Mother Mary Catherine entered the Missionaries of Charity in June of 1988.  She spent almost ten years with this beautiful community before being sent home just before her final vows due to health reasons.  She is always deeply grateful for the formation she received with the Missionaries of Charity, her first religious family. Upon returning back to Wisconsin, she completed further studies and accepted work in a small classical Catholic School, later accepting a role of greater service as principal of the growing private Catholic grade-school in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.  Since returning home in 1998 until 2008, the stirrings of her heart to respond more generously to Jesus’ love and to bring him souls remained steady. After much time, prayer, and discernment it also began to become clear His desire for a new community.

On May 1, 2014, after many years of discernment, the Missionaries of the Word was founded by the Most Reverend Bishop David Ricken of the Diocese of Green Bay with Mother Mary Catherine of the Divine Word appointed as its leader.

Today, Mother Mary Catherine leads the Missionaries of the Word in its various apostolates, including catholic youth expeditions, parish missions, retreats, prison ministry, and visiting nursing homes. She has a beautiful devotion to Our Blessed Mother and encountering Jesus through the arms of Our Lady.