By Michael O’Loughlin
MILWAUKEE – On June 15, more than 30 School Sisters of St. Francis of the United States Province celebrated milestone anniversaries of service as women religious. In addition, three lay women in associate relationship with the community celebrated their 25-year jubilees.
These are the sisters celebrating Jubilee this year who have served in the Diocese of Jackson.

Sister Arlene Welding (80 Years)
Sister Arlene Welding was born in Oakdale, Nebraska She received a bachelor of science degree in education from Alverno College in Milwaukee and a master of science degree in religious education from the University of San Francisco in Calif.
In the Diocese of Jackson, Sister Arlene taught at St. Francis School in Yazoo City (1953-1962).
Other service: In the Diocese of Comayagua (Honduras), Sister Arlene served as a cursillo director in Comayagua (1966-1970). In the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Sister served as campus minister at the Newman Center in Los Angeles (1979-1982) and as director of operations at Caring Hands in Los Angeles (1982-1985). In the Diocese of Nashville, Sister served as a community outreach worker at Catholic Social Services (1986-1989), where she also served as a volunteer social worker (1992-1993); served as a social ministry volunteer (1993-1997); and served as a part-time secretary at St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Nashville (1997-1998), where she also served as coordinator of social concerns (1998-2004) and as volunteer coordinator (2004-2007). In the Diocese of Phoenix (Ariz.), Sister served as religious education coordinator at St. Matthew Parish in Phoenix (1970-1978) and at St. Edward Parish in Phoenix (1978-1979). In the Archdiocese of San Jose´ in Costa Rica, Sister taught at St. Francis Primary School in Moravia (1962-1966). In the Diocese of Tucson (Ariz.), Sister served as senior citizen counselor at the Pinal Gila Council for Senior Citizens in Casa Grande (1979). In the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, Sister taught at St. Matthew School in Campbellsport (1943-1953) and served as a volunteer at St. Joseph Convent in Campbellsport (2008-2014) and at St. Joseph Convent in Milwaukee (2014-2017).

Sister currently serves in the ministry of prayer and presence at Our Lady of the Angels Convent in Greenfield, Wisconsin.
Sister Michele Doyle (75 Years)
Sister Michele Doyle was born in Forest Park, Illinois. She received a bachelor of science degree in education from Alverno College in Milwaukee; a master of arts degree in American history from Loyola University in Chicago; and a master’s degree in religious education from St. Thomas University in Houston.
In the Diocese of Jackson, Sister Michele taught at St. Francis High School in Yazoo City (1949-1969); at St. Joseph High School and Jackson State College in Jackson (1969-1976); served as director of adult religious education for the Diocese of Jackson (1976-1983); and director of education for St. Francis Assisi Parish in Madison (1991-1996). Since 2006, Sister Michele has served part-time in several parishes in the lay ministry program for the Jackson diocese.
Other service: In the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, Sister served as provincial for her congregation’s U.S. Province in Milwaukee (1983-1991). In the Diocese of Rockford (Ill.), she taught at St. Mary School in McHenry (1947-1949).
Sister currently resides in Ridgeland, Mississippi.
Sister Amy Therese Kenealy (60 Years)

Sister Amy Therese Kenealy was born in Chicago, Illinois. She received a bachelor of arts degree in English from Alverno College in Milwaukee, a master of arts degree in English from the University of Chicago, a certificate of advanced study in education administration from the University of Illinois, a master of science degree in counseling from Chicago State University, and a master of arts degree in pastoral theology from St. Mary of the Woods College in Indiana.
In the Diocese of Jackson, Sister Amy Therese taught at Sacred Heart School in Walls (1965-1966), St. Francis High School in Yazoo City (1967-1968) and St. Mary School in Holly Springs (1968-1969).
Other Service: In the Diocese of Joliet (Ill.), Sister served as regional chaplain at Marriott Brighton Gardens in Burr Ridge (2001-2003). In the Archdiocese of Chicago, Sister taught at St. Cyprian School in River Grove (1962-1964), St. Joseph School in Wilmette (1964-1965), and St. Anne School in Barrington (1966-1967). She served as dean, counselor and teacher at Thornridge High School in Dolton (1970-1990), pastoral ministry project director at St. Xavier University in Chicago (1988-1992), pastoral associate at St. Joachim Parish in Chicago (1990-1992) and chaplain at Americana/ManorCare Health Center in South Holland (1992-2001). Sister also was director of pastoral care at Brighton Gardens in Orlando Park (2003-2007) and chaplain at Vitas Hospice in Chicago Heights (2005-2016).
Sister currently resides in Sauk Village, Illinois, where she has served as volunteer chaplain since 2016.
Sister Liana Mich (60 Years)

Sister Liana Mich was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She received a bachelor of arts degree in elementary education and music from Mount Mary College in Milwaukee, a master of science degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee and a master of arts degree in pastoral ministry from Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis.
In the Diocese of Jackson, Sister Liana served as principal of Holy Family School in Jackson (1978-1986).
Other Service: In the Diocese of Gary (Ind.), Sister served as teacher/organist at SS Peter & Paul School in Gary (1962-1966). In the Diocese of La Crosse (Wis.), Sister served as teacher/organist at Sacred Heart School in Marshfield (1966-1968). In the Diocese of Memphis (Tenn.), she served as a pastoral education intern at Methodist Hospital Clinic in Memphis (1987-1988). In the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, Sister served as chaplain at St. Anthony Hospital in Oklahoma City (1988-2006) where she also served as spiritual director (2006-2012). In the Archdiocese of San Antonio (Texas), Sister served in the ministry to ministers program at the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio (1986-1987). In the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, Sister in Milwaukee taught at St. Boniface School (1967-1971), St. Martin de Porres Catholic School (1971-1972) where she also served as administrator and curriculum coordinator (1972-1974), and at St. Albert School (1974-1975). She also served as a volunteer at Clement Manor Retirement Center in Greenfield and in the congregation’s U.S. Province Finance Office in Milwaukee from 2012-2018.
Sister currently resides at Clement Manor Retirement Community in Greenfield, Wisconsin.

