Staff Member: Sister Brenda Fritz
Sister Brenda Fritz
Music Ministry
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Sister Brenda Fritz, DC
Director of Music
Growing up in northern Ohio, Sister Brenda began studying piano at the age of 8. Soon after that she began serving as accompanist for the children’s choir at St. Peter’s School, Lorain, OH. The Fritz family moved to Chicago where Brenda’s musical talents were immediately put to use in her new school, Holy Ghost, South Holland, IL, where she served as organist and pianist for school events and Masses. Upon entering Elizabeth Seton High School, the school’s music director worked closely with Brenda’s parents to arrange for Brenda to study piano at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago. Brenda quickly mastered highly technical and challenging classical piano solo pieces, choral accompaniments and displayed great skill in sight reading and improvising. Her technique as a classical pianist was “fine tuned” and the musical passion of her heart was deepened at DePaul University School of Music, Chicago, where she studied under Mary Sauer, principal keyboardist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Brenda earned a Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance in 1985 from DePaul. Brenda served as the principal keyboardist for the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, the training orchestra of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, for 2 years.
A member of the National Pastoral Music Association, Brenda has served as a liturgical musician since 1978 at numerous parishes in Ohio, Alabama, Illinois and Indiana. She currently shares her love of sacred music as liturgical pianist in the St. Louis area at The Sarah Community, Marygrove Child Center, Missouri Veterans Home, and Our Lady of the Presentation Church.
1988-2014 Sister Brenda served in social ministries in Indiana and Illinois. She completed a Master of Social Work degree in 1997 at Loyola University, Chicago. She first served as Child Welfare Supervisor for Foster Care & Adoption services and then as Area Director at Catholic Charities in Effingham, IL (1997-2007) and as Executive Director at St. Vincent Center for Children and Families in Evansville, IN for 6 years.
At the time of Brenda’s discernment and entrance into the Daughters of Charity in 1988, the message of the provincial council was clear that she was giving her life to God which could mean she may never be called upon to play the piano again. Twenty-six years later, her musical passion and expertise is being put to use each day in “hands on” music ministry bringing hope and harmony to children living in public housing in East St. Louis, IL. The children are her joy (most days. LOL!)