New Associates join the Associate Program

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On Sunday, April 17, 2016, the Joliet Franciscan Sisters welcomed 7 new Associates into the Associate Program. Carol Baranski, Elizabeth Collins, Jeanne Giambrone, Ruth Rohan, Susan Rockett,Wendy Weishaar and Rosemary Zemlo made their commitment in front of a large gathering of Sisters, Associates, family and friends at the USF Motherhouse Chapel. These women along with 6 new Associates in Brazil make a total of 156 Associates of the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate.
If you are interested in joining the Associate Program, please contact Nancy Davis, Interim Director of Associates at ndavis@jolietfranciscans.org or by phone at 815-725-8735.

 

Two Joliet Franciscan Sisters Recently Honored

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Sisters Margaret Hoffman and Lucille Krippel were recently honored for the dedicated service at their varied ministries. Both of these sisters are members of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate, more commonly known as the Joliet Franciscan Sisters.

Margaret-Hoffman-webSister Margaret Hoffman, OSF was recently honored by the Diocese of Columbus (Ohio) Department of Education for her dedication to Catholic Education.

A native of Columbus, Sister Margaret has been a high school English teacher for more than 50 years. When she first entered the Congregation, her first teaching assignment was at St. Francis Academy (now Joliet Catholic Academy- JCA) in Joliet followed by St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Louisville, Ohio.

Sr. Margaret was then assigned to the Diocese of Columbus where she continued to teach high school English. She has been at her present ministry, St. Charles Preparatory High School in Columbus, Ohio, for the past 25 years, and counting!

In addition to her teaching duties, Sister Margaret also prepares the school’s liturgies and serves as the local chapter coordinator for several of the Joliet Franciscan Sisters who live in Ohio and Michigan.

Congratulations, Sister Margaret!

 

Krippel,-Lucille-WEBSister Lucille Krippel, OSF received the Sister Myra James Bradley Award by the Penrose-St. Francis Health Foundation. This annual award is given to an individual who has selflessly helped fulfill the mission of the Foundation.

Sister Lou, as she is called, served in schools for many years before being named the Administrator of Guardian Angel Home in Joliet, IL, 1971. She served at Guardian Angel until 1976. In 1980, Sister Lou moved to Colorado where she served in parish ministry for the Diocese of Colorado Springs. She then became the director of what is now Catholic Charities in that diocese. After returning to Joliet for a few years to serve as CEO of Joliet Catholic Academy (JCA), Sister Lou returned to Colorado and joined Penrose-St. Francis Health Services as the Director of Mission Effectiveness and Spiritual Care.

In 2007, she joined the planning committee for the John Zay Guest House and became the house manager a year later, a position she still holds today. Sister Lou has made the guest house a “home away from home,” a place of comfort, of healing and of love.

Congratulations, Sister Lucille!

The new issue of Confianca is here!

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Read more

Successful 26th Annual Franciscan Autumn Feast

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On Sunday, October 25, 2015, the 26th Annual Franciscan Autumn Feast was held at the Patrick C. Haley Mansion in Joliet, IL.  We had beautiful weather, wonderful attendance and a delicious dinner.  It was also a time to congratulate and honor our four honorees: Claire Millweard and Fran Naal with the Joliet Franciscan Heritage Award and Diane Nilan of Hear Us and the Will-Grundy Medical Clinic with the Mother Alfred Moes Award.

We would like to especially thank our committee members, guests, sponsors and advertisers, as well as those who donated baskets and raffle items for the auction.  We are truly grateful for your support.

 Following is a listing of our Corporate Sponsors and Individual Sponsors for the event.

Sponsors.indd

Burgundy Circle
Mrs. Dorothy Brown
Arvid & Anne Johnson
Shelby & George Vogrin

Blue Circle
Bill & Margaret Benoit
Jay & Lori Bergman
John & Jeanette D’Arcy
Mrs. Joan Griffin McCabe
Mrs. Theresa Penosky
Ken Resh
David & Nancy Takashima

White Circle
Fred & Teresa Dames
Henry Bros. Co.
Minarich Graphics & Supplies
Rathbun, Cservenyak & Kozol, LLC
Tracy Johnson & Wilson, Attorneys at Law
Turk Furniture

Circle of Friends
Mrs. Bonnie Ardaugh
Wayne & Jane Bessette
Arthur & Pamela Cirignani
Mrs. Lois Considine
Mrs. Marjorie Fitzgerald
Mr. & Mrs. James T. Glascott
Matt & Dolores Gross
Ms. Elizabeth Hassert
Mrs. Elaine Hershbarger
Mrs. James B. Hickey
Mr. Robert Kochevar
Michael & Laura Ladewski
Mrs. Marjorie Marion
Karl & Gayle Maurer
Mrs. Donna M. Mays
Ms. Helen McCormick
Lynn Michels
Joseph & Pauline Mikuska
Mrs. Chet Millweard
Mrs. Frances Naal
Ann C. O’Brien
Mrs. Rita Ohlson
Ms. Joan Reeves
Kathleen Rossman OSF
Rev. Ronald Scarlata
Larry & Janet Simpson
Ms. Linda Sticklen
Mrs. Marilyn Tarizzo
Mrs. Geri Thayer
Frances Wenzel
Dr. & Mrs. Lawrence Wyllie
Anonymous (2)

Sisters Announce 2015 Honorees

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The Annual Franciscan Autumn Feast not only supports the Sisters, but it provides the Sisters with the opportunity to honor individuals and organizations who are impacting the community. In 2015, the Sisters are happy to announce that there will be two Mother Alfred Moes Award Honorees and two Joliet Franciscan Heritage Award Honorees.

