Sister Teresa Kelone Retires From Hot Springs Chaplaincy

Sister Teresa following her passion of ministering to patients.

After 18 years of selfless, dedicated service, Sister Teresa Kelone, RSM BS BCC MCPS, has retired from the Chaplaincy Department at Hot Springs.

We will honor Sister Teresa for her years of dedicated service to this ministry during Heritage Week, but more specifically on Mercy Day, the day that the Religious Sisters of Mercy honor their foundress, Catherine McAuley.

Sister Teresa Retirement Party
Tuesday, Sept. 24 | 2pm
Dublin Room

Hot Springs been blessed the last 18 years by her service and ministry to this community. Sister Teresa has been a wonderful conduit for God’s love and mercy as well as a tremendous example of our core values of reverence, integrity, compassion, and excellence. Her service to the most vulnerable patient populations, especially in our women’s and children’s service lines, has truly been her passion. We will miss her influence within our ministry.

Sister Teresa’s encouraging presence has had an impact on all who have worked alongside her or were comforted by her in their time of need. She has been a Religious Sister of Mercy for over 53 years.

Sister Teresa received her education and formation for religious life at Our Lady of Mercy Convent and College and at Maryville University in St. Louis, Missouri. Sister Teresa professed her Religious Vows of Poverty, Chastity, Obedience, and Service to the Poor, Sick, and undedicated in 1975. She began her ministry as a Catholic elementary school educator in Texas.

After 20 years of teaching, Sister Teresa transitioned her ministry to serving the poor and underserved at an outreach center in St. Louis. In this capacity she served refugees from many different countries that inhabited this area of St. Louis. In 1998, Sister Teresa transition her ministry to healthcare. She served in the role of mission integration in Kansas as well as serving on hospital boards of the Mercy facilities in Laredo, TX as well as in Fort Smith and Rogers, AR. During this time, she heard God’s call for her to serve as a Chaplain in the healthcare setting.