|
 |
|
The Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls will honor 11 of their sisters who celebrate 60 years as members of the Order on Sunday, June 8, 2008. These sisters represent 660 years of dedicated service to the people of God in the spirit of St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi. They have served in varied ministries throughout the United States, Yemen, Tanzania and Zanzibar. A Mass of Thanksgiving will be celebrated at St. Francis Convent in Little Falls.
The jubilarians entered the novitiate at St. Francis Convent on August 12, 1948. They made their first profession of vows on August 12, 1950, and their final profession of vows on August 12, 1953. They have seen many changes in the Church and in the Franciscan Congregation throughout these 60 years. Members of the class are Sister Adella Blonigen, Sister Mary Ann Capizzo, Sister Ardis Cloutier, Sister Anne Furnstahl, Sister Eileen Ghesquiere, Sister Maureen Kelly, Sister Elizabeth Martell, Sister Paula Pohlmann, Sister Maristell Schanen, Sister Baptista Schik and Sister Elizabeth Weier.
|
|
|
Sister Adella Blonigen
Sister Adella Blonigen was born in Spring Hill and grew up on a farm near St. Martin, Minn. She has ministered as a housekeeper, baker, helper in the Altar Bread Department and Activities Department and is known for her hospitality. She has served in Little Falls, St. Cloud, Duluth, Flensburg, Osakis and Waite Park, Minn. She is semi-retired at St. Francis Convent, Little Falls, assisting wherever she can be useful.
|
|
|
Sister Mary Capizzo
Sister Mary Capizzo was born in Detroit, Michigan. She has ministered in child care, medical records, high school prefect, counseling, pastoral ministry, volunteer in parish ministries, presenter of Body, Mind, Spirit Healing Seminars, retreat work, spiritual direction, peace and healing minister with the poor and Spiritual Assistant for the Secular Franciscans. She has served in Little Falls, St. Cloud, Breckenridge, Beardsley, St. Michael, Wayzata, Alexandria, St. Paul and Clontarf, Minn.; Fargo, N. Dak.; Chimayo, N. Mex.; Cincinnati and Toledo, Ohio; Muskegon Heights, Mich. She is presently doing outreach ministry from Grey Eagle, Minn. |
TOP
|
|
Sister Ardis Cloutier
Sister Ardis Cloutier was born in Denver, Colo., and grew up in S. Dak. She has ministered as an x-ray technician, laboratory director, community secretary for the Franciscan Sisters, executive director of Stauros, USA, member of Leadership Team for the Franciscan Sisters and administrative assistant. She has served in Breckenridge and Little Falls, Minn.; and in Chicago, Ill. where she is currently employed as an administrative assistant at St. Rita of Cascia High School. |
TOP
|
|
Sister Anne Furnstahl
Sister Anne Furnstahl was born in Randall, Minn. She has ministered as a religion teacher, homemaker, cook, receptionist, office clerk and 34 years as director of the Altar Bread Department at St. Francis Convent, Little Falls. She has served in Osakis, St. Cloud, Pine River, St. Paul and Little Falls, Minn. She currently lives at St. Francis Convent, where she supplies a variety of parishes with altar breads obtained from an outside source. |
TOP
|
|
Sister Eileen Ghesquiere
Sister Eileen Ghesquiere was born in Detroit, Mich. She has ministered as medical record administrator and consultant, assistant postulant director for the Franciscan Sisters, community secretary for the Franciscan Sisters, retreat director, pastoral associate, administrator and in adult spiritual development. She has served in Little Falls, Moorhead, White Bear Lake, Minneapolis, Wayzata and Sauk Rapids, Minn.; Cudahy, Wis.; Albuquerque, N. Mex.; and Tucson, Ariz. She is currently semi-retired in Tucson and freelancing in adult spiritual formation. |
TOP
|
|
Sister Maureen Kelly
Sister Maureen Kelly was born in Minneapolis. She has ministered in elementary education, adult education and pastoral ministry. She also served her community as a member of the Franciscan Leadership Team, member of its House of Prayer in retreat ministry, in spiritual direction ministry and as novice minister. She is currently living in a local community of her Franciscan Sisters in St. Paul, Minn., where she tutors in a nearby school and continues to accompany persons in spiritual direction. |
TOP
|
|
Sister Elizabeth Martell
Sister Elizabeth Martell was born in River Falls, Wis., and grew up in Grafton, N. Dak. She has ministered as a house parent, high school prefect, hospital social worker and assisted women who needed time to readjust to independent living. She served in St. Cloud, Breckenridge, Sauk Rapids, Minn.; Lexington, Miss., and Chicago, Ill. She is currently living in Waite Park, Minn., with other Franciscan Sisters.
|
TOP
|
|
Sister Paula Pohlmann
Sister Paula Pohlmann was born in Melrose, Minn. She has ministered as a nursing instructor, personnel director, administrator, director of health services, Community Minister for the Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls and massage therapist. She served in Breckenridge and Little Falls, Minn., and Berkeley, Calif. She is currently a team member at Clare’s Well, a Franciscan retreat/spirituality farm, Annandale, Minn.
|
TOP
|
|
Sister Maristell Schanen
Sister Maristell Schanen was born in Cohasset, Minn. After ministering in education as a teacher in high schools, college, and religious education, she was involved in Religious Renewal during the initial years of the Franciscan Federation. Volunteer work with Catholic Relief Services and also with the Holy Ghost Fathers led her to Yemen, Tanzania and Zanzibar. She currently lives in Belle Prairie, Minn. |
TOP
|
|
Sister Baptista Schik
Sister Baptista Schik was born in Butler, Minn. She has ministered as a supervisor of orphans and disturbed teens, high school prefect, arts and crafts instructor, beautician, domestic, home health aide and assistant kindergarten aide. She served in St. Cloud, Little Falls, and Sauk Rapids, Minn. She currently lives with Franciscan Sisters in St. Cloud and volunteers her skills and talents wherever she finds a need. |
TOP
|
|
Sister Elizabeth Weier
Sister Elizabeth Weier was born in Dodgeville, Wis. She has ministered as a secondary and college teacher, a member of the Leadership Team of the Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls and a librarian. She served in Little Falls, Minn.; Milwaukee, Wis.; Brooklyn and Staten Island, N. Y. She is currently retired in St. Cloud, Minn. |
TOP |
| |
|
|
