Sylvania Franciscan Sister Mary Jo Mike

Sr. Mike was one of 19 nominations from her community and is to receive the award at the Federation’s Annual Conference July 30 in Buffalo, N.Y.

The Franciscan Federation is a national organization founded in 1965 “to promote Franciscan Evangelical Life and its implication for these times and for our world.” Members include women and men congregations in the United States who follow the Third Order Regular Rule of St. Francis of Assisi.

Sr. Mike is the principal of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Elementary School in Biloxi, Miss. She was nominated by Sylvania Franciscan Sister Rebecca Rutkowski because of her spirit, positive attitude and boundless energy. “She is as enthusiastic today as she was when she first came to the school,” said Sr. Rutkowski. “She is heavily involved in parish life and many times comes to school before 6 a.m. and is still there until way past 9 p.m. Her endurance is incredible.”

Sr. Mike has been principal of Blessed Virgin Mary for 19 years and witnessed firsthand the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. More than 85 percent of the Gulf Coast town was destroyed by the storm. Except for damage to the gymnasium roof, the school survived intact and became a relief center for cleanup crews. For months, the kitchen was a 24-hour food center and the playground was a tent city.

The theme for this year’s award was “Passionately Embracing Gospel Living.” Criteria for selecting an honoree included living with passion, being a beacon of light for others and witnessing the challenge and power of Gospel values in daily living. Sr. Mike’s response to the challenges of living through the destruction of a hurricane and then spending months helping people recover are a testament to her ability to let the light of life shine through her with radiance, clarity and optimism.

“After Hurricane Katrina, our world was completely and forever changed,” said Sr. Mike. “We spent a lot of time listening to people’s needs. We learned a lot from the experience and now understand what is important when something of this magnitude happens.”