Archbishop's web site Denver Catholic Register Parishes Catholic Pastoral Center
September 11, 2002
Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration celebrate jubilees
10 nuns honored for 50 and 60 years of service in teaching and health care
The Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration recently honored 10 sisters celebrating their jubilee as Franciscans. A Mass of thanksgiving was offered at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Colorado Springs with Coadjutor Bishop Michael Sheridan as celebrant.
Commemorating 60 years of ministering as Franciscans are Sister Claire Lucero, Sister Jean Bojanski, Sister Rose Ann Stillmock, Sister Catherine Krakowski, Sister Carlene Yonker and Sister Ann Frances Hoff.
Sister Lucero was born in Peña Blanca, N.M. She ministered as an elementary teacher and musician in schools in Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas and Nebraska. Currently she resides at Mount St. Francis Nursing Center in Colorado Springs.
Another jubilarian residing at Mount St. Francis is Sister Bojanski. As an elementary school teacher, Sister Bojanski worked primarily in Nebraska. She had entered the community from Immaculate Conception Parish in Omaha, Neb. She returned there to teach from 1965 to 1989.
Sister Stillmock, another Omahan, ministered in education for 57 years as a teacher and administrator. She retired as a principal in 2000. Presently, she lives in Omaha and ministers to the homebound.
Sister Krakowski divided her ministry time between teaching and nursing. After teaching for 32 years Sister Krakowski became a nurse's aide and has worked in home health care, nursing homes and hospice for 25 more years. She currently lives in her hometown of Omaha.
Sister Yonker, a native of Akron, Colo., has spent her life and ministry in the health care field; first as a pharmacist for 25 years, an administrator of Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Neb., and as a chaplain. She served in pastoral ministry for 20 years. She is now semi-retired at Mount St. Francis, praying for those in need, volunteering at the Mount St. Francis Nursing Center, and being a caregiver for Stephen's Ministry.
Sister Hoff has devoted all of her years in ministry in the health field both in nursing and in administration. Her administrative duties included assistant executive director of St. Anthony Hospital System in Denver, administrator of St. Francis Hospital in Colorado Springs and administrator of the Gardens at St. Elizabeth in Denver. Presently Sister Hoff does volunteer work at St. Francis Health Center in Colorado Springs.
The golden jubilarians are Sister Christine Hayes, Sister Dolores Smagacz, Sister Regina Revers and Sister Mary Agnes Montoya.
Sister Hayes ministered as a teacher for 23 years and a pastoral minister for 10 years. In 1987 she came to Mount St. Francis and became the founder and director of the Franciscan Retreat Center. She resigned this position Sept. 1 but continues to be involved in various other ministries at Mount St. Francis.
Sister Smagacz spent 32 years as a teacher in New Mexico and one year in Colorado. In 2002, she completed 15 years of teaching third grade in her home parish of St. Bonaventure in Columbus, Neb.
Sister Revers has ministered in many diverse jobs during her 50 years as a Franciscan. She has been a homemaker, a teacher, a cook, a librarian and is now currently support service director for St. Clare Convent at Mount St. Francis. When she isn't involved in one of her indoor ministries she spends her time tending the trees and gardens.
Sister Montoya, like her other classmates, had been a teacher. She ministered mainly in the schools in New Mexico and Colorado. Eventually, she channeled her energies into being a secretary and/or administrative assistant. She has served in this capacity at the University of Albuquerque and is currently administrative assistant to the provincial leadership team at Mount St. Francis.
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