2016 Jubilarians' Reflections

FSPA Affiliates

75 Years

Sister Theodora Feulner
Looking back on 75 years as a Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration, Sister Theodora Feulner is grateful for the many opportunities and blessings of religious life, especially the people with whom she served. She has enjoyed her work as a teacher and nurse, her educational experiences and being in such wonderful places as Washington, Boston and the Midwest. She thanks her family and all FSPA for their love, prayer and support. (Composed by Vicki Lopez-Kaley, Villa Spiritual Life Team)

Sister Rose Therese McMullin
It’s a wonderful time to think about the past 75 years as an FSPA. Since I retired 12 years ago, I have often reflected on my community life, mission life and teaching years. I am grateful to God, our community leaders, mission companions, family and friends for their guidance, support, encouragement and friendship. Spiritual, academic and social opportunities provided by the community have played an important part in my personal growth. For these things, I am grateful.

Sister Louise Rahe
God has blessed me with a long and grace-filled life. This has been a memorable journey. The many students, parents, sister companions and friends who have crossed my path have given me much inspiration and joy. My heart is filled with gratitude. May all of us continue to love and praise our good God.

​70 Years

Sister Cecilienne Goetz
Sister Cecilienne is very grateful for her 70 years as a Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration. As a music teacher and organist, she had the opportunity and was blessed to touch many lives. Since retiring to Villa St. Joseph, she now has more time to read, complete puzzles, play Scrabble and many other life-enriching opportunities. She thanks her FSPA community, family and friends for their love and support. (Composed by Sister Eileen Shaw, Villa Spiritual Life Team)

Sister Rita Rathburn
Having reached a milestone of 70 years as an FSPA, I wish to thank God for the countless blessings I have received throughout those years. Outstanding FSPA leaders who heeded the mandates of the church and urged us to seek out the poor, the sick, and the alienated and to administer to their needs. Faithful sister friends eager to accompany me at any time or any place. Academic mentors, tutoring teachers, nurses, social workers and passing on our eucharistic message abroad. For all of this and much more, may God be praised forever!

Sister Pauline Wittry
First, I wish to thank the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration for the multiple opportunities for education, travel and services they gave me. The companionship and support I experienced from each and every one of our sisters enabled me to risk trying new things and to enjoy the process. I especially want to thank all of the FSPA leaders and members of the local and affiliate communities in which I participated these 70 years. They helped me to enjoy and grow through their support.

60 Years

Sister Marcella Anibas
With a grateful heart and joyful spirit, I come to this significant milestone: 60 years of vowed religious life. My FSPA sisters and affiliates, family, friends, co-workers and recipients of my ministries have all blessed my life by their support, challenge and inspiration. All who have been part of my life have created with me a labyrinth of memories that have helped keep me centered and mindful of our oneness with our God, one another and all of creation. For all these past years have held for me, I give thanks and praise!

Sister Dorothy Dunbar
It is indeed a long mist-covered time since I entered the convent at age 14. What a foolish thing to do, the critics said! But after many years of studying and ministering in grade school, high school and college, plus sundry other enterprises, I felt called to stand with my poor sisters and brothers in an inner-city high school, at centers for adult education, and mostly in the notorious Cabrini Green ghetto on Chicago’s Near North Side. Without an education, upward mobility is almost impossible. This dedication led to major changes in my life which ultimately led me to FSPA—a move for which I am grateful. As I look back, I praise a God who was always near but mostly silent. My journey continues now with the close but often silent God. I don’t need to know the why of these health issues—just that God knows the reason. After 60 years as a sister, you’d think I’d have it all figured out. I don’t but I rest in a God who does! Blessings on all who walked a step or many years with me on my meandering journey! I am battle-scarred and grateful!

Sister Laurice Heybl
Being a member of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration for 60 years has been a great joy and a blessing. This choice has enriched my life through living in community with other committed women and being part of a communal mission of service to others, helping to enrich their lives following the Franciscan tradition. I am grateful for many treasured friendships and the broad experiences this has been for me.

Sister Catherine Kaiser
My journey in religious life has been filled with meaningful experiences that have included surprises and challenges. This would not have happened without the love and support of my FSPA community, family and friends. I am grateful for the opportunity of ministering with God’s people and folks from other faith traditions. It has been a privilege to belong to the FSPA community that has a history of carrying out the Gospel mission of serving the poor. I express gratitude with my sisters for the call to prayer as witnessed in our perpetual adoration of the Eucharist in the Adoration Chapel (that includes lay partners). God is so good!

Sister Ladonna Kassmeyer
It is with deep gratitude for the many blessings and gifts of these 60 years of vowed life as an FSPA that I celebrate. Family, classmates, community and many friends have graced my journey. I am grateful for our eucharistic charism which enhances my life and ministry of service and administration. Though I don’t work 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., volunteer activities keep me connected and my days are filled with prayer, presence and service.

