Mary Odilia Berger

Biography

Mary Odilia Berger (1823–1880) was a religious leader and founder of the Sisters of St. Mary, a Catholic sisterhood established in 1872 in St. Louis. Under her spiritual direction, the congregation grew rapidly and became instrumental in establishing hospitals and educational institutions throughout the Midwestern United States, bringing healthcare and learning to underserved communities.

Mother Berger's vision of service through religious life left a lasting impact on the region, as the Sisters of St. Mary continue her legacy of compassion and care. Her dedication to establishing medical facilities reflected the nineteenth-century Catholic commitment to serving the sick and poor.