The Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls honored their 60th Jubilarians with a private celebration on Sunday, August 11. Those honored were Sisters Julien Dirkes, Joanne Heim, Patricia Imdieke, Susan Knutson, Jeanne Lieser, Callista Robinson and Siena Wald. The sisters entered the novitiate at St. Francis Convent on July 31, 1959, and made their final profession of vows on August 12, 1964. Sister Jeanne Lieser made her final profession on June, 13, 1966.
Sister Julien Dirkes
Born in New Munich, Sister Julien has spent most of her religious life in food service in Little Falls, Breckenridge and South Milwaukee, Wis. She served as the administrator of St. Francis Convent from 1976-1982 and returned to that position in 1992 until 2014, when she began working as sister services coordinator for the Franciscan Sisters. Sister Julien continues to be active in the Dietary Managers Organization as well as in the local Little Falls community. She is a member of the Habitat for Humanity board of directors and is the local coordinator for the Red Cross Bloodmobile. Sister Julien has found the 60 years of being a Franciscan Sister of Little Falls enriching and growth-filled—spiritually, personally and professionally—all helping her to be the person she is today as she continues on her journey to Him who called her.
Sister Joanne Heim
Born and raised in Le Sauk Township, Sister Joanne’s ministry started in nursing. She followed the nursing profession for 12 years, during which time she served as an LPN at St. Anthony Hospital in Milwaukee, Wis.; St. Francis Convent Infirmary in Little Falls; Community Mercy Hospital and Bethany Nursing Home in Onamia; Our Lady of Mercy Hospital in Alexandria; and St. Luke’s Hospital in Fargo, N. Dak. She was then certified by the National Association of Catholic Chaplains and served in chaplain ministry at Trinity Memorial Hospital in Cudahy, Wis.; Mercy Hospital in Iowa City, Iowa; Mercy Medical Center in Oshkosh, Wis.; Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa; and at the St. Cloud Hospital. Sister Joanne has also been a pastoral minister at Holy Family Catholic Church in Grand Forks, N. Dak., and at the Church of St. Paul in St. Cloud. Other ministries consisted of visiting the home bound, coordinating parish visitors, giving guidance to BeFrienders, support to parish nurses, home bound Communion ministers, and providing Word and Communion services. As Sister Joanne reflected over her 60 years as a Franciscan Sister, she realized her life has been a true blessing in all respects. She has experienced God’s faithful love and support through it all. And now that she lives near Little Falls, she is able to have more interactions with her Franciscan Sisters and loves it. Joanne believes: “We meet Jesus in each person we meet.” She experiences His presence in their presence.
Sister Patricia Imdieke
Raised in Belgrade, Sister Patricia began her ministry in medical records administration in the Medical Record Department of St. Gabriel’s Hospital, Little Falls, and St. Ansgar’s Hospital, Moorhead. She returned to St. Gabriel’s Hospital where she was the director of medical records and consultant for the Lutheran Home in Little Falls; St. Mary’s Villa in Pierz and the Foley Nursing Home. Sister Patricia then served as clinical coordinator and instructor in the Health Information Department at the College of St. Scholastica, Duluth, assistant director at Franciscan Sisters Health Care, Inc., and as a project director at St. Ansgar Hospital, Moorhead. She then became the director of religious education for St. Francis DeSales Parish in Moorhead and followed with 12 years at St. Mary’s Parish in Willmar as the director of evangelization. Sister Patricia spent the next six years as director of the associate relationship of the Franciscan Sisters, and then returned to St. Mary’s in Willmar where she presently serves as the pastoral care coordinator. As Sister Patricia looks back over her 60 years she says, “I’m most grateful for the experience of the Spirit of God at work in my life. For me, God reveals Him/Herself to us moment by moment. By listening to God today, we discover what God wants for us tomorrow. All of it is GIFT to be lived fully, to be cherished, and to be given away.”
