Date: Thursday, December 12, 2024
Location: St. Anthony of Padua Hall
Time: 9:00 am-2:00 pm
Coffee and Breakfast are served at 9:00 am.
The program begins at 9:30 am followed by lunch and ends with Mass at 1:00 pm.
Cost: $20 per person
Meet Our Speaker!
A vocation presentation in my Junior Year at Immaculata Academy, Hamburg, NY, included a plea from Franciscan missionaries in Japan for someone to take the place of one of the Friars who had gotten ill and had to return home. It was then that I felt the Spirit whispering in my heart. “You can do this!” On September 8, 1959, along with 23 other young women, I joined the Sisters of St. Francis in Williamsville, New York. The call to be a missionary has led me to Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Hawaii, and Florida, if not to Japan!
Growing up both parents were very active in parish activities and, though regular Mass and Rosary times were taken for granted, before entering the convent I was a typical teenager of the 50’s enjoying AMERICAN BANDSTAND, smoking cigarettes when Mom and Dad were not around, drag-racing with my brothers.
After ministering as teacher and principal for 50+ years, I am currently loving my current “2nd Careers” - serving on Congregational Committees, doing volunteer service in our local parish of St. Paul in Leesburg, being “chief cook and bottle washer” for Sister Mary while she ministers to the Second Graders at St. Paul School, and, serving the Sisters of the Diocese of Orlando as their Moderator.
I have really loved every minute of being a Sister of St. Francis – in good times as well as those that were especially challenging. Memories of special blessings include observing how quickly young children learn a second language, being instrumental in the construction of a beautiful new school for children from financially challenged families, being accepted by patients with remnants of Hansen’s disease, learning to survive hurricanes.
Even though separated by miles (often, thousands of them) I have never felt apart from the rest of our Community. It has been an exciting 64 years and I look forward to all the rest!
Cancellation Policy: Two weeks before the event, a full refund can be made. If the cancellation is requested within 2 weeks of the event a refund can be given, less the $3 nonrefundable deposit. Please call or email as soon as a cancellation is needed.