Sister Betty Ann McNeil, D.C., a native of Virginia Beach, Virginia, entered the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul, Emmitsburg Province, in 1964 and earned a bachelor’s degree in social welfare from Saint Joseph College, Emmitsburg, Maryland (1969), a master of social work from Virginia Commonwealth University (1975). As a clinical social worker she has worked in a variety of social ministry roles.

      Sister Betty Ann served on the Advisory Committee for the publication of the multi- volume opus Elizabeth Bayley Seton Collected Writings, 3 vols. (New York City Press, 2000-2005). Her publications include a monograph, The Vincentian Family Tree, a survey of all communities bearing some relationship to Saint Vincent de Paul, Saint Louise de Marillac, and the Vincentian Family, published by the Vincentian Studies Institute (1996). Her most recent work is 15 Days of Prayer with Elizabeth Seton (Liguori Publications: 2002). She is a contributor to the New Catholic Encyclopedia (Catholic University of America Press and The Gale Group: 2002). Numerous articles have been published in Hospital Progress, Catholic Charities USA, Review for Religious, The Vincentian Heritage, Echoes of the Company of the Daughters of Charity, and Vincentiana.

      She has represented the Emmitsburg Province of the Daughters of Charity on the Vincentian Studies Institute of the United States since 1998 and currently serves on the Editorial Board of Vincentian Heritage for the Vincentian Studies Institute of DePaul University, Chicago. Sister Betty Ann has conducted workshops, days of reflection, and retreats internationally on topics related to the history and spirituality of the Vincentian and Setonian tradition. Currently she serves as Provincial Archivist for the Daughters of Charity, Province of Emmitsburg.