Sister Susan Knutson
Originally from Benson, Sister Susan has served in a variety of ministries. She was at St. Gabriel's Hospital, Little Falls, as head nurse; public health nurse for Floyd County Health Department, Prestonsburg, Ky.; personnel director for the Franciscan Sisters, Little Falls; director of planning for Franciscan Sisters Health Care, Inc., Little Falls; vice president of St. Gabriel's Hospital; administrator of St. Otto's Care Center, Little Falls; parish nurse, Berkeley, Calif.; community health minister of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Berkeley, Calif.; vice president of St. Gabriel’s Hospital and administrator of St. Otto’s Care Center, Little Falls; and parish nurse, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church. After leaving Shepherd of the Hills, she joined the Faithful Fools community in the streets of the Tenderloin in San Francisco and the streets of the Barrio in Nicaragua. In 2011, she was elected to the Leadership Team of the Franciscan Sisters and served as assistant minister and treasurer for seven years. Sister Susan shared, “I began my life as a Franciscan Sister as a nurse, working with mothers and babies. Now I have completed this part of my journey as an 80-year-old working with an aging community. My journey will continue, but just like in the beginning, I know not where it will lead, but I say YES and have trust that it will be with God’s love and mercy.”
Sister Jeanne Lieser
A native of the St. Martin area, Sister Jeanne taught grade 5 and in the junior high at St. Mary's School, Morris and grade 5 at Holy Spirit School, St. Cloud. She then taught math in grades 6-8 at St. Mary of the Lake Middle School, White Bear Lake, and later became the math teacher at St. Francis High School, Little Falls. Sister Jeanne then moved on to Academy of Holy Angels, Richfield, where she was a mathematics teacher for many years, and now is a substitute whenever she is needed. As Sister Jeanne looks back over the 60 years she says, "I can't believe it's been that long! I have met so many amazing people and have had many great experiences!"
Sister Callista Robinson
Born in Chicago, Ill., Sister Callista began her ministry as a switchboard operator and receptionist at St. Ansgar’s Hospital in Moorhead, and Trinity Memorial Hospital in Cudahy, Wis. She then earned a degree in elementary education and began teaching at Harambee Community School in Milwaukee, Wis., and was later hired as the school’s administrator. She also served as principal of St. Leo Catholic School in Milwaukee. Sister Callista continued her ministry of education by working with adults in the certificate division at St. Francis de Sales Seminary as coordinator of the African American Component of the Lay Ministry and Diaconate Programs. She then became assistant administrator at the Adult Learning Center, a GED Program for adults. She was also involved in lay ministry for African American Catholics as coordinator of the Brother Booker Ashe Lay Ministry Program. Sister Callista is a founding member of the National Black Sisters’ Conference and was honored to serve as the president from 2013-2017. As an African American, Sister Callista has answered a call to minister to the African American Catholic and non-Catholic communities. She is truly grateful to her Franciscan Community for the love and support that she has experienced over the past 60 years. She feels privileged that she has been called to serve the Lord and to live the vowed life in the Franciscan Community of Little Falls, Minnesota.
Sister Siena Wald
Born and raised near Napoleon, N. Dak., Sister Siena has ministered as a volunteer/coordinator/activity/recreation director at St. Otto’s Care Center, Little Falls; therapeutic recreation director, Villa Maria Geriatric Center, Tucson, Ariz.; chief executive officer and president, St. Francis Home Breckenridge; and administrator, Tekakwitha Nursing Home, Sisseton, S. Dak. She has also served in administration at Villa Scalabrini Special Care Unit, St. John of God, Cheviot Garden Convalescent Hospital, Topanga Park Retirement Living, El Cajon Convalescent Center, Granite Hills Convalescent Hospital, Turlock Nursing & Rehab Center, Palm Haven and Oak Meadow & Torreno Garden—all in California. Sister Siena served on nursing home administrator licensing boards in South Dakota and California, a governor appointed position. She received the state of Arizona’s Therapeutic Recreation Innovative Programming Award and the Outstanding Leadership Award. She also served as the state of Arizona’s therapeutic recreation section president and was involved in coordinating numerous educational workshops in Arizona and Minnesota. Sister Siena values Franciscan simplicity and believes that life has been good to her. Both wonderful experiences and difficult ones have helped her become the person she is today. Sister Siena looks back with much gratitude and celebrates all that has been, keeping all these memories close to her heart.
