A Lifetime of Hospitality

“Be diligent in serving the poor. Love the poor, honor them, my children, as you would honor Christ Himself.”

St. Louise de Marillac

By Sebastian Isaacs, Communications intern

S. Jackie Leech currently ministers as co-director of hospitality at the Sisters of Charity Motherhouse.

In 2025, S. Jackie Leech began a new ministry at the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati Motherhouse as co-director of the Hospitality Office, following nearly 60 years of dedicated and diverse service in Colorado.

As a native, S. Jackie served in a variety of ministries namely in Denver as a high school teacher at several Catholic schools, vocation director for the Archdiocese of Denver, pastoral associate for her parish, chaplain at the Gardens of St. Elizabeth (a long-term care facility), and chaplain for the Denver Police Department.

Now settled into her role at the Motherhouse, S. Jackie helps manage room usage requests, coordinates afternoon receptionists at the Motherhouse front entrance, prepares an “Upcoming Weekly Activities” calendar for all Sister residents, and welcomes all Sisters and visitors attending retreats, programs, weekend meetings and lake house overnight stays.

“Hospitality is in every aspect of ministry,” she shared. Her warm spirit, paired with her ministry history, has allowed for a smooth transition.

After entering the Sisters of Charity Community in 1961 and graduating from the College of Mount St. Joseph in 1965, S. Jackie returned to her home state to teach at Seton High School in Pueblo. After three years, she ministered at St. Pius X High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she taught for four years before returning home to teach at her alma mater—Cathedral High School—in Denver.

“It was interesting to teach where I graduated from,” S. Jackie laughed. But, like every other ministry she embraced, it offered opportunities to learn and grow. Every ministry experience, she said, “brought me to where I am today. They all taught me to surrender to trust in God, to deepen my prayer life, and to be more in touch with God’s presence.”

After four years at Cathedral High School, the Archbishop of Denver, James Casey, “asked me if I would be vocation director for the Archdiocese,” S. Jackie recalled. “I was in charge of all the seminarians from the time they showed interest in becoming a priest until they were ordained.” She served in that role for seven years.

She then began 11 years of ministry as a pastoral associate at Our Lady Mother of the Church in Commerce City, Colorado, deepening her commitment to parish life and pastoral care.

In 1995, after completing a residency for Clinical Pastoral Education, S. Jackie began her chaplaincy at the Gardens of St. Elizabeth. That same year, she became a chaplain for the Denver Police Department, which she describes as being “very rewarding” despite the risk associated with the ministry.

Although S. Jackie ministered primarily in Colorado after graduating from the College of Mount St. Joseph in 1965, returning to the Motherhouse last year offered no surprises. She maintained close relationships with her Sisters over the years, returning annually for events despite living more than 1,500 miles away. Now living on campus, she is grateful for the opportunity to deepen the relationships she cultivated from Colorado.

“It was a natural thing for me to come back and live here,” S. Jackie said. Still the decision to return to the Motherhouse was one that she had long discerned, placing her trust in God as she did when “walking the spiritual journey” with her residents at the Gardens of St. Elizabeth.

After relocating from Colorado to Cincinnati, S. Jackie Leech has been exploring the Tri-State, visiting local attractions such as the Whitewater Valley Railroad with fellow Sisters.

Leaving Denver, a city she knew “like the back of my hand,” for Cincinnati meant embracing the unfamiliar. “I didn’t even know where the dry cleaners were,” she laughed. She left behind her favorite winter-weather hobbies like skiing and snowshoeing. “That’s not significant to me anymore,” she says. “I liked to do a lot of biking, I liked to golf, but in the bigger picture, those things are not nearly as important as my friendships.”

With those important friendships in mind, S. Jackie chose to move to Cincinnati because “I wanted to, in my own small way, give back to the Community that had been so good to me over the last 65 years. I was 81, I was healthy, and just knew that this was the right time to do it. This was the right decision, made at the right time, and I don’t have any regrets.”

S. Jackie plans to continue ministering at the Motherhouse and will remain available as her Sisters need. Soon, she plans to volunteer as a chaplain at Bayley, the retirement and wellness community located across the street from the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati campus.

“I could not speak more highly of the kindness and love the Sisters have shown me,” S. Jackie said. The past year has offered time for deepening relationships and cultivating peace as she navigates her future. “You know, I’m peaceful, I’m happy, I’m content. I can’t think of a better place to be at 82 years of age.”

“There aren’t very many people who get to choose to spend the rest of their lives with friends surrounding them,” S. Jackie adds. “It’s really a blessing to live here.”

S. Jackie Leech (second from left) has embraced the many events and opportunities available to Sisters, Associates and employees at the Motherhouse and Mother Margaret Hall.

Since returning to the Motherhouse, S. Jackie Leech (front right) has participated in numerous campus events with Sisters, Associates and employees.

Since beginning her ministry at the Motherhouse, S. Jackie Leech (left) has enjoyed getting to know many SC employees, including Director of Human Resources Fallon Lane-David.

For S. Jackie Leech, returning to the Motherhouse has meant reuniting with many dear Sisters, including Joyce Richter (left), Georgia Kitt (back, second from left), Terry Thorman (front, second to left) and Kathryn Ann Connelly (right).

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