dl-sister-carol-jean-on-rig.jpg Sister Carol Jean Dust, SSND, has been installed as a general councilor of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, an international congregation representing 3,700 women religious worldwide. The installation ceremony took place Jan. 20 at the congregation's generalate in Rome, Italy.

Sister Carol Jean is one of seven members of the new General Council, which was elected to a five-year term at the congregation's 22nd General Chapter in Sao Leopoldo, Brazil, in October 2007. She is a member of the St. Louis Province of the School Sisters of Notre Dame.

Originally from Effingham, Sister Carol Jean is the daughter of Leonard and Mildred Dust. She attended St. Anthony Parish elementary school in Effingham and Notre Dame High School in St. Louis. She professed her final vows as a School Sister of Notre Dame in 1977. She earned bachelor's degrees in science and mathematics from the former Notre Dame College in St. Louis and a master's degree in theological studies with a concentration in world mission from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.

Sister Carol Jean was a secondary and elementary teacher for many years in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. She also was an administrator and teacher at the Instituto Notre Dame, an SSND secondary school, in Honduras as well as worked in formation with temporary professed sisters in Honduras.

Most recently, Sister Carol Jean was coordinator of religious education and a member of the parish pastoral leadership team at All Saints School in St. Peters, Mo.

Other members of the new General Council are General Superior Sister Mary Maher, from the Atlantic-Midwest Province; Sister Katherine DuVal, Mankato Province; Sister M. Irenea Ksiazak, Poland; Sister Maureen McGoey, Canada; Sister M. Dominca Michalke, Germany; and Sister Marcela Rockenbach, Brazil.

During 2008, the worldwide congregation of the School Sisters of Notre Dame is celebrating the 175th anniversary of its founding by Blessed Mother Theresa of Jesus Gerhardinger in Germany. Also, the St. Louis Province is celebrating the 150th anniversary of its first mission in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. The School Sisters of Notre Dame continue in the mission of Jesus, "that all be One," working for the transformation of the world through education.