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Meet Affiliates

Affiliates celebrate silver jubilees, marking 25 years with FSPA. Click here to read more.

Spirit of Ministry: Welcoming the aliens living among us by Leigh Waggoner.
My experience as a Hispanic in a Hispanic 'mission.' by Edna Whalen. Click here to read more.

Affiliation celebrates prayer, covenant and lifelong commitments. Click here to read more.

Spirit of Ministry: Affiliate Violeta Abitia travels parallel paths of spirituality and artistry. Click here to read more.

Sisters welcome new affiliates and one lifelong affiliate. Click here to read more.

Five FSPA affiliates make their convenant. Click here to read more.

Spirit of Ministry: Long-serving affiliate says Franciscanism came naturally. Click here to read more.

Affiliation adds new prayer and covenant partners. Click here to read more.

Spirit of Ministry: Affiliate pairs music with ministry. Click here to read her story.

Six new affiliates make their covenant with FSPA. Click here to read their story.

Affiliates develop new ministry program. Click here to read the story.

Learn more about the affiliation process. Click here to read the story.

Lifelong affiliates pledge to keep growing. Click here to read their stories.

In 2003 six women became covenant affiliates. To read their stories click here.

Affiliation Live-In: A time to grow and get to know community

by Jeannie Snyder

	Sister Marlene Weisenbeck holds the microphone as the new covenant affiliates make their commitments. Front row, from left, affiliates Joanne Adams, Ursula Chiu, Patti Gleason and Peggy Johnson. Back row, from left, sponsors Sisters Mary Kathryn Fogarty, affiliates Karen Dosemagen, Linda Kerrigan and Joe Leuck.

Movement, growth and connectedness—just as these processes represent immutable energies in the seasonal calendar, so do they mirror the dynamics of the annual Affiliate Live-In at St. Rose. From June 20–24, eleven affiliates participated in activities that centered around three areas of covenant commitment—prayer, community and ministry.

This year’s group was culturally and generationally diverse. Within a wide array of formats and discussion groups, affiliates shared of themselves and their stories. They came to not only participate in the movement and growth of their own spiritual journey, but also to become enriched in the Franciscan heritage and charism of the FSPA, all woven within a framework of five days.

Highlighted during this time were morning and evening reflective prayer, discussions of social justice stances, heritage, mission and ministries of the FSPA. Presenters included Sisters Marlene Weisenbeck, Mary Kathryn Fogarty, Mary Ann Gschwind and Jolyce Greteman.

Sponsors, though not required to participate, were welcome to attend and added to the community building that is such a big part of this experience. Lively discussions in groups and at social hours enhanced the affiliates’ experience of community interaction.
Time was scheduled for adoration in the chapel and faith rituals such as the presentation of towels, (hand embroidered by Sister Josalia Thering), the baking of bread which symbolizes the presence of the Eucharist in their lives, and a visit to Villa St. Joseph. There was even an affiliate history “quiz” entitled “Who Wants to be an Affiliate?” based on the popular TV game show.

As affiliate co-minister Marci Madary concluded, “We want affiliates to appreciate the heritage and rootedness of FSPA and gain an understanding of their responsibilities by experiencing the sacredness of place within the context of community.”

FSPA affiliates left with a wealth of spirit and the sacred, which was apparent in the six women, Theresa Washburn, Ursula Chiu, Peggy Johnson, Patti Gleason, Joanne Adams and Cindy Sjolander, who celebrated their covenant affiliation at the week’s close in Mary of the Angels chapel. Their commitment is now part of the FSPA tapestry of unity in diversity.

Affiliate Profiles

Ursula Chiu, a native of Solingen, Germany, came to the United States as a foreign languages exchange teacher in Chicago in the mid-fifties. She pursued a master’s degree in education at Loyola University and also received a master’s in special education from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Ursula taught German and French in various higher education institutions and retired in 1992 after working almost 20 years in the La Crosse public school system. Her husband, Alec, was a professor at Viterbo for 32 years.

Besides being the mother of three grown children, Ursula now enjoys reading and gardening in her spare time when she’s not busy serving on the justice and peace committee at Roncalli Newman Center and volunteering at Place of Grace.

New covenant affiliates include, top photo, from left, Joanne Adams and Peggy Johnson; middle photo, Ursula Chiu and Cindy Sjolander; bottom photo, Theresa Washburn and Patti Gleason.

Ursula chose to become an affiliate “to gain support and guidance for my life and mission in the service of the Lord.” Her vast experience in learning about different cultures, studying and appreciating their different spiritualities, has provided a rich foundation in which to build her covenant affiliation with the FSPA. Sister Mary Kathryn Fogarty is her sponsor.