Sister Antona Schedlo
Where have all the years gone! Sixty-four years since I left home and entered St. Rose Convent. What memories, what graces, what adventures! How good God has been to me! My heart is full of gratitude to God, my family, friends and the community for their prayers, support and encouragement. I am so happy God called me to this life and this place.

Sister Dorothy Schneider
I am grateful to my family and the FSPA community for the blessings of the last 60 years. I have received a fine education for teaching and chaplaincy, but most of all, wonderful spiritual opportunities: retreats, workshops and the opportunity to go to Assisi to walk where St. Francis and St. Clare walked. Thank you!

​50 Years

Sister Rose Elsbernd
I have been very blessed these years as a Franciscan Sister. I have experienced richness in my various ministries, all of which brought me in touch with the love of my God, my sisters and the people of God. I have come to know that diversity is good and we all are on a journey to wholeness. May we all continue to be blessed in God’s rich love. 

Sister Jean Michael Treba
My journey of the past 50 years has been filled with many opportunities to meet a diversity of people in a variety of places. This has enriched my personal and spiritual life. I am filled with gratitude to God, my family and the FSPA community for making this all possible. I have been blessed and say thanks for the many relationships I have experienced and the Franciscan call I received years ago. May God continue to be with us as we live out our journey together.

Sister Lisa Zmuda
Sometimes we don’t know what is good for us … but God does! Because of that God brought me to share life with my sisters in FSPA. As I look back over the past 50 years I am deeply grateful for the opportunities, challenges, joys and sorrows shared as a Franciscan Sister. I look forward to continue living our FSPA mission as we continue the journey together. God has done great things for us! Thank you!

25 Years

Sister Marcia Baumert
The spirit of Franciscan joy drew me to FSPA. I am grateful for the experiences and opportunities I’ve had and look forward to ongoing adventures as a Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration!

Sister Eileen Shaw
It has been a gift and privilege to be a Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration for these past 25 years. As I celebrate my silver jubilee, I am grateful to FSPA for the many opportunities and experiences I have received. I thank God for the love and faith of our sisters who have inspired and companioned me on my journey. May we all continue to live the Gospel and do what is ours to do.

Silver Affiliates (25 years)

Lifelong Affiliate Karen Dosemagen 
Prayer: praying and faith sharing in trusting, life-giving relationships animate my soul.
Community: friendships developed in companion communities and sister-affiliate gatherings enrich my being. The fun of sharing meals, talking, learning and laughing together, playing Hand and Foot Canasta and cribbage refresh my spirit.
Mission: growing in understanding the charism of Francis and Clare and the FSPA mission inspire my living the Gospel locally.
Thank you: to our God, and to the sisters and affiliates for the privilege and blessings of 25 years in affiliation with the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration.

Lifelong Affiliate Vicky Freybler
My first covenant with the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, made in January 1991, focused on compassion. The subsequent years as a covenant affiliate have served to deepen my experience and ideas of compassion primarily through the understanding and education of social justice issues that open my heart to a broader world—a world crying out for compassion. I am so grateful for the contacts through local communities and personal friendships I have developed through the years that have supported my passions and encouraged growth in my spiritual journey. God bless!

Prayer Affiliate Della Lundquist
My friend Mary Prebich in Hibbing, Minnesota, invited me to become an affiliate of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration 25 years ago. When I moved to Northfield, Minnesota, in 2004, Sister Therese Wolf would pick me up and take me to Hibbing with her. She has been such a wonderful friend and supporter. I met so many wonderful women affiliates who have become lifelong, loving, caring friends, which has been so important to me as I have aged. I am now 104 years old and still get regular visits and support from Sister Therese, affiliates Corrine Bauer and Mary Peterson, and others. I was blessed when God gave me the opportunity to become an affiliate. May God bless you all.

Lifelong Affiliate Bernadette Murray
During my life, God has given me so many blessings and opportunities. I have been blessed to be a mother, nurse, wife, friend and, for 25 years, an affiliate of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration. 

God’s gifts that are closest to my heart are:
Receiving the gift of life and love as a Child of God;
Giving the gift of life and love to my son Christopher; and
Living the life of JOY (Jesus, Others, Yourself) as an FSPA affiliate.
It is my hope and prayer that I can be a servant to all God’s people, and that whoever I encounter will see and feel the Spirit of God and St. Francis in me.

Thank you Jesus and St. Francis for calling me to be a Franciscan. Thank you to my FSPA for accepting me. Special recognition to Sisters Lorraine and Lydia for sharing this journey with me.