(Cards and donations in honor of the sisters’ years of service may be mailed to Sister’s attention, c/o Jubilee Committee, School Sisters of St. Francis, 1545 S. Layton Blvd., Milwaukee, WI 53215.)

By Jen Pick
La Crosse, WISCONSIN – Sister Rita Mae (70 Years), a Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration, was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She ministered as a primary school teacher in Wausau, Menomonie, Stanley, Pewaukee, Durand, Stanley and Edgar, Wisconsin. She also taught primary grades in Spokane, Washington, and Canton, Mississippi. Beginning in 1982, Sister Rita Mae ministered in libraries in Superior (Cathedral School), Wisconsin, Carroll (Holy Spirit School), Iowa, and West Point (Marquette), Iowa. In 1994, she moved to Villa St. Joseph, the FSPA skilled-care retirement home in La Crosse, Wisconsin, where she assisted in sister services before moving to care for her mother and serve part time as a library media specialist at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School in St. Cloud, Minnesota. Sister Rita Mae went on to volunteer in libraries at Immaculate Conception School in Eau Claire, Wis. and St. Peter Claver School in St. Paul, Minn., before retiring to St. Rose Convent in La Crosse in 2008. She currently ministers as a volunteer in the St. Rose Media Center.
A jubilee celebration was held at St. Rose Convent on April 26.
Based in La Crosse, Wisconsin, Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration is a community of vowed Franciscan women engaged in furthering the work of the Catholic church and the Gospel. Their partners in ministry, including affiliates and prayer partners, join them in service of God’s mission. Together, they collaborate to minister in areas of greatest need, demonstrating that Gospel living is both contemplative and active.

By Joanna Puddister King

MADISON – A crowd of about 200 people gathered July 17 to celebrate the completion of The Clarence and Sue Smith Rehabilitation Center and The Tuscany Skilled Nursing Center at St. Catherine’s Village in Madison, Mississippi with a ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony.

Among the crowd, were several distinguished guests including First Lady Deborah Bryant, wife of Phil Bryant, governor of Mississippi, who is dedicated to improving health care services in Mississippi as part of her office held since 2012. Guests also included Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins-Butler, Bishop Joseph Kopacz, Dominican and Franciscan sisters, Madison Chamber of Commerce members and residents and staff of St. Catherine’s retirement community.

Lisa Wilburn, executive director of St. Catherine’s Village, introduced the crowd to the facility. The three-floor tower with 59,000 square feet of floor space features 54 private rooms, with in-room showers and a skilled nursing staff. Wilburn stated that the center has the advancements to give residents the best care with state-of-the-art lighting and activities, a daily living center, a walking path and a spacious rehabilitation gym.

In addition to the state-of-the-art facilities, the nursing center also boasts a collection of beautiful artworks, which grace the walls throughout the building. Most of the pieces come from the collection of the Clarence Smith family, former resident of St. Catherine’s. Featured at the building entrance are two large art instillations on either side of a grand fireplace made possible through generous donations of St. Catherine’s Village employees. The pieces titled Angel in Disguise one and two, are by local artist Ginger Thomas. Full of beautiful hues of blue and gold, the powerful pieces induce a state of calm and peace upon entering the building.

Dominican Sister Dorothea Sondgeroth was thankful for the gift of former St. Catherine’s residents, Clarence and Sue Smith, “a brother and sister with philanthropic hearts,” she said blessing the celebration in their loving memory. To “all of those who gave of their time, talents and treasure to make [the] Tuscany center a beautiful place for residents to enjoy life and for the staff in which to minister,” she offered her gratitude and blessing as well.

Serving as mayor of Madison since 1981, Mayor Mary Hawkins-Butler reflected on the vision of St. Catherine’s Village and her over 30-year history with the facility in her city. Hawkins-Butler said that “there is a sweet spirit in this place. . . . This is where God has laid his hands and blessed it in a mighty way.”

Thanking the staff of St. Catherine’s Village for providing such a caring and loving environment, Hawkins-Butler in her powerfully poised voice stated of St. Catherine’s, “There is none like it in this state. There is none like it in the Southeast. And Madison is honored and proud to say that this place belongs not only to Madison, but to those who want to come experience the true healing spirit and the faith of Jesus Christ, because it was built on a vision and a mission of mercy and kindness and hope.”

Bishop Joseph Kopacz, on hand to bless the new facility, said to the crowd that the facility “brings to mind the work of creation. . . . We’re extending really the work of creation when we collaborate with God’s gifts in this world and build something that is for the sake of others, for the sake of community, for the sake of caring for people. Especially this, what they say (is) the last and best chapter of life. Getting ready to return to God, who brought this all into being.”

Housing options at St. Catherine’s Village include independent living in apartments and garden homes, assisted living in Marian Hall, memory care in Campbell Cove and Hughes Center and skilled nursing in Siena Center.

The all-inclusive life care community also offers 160 acres of wooded grounds, unparalleled facilities, a caring staff, companionship, 24-hour on-duty security, protected and beautiful outdoor spaces, access to on-site resident-centered care and a mission-focused environment that encourages residents in all levels to enjoy fullness of life, health and faith.

St. Catherine’s Village is a service of St. Dominic Health Services, Inc. and is sponsored by the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady. The private, gated community is dedicated to providing the best care for seniors as they gracefully age and their needs change in their retirement years.