Sister Stories

Sister Pat Bober, CSJ
Creating a “second home” for teens in north St. Louis

For many young people growing up in north St. Louis city, battling the demons of poverty, drugs and violence is a daily struggle. As the youth program coordinator for Sts. Teresa and Bridget Parish, Sister Pat Bober, CSJ has created a safe haven with programs for both middle and high school students a few hours after school each week, providing support to help them achieve academically, grow in self esteem and reach positive goals.

The programs’ structured activities combined with a “second home” atmosphere helps kids stay focused and stay in school With St. Louis city’s drop-out rate at a staggering 22 percent, getting students to the next level is often a one-day-at-a-time process—one that begins well before freshman year.

Each of the five girls in Bober’s middle school program faces some very grown-up troubles. Two are sisters who’s 18-year-old brother (a former program member) was killed by gun violence. Yet they all deal with the negative effects of violence and poverty.

Bober is amazed that they are still just happy kids making good grades. “Life has still got some joy in it and the joy is how we care about each other and have fun together,” she says.

An advocate and a cheerleader, Bober recognizes that getting them through school is only part of the challenge. The ultimate goal is to help the teens see a bigger world and even bigger possibilities. “They have the gifts and the talent—it’s there if they could just see the potential.”

Bober always felt a calling to work with “kids on the edge” and with that, comes the reality that not every child finds his or her way. “Watching some of the successes keeps you going because you don’t always win the battles,” she says.

Bober laughs when she admits she’s not a “ha ha rah rah youth person” but it is her genuine and authentic spirit that the youth respond to. “I think what they see is that I stay in it for the long haul and I love them and I care about them.”