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Five affiliates make their covenant June 22

Five FSPA affiliates made their covenant on June 22. They are Violeta Abitia, Barb Burgess, John Burgess and Gwen Puent. Tom Skemp, profiled in an earlier issue of Insight when he became a prayer affiliate, also made his covenant on June 22. Existing covenant affiliates Joe Leuck and Cindy Sjolander renewed their covenants. Profiles of the new covenant affiliates are below. Information on Gwen Puent was not available.

Violeta Abitia
Born in Mexico City and raised there as well as Guadelajara, Barcelona and Vienna, Abitia now calls La Crosse her home. "Sister Rosemarie Nkfunji, for whom we were a host family, brought me to St. Rose," explains Abitia of her first exposure to FSPA. "Many of the sisters have become mentors, teachers and friends. I had a very close relationship with Sister Laurian Pieterek."

Abitia says she was drawn to become an affiliate because of the values of the FSPA. "I feel called to participate in many of the ministries that FSPA is engaged with: education, social justice, perpetual adoration and art."

Currently an adjunct Spanish professor at Viterbo University as well as an artist/printmaker, Abitia has years of experience in art education, teaching in Austria and British Columbia as well as La Crosse. In addition, she's served as a medical interpreter at Franciscan Skemp Healthcare.

In her spare time, Abitia enjoys gardening, cooking and reading, especially Scriptures. She is involved in Latin American ministry and she teaches Spanish for missions.
"I am deeply grateful for the many blessings I have received from the FSPA. My family and I have been greatly enriched by their presence in our lives."

Abitia has two grown children: Matthew, 20, and Nina, 17. Her sponsor is Sister Marcella Hackman.

Front row, from left, Violeta Abitia, Gwen Puent and Barb Burgess. Back row, from left, Tom Skemp and John Burgess.

Barb Burgess
Barb Burgess learned about the FSPA when her husband, John, became a member of the board for the Franciscan Spirituality Center. "I signed up for several of their workshops and classes over the years and was always inspired by the staff and presenters," she explains. "In October 2004, John was invited to go on a pilgrimage with the FSPA community because of his board involvement.

I was thrilled that I was able to go with him. It was a life-changing experience for me. I had finally discovered where I 'fit' and wanted to be more involved with their community."

Burgess grew up in Illinois, but now lives in Holmen. She holds a bachelor of science degree in social work from Illinois State University and a master's degree in science in education/school psychology from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

She has experience working as a social worker, particularly with students and adults with physical, behavioral and emotional disabilities. She's worked as a weight-loss counselor and as a school psychologist, but "retired" when her first child was born, and says she's been a full-time "domestic engineer" for 22 years now, and is ready to return to the workplace.

"I chose to become an affiliate because I have always wanted to belong to a group/community where I can be inspired to become a better person. Over the years I have explored many different church groups, bible studies, etc., but never felt that I was on the right spiritual path. After studying Franciscanism I decided that this was the way that I wanted to live my life."

Burgess is active in church ministries and charitable works. She works as minister of hospitality at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Holmen, providing meals to families in crisis; she is secretary for the Assembly Committee for affiliation; she is a member of the community board for the Family and Children's Center; project leader for Long Coulee 4-H in Holmen and a volunteer/ chaperone for the Aquinas band and sports booster clubs. In her free time she enjoys gardening and spending time with family.

Burgess has three children with her husband, John (see below): Anna Yang, 22, Sarah Burgess, 20, and Noah Burgess, 16. Her sponsor is Sister Rita Feeney.

John Burgess
John Burgess was born in Rangoon, Burma, and he spent his childhood globetrotting to Belgrade, Yugoslavia; Bethesda, Maryland; Paris, France; and Prague, Czechoslovakia. "My dad was a diplomat, representing the United States in each of these countries," he explains. "When we were in the U.S., we were living in suburban Washington, D.C. where he would commute daily to the State Department."

It seems Burgess craved stability after his on-the-go childhood. As a young, single adult, Burgess bought the home where he and his family currently live northeast of Holmen. He's been there 27 years now. He is currently president/CEO of the Family and Children's Center, where he's been employed for 28 years.

Burgess says his first encounter with FSPA came when he had just moved to La Crosse. "I was just learning about religion (grew up agnostic/atheist), learned about the Catholic Church and decided to take the plunge and become confirmed at the ripe age of 22-ish, at St. James the Less on the north side. Within a few weeks of confirmation an FSPA sister (who I didn't know, but turned out to be Sister Mynette Gross) stopped me and suggested there were too many gray heads at St. James and that I belonged at Newman Center. I switched the next week."

Burgess has been deeply involved in the raising of their three children (see his wife Barb's profile above.) He is also active in church ministries, serving as treasurer and member of the Serra Club of La Crosse, a club whose mission is to foster and support vocations to the priesthood and religious life. He serves on many local groups including the Wisconsin Association of Family and Children's Agencies, Rotary Club of La Crosse, Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors, Viterbo University board of advisors and the La Crosse Community Thanksgiving Dinner. In the past, he served as board chair for the Franciscan Spirituality Center, a connection which eventually grew into affiliation for him.

"Life is a spiritual journey. Being an affiliate helps keep focus on that important journey." As part of his spiritual journey, Burgess enjoys an annual spiritual retreat.

In his free time he enjoys swimming, watching the Loggers, Packers, Brewers and other sports, baking bread, listening to audio books, visiting historic sites and exploring the outdoors.

Burgess's sponsor is Sister Mary Kathryn Fogarty.

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