After many years of mission service in Nicaragua, Sister Elizabeth returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center in New York on September 5, 2007.
Though she retired, she continued to use her music talents in planning liturgies and accompanying on the keyboard for daily mass.