Theresa Washburn has been working as director of marketing and public relations for the Franciscan Spirituality Center since 1998. It was during this time that she became acquainted with many FSPA and learned about affiliation. In choosing to become an affiliate, she says that her values and hopes for this world are very much in line with the FSPA, and it is her hope to add to and help with the ongoing mission and life of the FSPA. Sister Maria Friedman has been her sponsor during her affiliate journey.

Theresa was born in Hawaii but raised in San Antonio, Texas. She is a graduate of Texas A&M and will finish graduate work at Viterbo University with a master’s degree in servant leadership. For two years she had the experience of being a Peace Corps volunteer in the Dominican Republic.

Theresa’s immediate family includes her husband, Robert Schroeder, and daughter Naomi Marie. Theresa is involved in church ministry as a music leader for Bible camp and finds relaxation in hiking, biking, writing and having fun with her daughter.

Peggy Johnson was born and raised in Grand Forks, N.D. In 1984, she received her bachelor’s degree in English from SUNY Brockport and was awarded a master’s degree in English from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, in 1992. Currently Peggy is working on her doctorate in philosophy through correspondence courses from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Teaching English and writing are very much part of her life’s vocation. She has taught in secondary schools and higher education. Now residing in Winona with her husband, Doug, and their three children, Peggy is currently the director of the writing center and an instructor in English at St. Mary’s University in Winona.

Peggy ministers at her parish as lector and is on the confirmation committee. She also spends time as a volunteer at a local hospital and for hospice. Peggy is an avid nature lover and enjoys motorcycle riding. When not enjoying the outdoors, she likes to study the
Enneagram.

Peggy first came to know about the FSPA by participating in workshops and retreats at the Franciscan Spirituality Center. She recalls that she enjoyed meeting the sisters who possessed such an “intriguing mix of humility and vitality.” Sister Sandy DeMann is Peggy’s sponsor. When asked why she chose to become an affiliate, she states, “I hold as authentic truth the Franciscan charism and believe that by living out the charism of Francis and Clare in my daily experiences, I come closer to understanding and embracing the divine mystery.”

Joanne Adams, a native of Illinois, spent most of her adolescent years growing up in the Chicago area, and went on to work in various nursing homes and hospitals throughout the metro area. Joanne dedicated her working life to the care of hospice patients and the
elderly as a certified nursing assistant. Now retired, she lives in Rock Island, Ill., where she serves in a prayer circle at her church and is involved in pet therapy at a local hospital.

Joanne first heard about the FSPA through Catholic Digest and decided to personally check out the community. According to Joanne, “A retreat was my first association with FSPA and my life hasn’t been the same since June of 2003.” She goes on to say that she chose to become an affiliate in order to serve the Lord, grow spiritually and have contact with other kindred spirits.

Joanne is married to husband, James, and has two grown children. In her free time, she likes to work in her garden, read, walk and play with her two dogs.

Joanne is grateful not only to longtime affiliate Margie Bleuer, her sponsor, but also to the FSPA community. She says, “My life seemed incomplete until this journey with FSPA started. I now feel free to explore my spirituality, and I have others to share with who are traveling on a similar path. God has blessed me with a wonderful community and many new sisters in Christ.”

Cindy Sjolander lives in rural Onalaska, Wis. She grew up in Montreal, Quebec, and received her higher education in Canada. She has held numerous positions in the optical industry throughout her life. Currently Cindy is self-employed, working as a traveling optician. She and her husband, Carl, have two grown sons.

Cindy is active in her parish, serving as a eucharistic minister and on the education committee. Cindy notes that she chose to become an FSPA affiliate to develop “a network of support in helping me become more St. Francis-like.” She first learned about the FSPA through affiliate Joe Leuck. Joe also serves as her sponsor.

Patti Gleason was born and raised in Illinois. She is certified in youth ministry and catechism and has been active in both ministries for a number of years. In addition, she has been teaching religious education for the past 16 years to seventh graders in Schaumburg and Wadsworth, Ill.

Sister Marianna Ableidinger encourged her to become an affiliate while they worked together on mission at a vacation bible school. Karen Dosemagen is currently her sponsor.

Patti enjoys the outdoors and loves to camp and fish. She also finds plenty of time to spend with her family and youth group activities. Married with three teenage children, Michael, Kelli and Alex, she supports them in their interest in sports.

Patti feels that it is extremely important to share her faith with others and that being an affiliate is a gift to do just that. She explains, “The people I have met and come to share a bond with are burned into my heart. I believe God puts us places where he sees we are the most helpful to one another.”

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