On Sunday, August 17, Sister Barbara Busch, SC celebrated her Diamond Jubilee, honoring 60 years of service as a Sister of Charity.
Sister Barbara’s call to serve began when she joined the Dominican Sisters in outreach efforts. That experience inspired a lifelong ministry rooted in faith and action. In 1965, she entered the Sisters of Charity, following her siblings Sister Barbara Mary and Sister Brenda into religious life.
Her early ministry with Catholic Charities deepened her commitment to justice as she earned a BA in sociology and an MSW in social work. She later joined National People’s Action, which successfully advocated for the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977, and helped lead resettlement for Vietnamese refugee families in Cincinnati.
In 1978, Sister Barbara co-founded Working In Neighborhoods with Sister Judith Martinez and Sisters of Charity Associate Dave Scharfenberger. Over the years, WIN has empowered thousands of families to achieve homeownership and transformed neighborhoods across Cincinnati.
Her leadership has earned many honors, but her greatest legacy is her steadfast devotion to equity, hope, and justice. Six decades later, Sister Barbara continues to inspire through her leadership at WIN and her community service to many organizations, including: Chair of the Greater Cincinnati Reinvestment Coalition; Advisor to Working in Senior Housing (WISH); Member of the Cincinnati Steering Committee: Housing Our Future, Hamilton County Property Tax Committee, and Policy Committee for Ohio CDC.