GREEN BAY — This year, the Diocese of Green Bay will honor 40 women celebrating jubilees in religious life at its annual Sisters Jubilee Mass held this year on Aug. 30 at St. Bernard Church in Green Bay. Bishop David Ricken will celebrate the 1:30 p.m. Mass. Family and friends will join the jubilarians.
During the Mass, the jubilarians will renew their vows. As Sr. Louise Hembrecht, diocesan representative for religious, notes, the essence of religious life — “faithfulness Jesus and his church” — is seen in the ministry which these women have given over the years.
This year’s jubilee theme is “Joyful Witnesses of the Gospel,” decided upon by the Religious Advisory Board for the diocese. Since it is also the Year of Consecrated Life in the universal church, the board also wanted to address the theme for the Year of Consecrated Life: “Wake Up the World.” The artwork for the Year of Faith appears in the jubilee material.
Keeping this theme in mind, we note that this year’s jubilarians have served in Wisconsin and 14 other states, as well as in Newfoundland, the Dominican Republic and Peru. They have been teachers, principals, pastoral associates, chaplains, directors of religious education, retreat leaders, seamstresses, homemakers, bakers, kitchen workers, librarians, tutors and organists. They have directed choirs, handled leadership in their communities, run retreat centers and houses of prayer, taught music and languages, been guidance and bereavement counselors, sacristans, patient advocates and worked in diocesan offices. One founded a retreat center, while another oversaw the founding of a bachelor’s degree program for a local college. They have also volunteered in libraries, parishes, literacy councils and — of course — all offer prayer ministry for the good of all members of the church.
Here are the names of the sisters in the diocesan celebration:
75-year jubilarians
- Sr. Cecilia Byrns: Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity
- Sr. Mary Grace Micke (Sr. St. Mary): Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity
- Sr. St. Agnes Stuttgen: Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity
- Sr. Juliana Weber: Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity
- Sr. St. Francis Wenzel: (Sr. St. Francis died on May 12, at age 93.): Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity
- 70-year jubilarians
- Sr. Mary Rose Menting (Sr. Rosebia): School Sisters of St. Francis
- Sr. Leonette Welnetz: Sisters of St. Joseph – Third Order of St. Francis
- 60-year jubilarians
- Sr. Mary Anne Albert (Sr. Bernice): School Sisters of St. Francis
- Sr. Barbara Belinske (Sr. Francis Helen): Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity
- Sr. Alexandra Bettinardi: Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity
- Sr. Winifred Crevier: Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity
- Sr. Patricia Marie Dunn (Sr. Philip): Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity
- Sr. Michele Finger: Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross
- Sr. Rose M. Firkus (Sr. Mary Kenneth): Sisters of St. Joseph — Third Order of St. Francis
- Sr. Patricia Gallitz (Sr. Edward Marie): Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity
- Sr. Marita Gilsdorf: A New Genesis
- Sr. Joanne Goessl (Sr. Vernard): Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross
- Sr. Marilyn Herr (Sr. Lucida): Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross
- Sr. Claudette Jeanquart: Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross
- Sr. M. Piniana Klein: Sisters of the Sorrowful Mothe
- Sr. Mary Carol Kopecky: Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity
- Sr. Mary Joan Koskie (Sr. Mary Johneva): Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother
- Sr. Annette Koss: Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross
- Sr. Mary Barbara Loch: A New Genesis
- Sr. Stephen Marie Luebbert: Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity
- Sr. M. Johnette Marek: Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother
- Sr. Mary Joseph Palma: Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother
- Sr. Mary Edith Schimfp: Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity
- Sr. Mary Wilma Trottier: Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity
- Sr. Patrice Walsh (Sr. Patrice Marie): Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity
- Sr. Joanne Williams: Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross
- 50-year jubilarians
- Sr. Elise Cholewinski: Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross
- Sr. Marlita Henseler: Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity
- Sr. Martinella Janz: Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity
- Sr. Ellen Pachmayer: Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity
- Sr. Carla Riach (Sr. Carlos): Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity
- Sr. Sharon Rollings (Sr. Mary Johnell): Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother
- Sr. Patricia Sevcik (Sr. Andrew): Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity
- Sr. Stephanie Spence: A New Genesis Community
- Sr. Caroline Sullivan (Sr. Mary Alcmund): Sinsinawa Dominicans
Below are the addresses of the community houses of this year’s jubilarians. The sisters would love to hear from people whose lives they have touched, who have been graced by their ministries and who remember their work over these many years.
- Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity
- Holy Family Convent
- 2409 S. Alverno Road
- Manitowoc WI 54220
- Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross
- St. Francis Convent
- 3110 Nicolet Drive
- Green Bay WI 54311
- Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother
- Franciscan Courts
- 2185 Abbey Ave.
- Oshkosh WI 54904
- Sisters of St. Joseph, TOSF
- 1300 Maria Drive
- Stevens Point, WI 54481
For jubilarians belonging to the communities of A New Genesis; the Sinsinawa Dominicans; or the School Sisters of St. Francis, send greetings:
- C/O Representative for Religious
- Diocese of Green Bay,
- PO Box 23825,
- Green Bay WI 54305
