Sister Elizabeth Salmon, M.M. from Chicago, IL will be celebrating her 70th Jubilee this year.
Sister Elizabeth Salmon was born in Chicago, IL January 13, 1925 and grew up in Denver, CO. 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.
She made her first profession of vows on March 7, 1951 and later received a B.E degree from Maryknoll Teachers College in 1952. That same year, she received her first mission assignment to the Philippines, where she taught religion and music classes for thirteen years.
In 1965, she returned to work in St. Louis and at the novitiate in Valley Park, MO. In 1966-1968 she attended Saint Louis University and acquired M.E in Counseling and Guidance. Sister Elizabeth then co-coordinated guidance programs in 12 schools for the St. Louis Catholic School Office until 1971.
She was then 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 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. She is an active member of the Eden community where she continues to use her music talents in planning liturgies and music for the daily masses.