Mother Alfred Moes Award Honorees

The Will-Grundy MeWill Grundy Medical Clinic copydical Clinic, now in its 31st year, will be honored for its commitment to provide free medical and dental care to adults who have no health insurance or medical care entitlements and meet prescribed income guidelines. Care is provided by physicians, dentists and other professionals who volunteer their time and expertise to the Clinic.

NilanDiane Nilan is the founder and president of Hear Us, an organization that provides voice and visibility to the country’s homeless children and youth. Diane travels around the country in her home – an RV – and through films and books, works to bring this message of children in crisis to educators and social service workers.

 

Joliet Franciscan Heritage Award Honorees

FranFran Naal has been involved with the Sisters for many years. Not only is she a graduate of the College of St. Francis (now the University of St. Francis), she is the niece of the late Sister Loretta Tures. So one can say, Fran grew up with the Sisters in her life. Fran has been a member of the Feast committee almost from the beginning of the event and is a founding member of the Sisters’ 520 Club. She is an active member of the Visitation & Aid Society, the Joliet Area Community Hospice Guild, the University of St. Francis Alumni Association, as well as others.  Fran cares about Joliet and the people who call it home. Fran is a Joliet Franciscan Heritage Award Honoree.

ClaireClaire Millweard has also been involved with the Sisters for most of her life. As a student at St. John the Baptist Grade School and St. Francis Academy, Claire has had a long relationship with the Sisters. Like Fran, Claire has also been a member of the Feast committee almost from the beginning and is also a founding member of the 520 Club. Claire is a member of the Joliet Area Community Hospice Guild, the Visitation & Aid Society and others. Claire has lived in Joliet her entire life and her actions speak to her commitment to this community. Claire is a Joliet Franciscan Heritage Award Honoree.

Sisters Receive USF Presidential Alumni Award

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On Sunday DSC_6755September 20, 2015, the University of St. Francis held their annual Alumni Award Ceremony during their Homecoming and Reunion Weekend. Among the various alumni awards presented was the Presidential Award. This year, the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate, were honored for their continued service and support of USF.  The Sisters founded the University of St. Francis.

AcceptiPresident_Award_webng on behalf of the Sisters was Sister Clarita Schumacher, Vice President and Councilor for the Membership.

Sisters featured in Christ is our Hope Magazine

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Christourhope-sept2015In their lifetime, the Joliet Franciscan Sisters witnessed the Wright Brothers take flight in Kitty Hawk, Charles Lindbergh cross the Atlantic, and Neil Armstrong become the first person to walk on the moon. Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone, laying the groundwork for the ability to communicate with people around the universe in more ways than even he could have possibly imagined.

Over their 150 years, the sisters opened classroom doors, and thousands of students walked through to meet teachers who would help them learn about God, the world and themselves. They founded the Franciscan Learning Center, St. Francis Academy (now Joliet Catholic Academy) and the College of St. Francis (now known as the University of St. Francis), all in Joliet. The sisters taught in schools across the Diocese of Joliet, the Archdiocese of Chicago,towns in Illinois and the United States. As the immigrant population of the U.S. grew, sisters who spoke German, Slovak and Polish were sought by pastors needing teachers who could teach the children of their growing parishes.

Congratulations to New Regional Council in Brazil

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Council-webThis is a historical moment in our Congregation! On September 6, 2015, the first all Brazilian council was elected. The Regional Council consists of a Regional Coordinator and 2 councilors.

Sister Jeronima Marques da Costa was elected Regional Coordinator and Sister Neli Vieira dos Santos and Rita Cristina Lima dos Santos were elected councilors.

Right after the elections, the Council met and asked Sister Ruth Berry to continue as Secretary and Ana Claudia Pontes Rezende will remain as Treasurer.

Photo:  Sisters Ana Claudia, Jeronima, Rita, Dolores, Neli and Ruth.

Sisters Celebrate 150th Anniversary with Special Mass at Cathedral

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deb-webIt was truly a beautiful August day. With clergy, family members, friends and Associates, the Joliet Franciscan Sisters celebrated a day that was 150 years in the making. Gathering at the Cathedral of St. Raymond in Joliet, 120 Sisters processed down the aisle to the hymn “All Creatures of Our God and King” and took their places. This marked the beginning of their 150th anniversary celebration.

The celebrant of the Eucharistic Liturgy, Bishop R. Daniel Conlon who said to all gathered, “These are women who get up every day and recognize that their life is for Christ, that they live for the Kingdom of God. They faithfully responded to God’s calling.” Bishop Conlon then invited all to stand and applaud the Sisters. It was a heartfelt moment with many smiles, along with a few happy tears.

To read more about the 150th celebration, please click here.

Click here to read the article printed in the Joliet Herald Newspaper

August 1, 2015, Memorial Service

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viv-webThe afternoon of Saturday, August 1, found Sisters, Associates, former
members and friends gathered at Our Lady of Angels Chapel to remember
and celebrate the lives of the 900+ deceased Sisters and Associates. This
event was part of the 150th anniversary celebration.

During the service, candles were lit by several Sisters and Associates. After
every ten names of the deceased were read aloud, a chime was sounded
throughout the Prayer Service to remember and reflect on their lives.

 

Click here to read more about the memorial service held at OLA.