STA Alumna Receives Papal Visit

January 30, 2025

Anne Marie Whitehead (’10), now Sister Mary Altar of Sacrifice, SSVM, is five years into her mission in Vanimo, Papua New Guinea, a Pacific island country located to the north of Australia. Last September, she had ” … a surreal, once-in-a-lifetime experience” when Pope Francis paid the mission a visit.

The SSVM order – Sister Servants of the Lord and Virgin of La Matara, also known as Servidoras – are missionaries who go to the peripheries to bring the news of Christ to the people. At the Diocese of Vanimo, a very poor and remote area in Papua New Guinea, Sister Sacrifice serves alongside the Institute of the Incarnate Word priests and other Servidoras. She is the board of governors’ treasurer, manages the finances and accounting of the delegation, serves as vice rector of the primary and secondary school, and especially aids in running the primary school.

Last September, Sister Sacrifice and the others in her diocese and community were pleasantly surprised when Pope Francis visited the area. In addition to welcoming the pope in his native Spanish language and the official language of the institute, which was founded in Argentina, Sister Sacrifice was fortunate to attend a private meeting with the pope. She describes him as “… very down to earth, comfortable, relaxed and approachable,” according to her mother, Dianne Whitehead, of Leawood, Kansas, who says her daughter called the family shortly after the visit to share stories. She also says STA was instrumental to her daughter’s faith journey.

Sister Sacrifice addressed STA students via video earlier today for Catholic Schools Week (“Celebrating Vocations” day) to discuss her path to becoming a sister and SSVM.

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