Anita M. Caspary, IHM (November 4, 1915, in Herrick, South Dakota – October 5, 2011, in Los Angeles, California) was an American former religious sister and later the president of an ecumenical Christian community.
Acknowledged as a transformative leader in the post Vatican II Catholic Church, she was featured on the cover of Time magazine, February 23, 1970.
Under her leadership and with a young and energetic faculty, IHC gained a national reputation for creativity and innovative methods.
In both management training programs, she was a rare women participant In 1963 Anita was elected Mother General of the Immaculate Heart Sisters, and led the community in the renewal process of Vatican II.
Anita had the unique distinction of being a Mother General of a congregation of Catholic sisters and a president of an ecumenical community.
In the 1980s, she was the first director of the Peace and Justice Center of Southern CA and started the annual Wholistic Retreat for Women which continues today.
At the age of 85 she was awarded a grant to teach poetry to the IHM members at the Kenmore residence and learned to use the computer.
"Caspary's life extended through eight papacies and dramatic developments within the Catholic Church, including its shift from a Euro-centric to a global entity and new roles for laity and women.
Recognized as one of the most influential Catholic sisters of her era and a principal participant in the debates that shaped the role of women religious in the U.S. Church, Caspary's life and the IHM struggle of the Immaculate Heart Sisters of California with the male hierarchy forms a critical juncture in the history of the renewal of religious life for women in the Catholic Church during the 20th century."
Caspary taught high school English while studying toward a master's degree at the University of Southern California.
The second group, Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Church have two members who live in Ojai, California and hold diocesan status with the Los Angeles Archdiocese.
From 1967-2003 over 200 newspaper, journal and magazine articles report about Caspary's role and the conflict between the IHMs and Church authorities