Sr. Mary Dominic Savio (Celeste) Estorge, O.P. says she has always been fascinated by stories and “seeing how things fit together.” Her love for books began in early childhood when her parents took Celeste Estorge and her older brother Numa to the New Orleans public libraries. There, they could select five books for each library visit. As soon as she finished reading her five books, Sr. Savio would read the five books her brother had selected. A few years later, her younger brother Ted occasionally joined them on their library visits. When she was a fifth grader at St. Matthias Elementary School, the teacher, Sr. Mary Ann, O.P., would not include the ending of the book she read to her class on Friday afternoon. That way the students’ curiosity would be satisfied the following week for the story’s ending, or they checked it out of the library.

Her years at St. Matthais nurtured her love of learning and enlightened her about St. Dominic. “After I was taught by the Dominican Sisters at St. Matthias Elementary School, the history of St. Dominic and his Order gradually became my own,” she recounts. “However, it was in preparation for the celebration of Dominican’s sesquicentennial for 2010 when school president Dr. Cynthina Thomas asked me to write our history that I realized how well blended it is and how strongly connected it remains to its underpinnings in the Dominican Order.”

Toward the end of eighth grade, she told her mother that she wanted to attend Rosaryville, the Dominican Sisters’ high school for girls who were contemplating a religious life. Mrs. Estorge wanted her daughter to attend a high school that offered “an ordinary life.” Recalls Sr. Savio, “I attended Dominican, at that time was on St. Charles Avenue, and participated as fully as  possible in varied activities.”

In 1956 she graduated from St. Mary’s Dominican High School and entered the convent. When her mother was diagnosed with cancer, she went home to take care of her and in 1960 she reentered the Dominican Sisters Congregation of St. Mary. While working on a Bachelor of Arts in English Education from St. Mary’s Dominican College (1963), she student taught the ninth grade at Dominican. Her first full time teaching job was from Fall 1962 to Spring 1963 at Saint Leo the Great Elementary School where she was an eyewitness to the Civil Rights Movement. She attended the National Defense Education Act Institute in English at Tulane University (1965), earned a Master of Arts in English from Indiana University (1972), and a Master of Education in Secondary Administration from Loyola University New Orleans (1990).

Recounting her first year teaching at Dominican, Sr. Savio smiles. “The students were so good, excited, and delighted to be in the classroom,” she shares. “It was wonderful to see their curiosity and enthusiasm.” She has taught three generations of Dominican alumnae. On campus and in the community, she encounters her former students who inquire how she is and share their latest news. They tell me how much their education at Dominican had a positive impact on them.”

Sr. Savio’s distinguished 61-year tenure at St. Mary’s Dominican High School includes leadership, administrative, and faculty positions: Assistant Principal (1973-1976); President (1994-1997); Attendance Office Administrative Assistant (2010-2020). She also was English Department Chairperson; taught English and Religion; Yearbook Moderator for 28 books .

Sixteen years she served on the General Council of the Congregation of Saint Mary’s until it merged with seven other congregations to become the Dominican Sisters of Peace. Membership includes National Councils of Teachers of English, National Catholic Educators’ Association, Delta Epsilon Sigma Honor Society, and Alpha Sigma Nu Honor Society. She also served on the high school’s Alumnae Advisory Council and St. Mary’s College Alumnae Board.

For Sr. Savio, the joy she experienced penning the history of her alma mater truly was in the journey. She feels blessed that she was able to devote numerous years cataloging the school’s photo archives, cross-checking dates, names, timelines, and writing the history of St. Mary’s Dominican High School. “For me, this experience has been most enjoyable. It was work, but who would not find joy in reminiscing about a gratifying experience when the memories are good? It was good to recall stories and remember teachers, friends, and experiences. It is also exciting to see how things have changed, evolved, or remained the same.”

“I believe that Sr. Mary Dominic Savio was the perfect one to write the history of St. Mary’s Dominican High School!” said Dr. Cynthia A. Thomas, President of St. Mary’s Dominican High School. “Sister’s love of the Dominican Order, extraordinarily long tenure serving in numerous roles at the high school, and her past leadership roles with the Dominican Sisters Congregation all offer a unique perspective to be preserved and shared.”

For all who read The Story Continues…A History of St. Mary’s Dominican High School 1860-2021,Sr. Savio said she knows that the book will speak to current students and generations of alumnae. The author hopes that the history she has penned, “awakens mostly good memories and gratitude for what we learned those many years ago – or just this past semester – and how it had impacted our lives. I would hope that each person will find at least one thing for which she is still grateful and dwell on it.”

To purchase The Story Continues…..A History of St. Mary’s Dominican High School 1860-2021, click here.