Six Joliet Franciscans celebrate jubilees |
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Saturday, 07 August 2010 00:00 |
Sister Paula Bingert, 60 years
Sr. Bingert, a native of Mansfield, attended 12 years of school at Mansfield St. Peter and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of St. Francis (now University of Francis) in Joliet, Ill., and earned her Master of Arts in library science at Rosary College (now Dominican University).
She has worked as an assistant librarian and teacher at Joliet St. Francis Academy, an assistant librarian at the College of St. Francis, and a teacher and librarian in Chicago and Florida. Sr. Bingert was also secretary to the president of the congregation.
In 1976 she returned to Mansfield St. Peter to work as an elementary school librarian, where she continues to minister today. In 2009 the elementary school library was renamed in her honor.
In 1980 Sr. Bingert initiated the Parish Heritage Room. An outgrowth of this room was a 52-page history of the parish that she wrote in 1994 at the time of parish’s 150th anniversary. She continues to collect and preserve the parish history records.
“Spreading joy in day-to-day contacts with the children and parishioners as well as friends in the civic community is rewarding,” says Sr. Bingert. “The Joliet Franciscans have been present at St. Peter’s since 1871. By the grace of God may we keep the Franciscan charism present for a few more years.”
Sr. Bingert was one of three women from St. Peter to enter the Joliet Franciscans the same year. Sister Virginia Marie Buzenski (class of 1937) and Sister Anton Horvath (class of 1943), both now deceased, would also have been diamond jubilarians this year.
Sister David Ann Hoy, 60 years
Originally from Groveport, Ohio, Sr. Hoy earned her bachelor’s degree at the College of St. Francis in Joliet and then went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in social work from Marillac College in St. Louis.
Sr. Hoy has had a variety of ministries over her 60 years of profession. She taught in elementary grades in Illinois, Ohio and Alabama; served as a child care worker in Joliet; was a case worker at Catholic Charities and St. Anthony Villa in Toledo; ministered as resident coordinator at the congregation’s motherhouse; was director of pastoral care in Lemont, Ill.; served as coordinator of sister residents; and served in parish ministry in Winnetka, Ill.
Currently, Sr. Hoy is a volunteer at the Upper Room Crisis Hotline, a national hotline for priests and brothers. She also ministers as a driver for those sisters unable to drive.
Commenting on her many years of service, Sr. Hoy says she loved all her assignments and learned so much in every field in which she ministered. She felt blessed to meet and work with God’s people.
Sister Bernadette Sifferlin, 60 years
Sr. Sifferlin is a native of Shelby, Ohio, and attended Most Pure Heart of Mary grade school and Shelby High School. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the College of St. Francis and a master’s degree in business administration from Notre Dame University.
Sr. Sifferlin taught grade school from 1950 until 1962. Her teaching ministry took her to Toledo Immaculate Conception and parishes in Illinois. She was assistant to the congregation’s general treasurer; elected to the congregation’s governing board and served as a councilor and area coordinator. She assumed the position of general treasurer of the congregation in 1976, serving in that position for 20 years. After that, she was a parish receptionist and secretary in Illinois. Sr. Sifferlin now ministers at Our Lady of Angels Retirement Home where she provides community service to the residents.
 Sr. Sifferlin states that she has happy memories of her years of teaching.
“It was always rewarding to know that you were contributing to forming lives of young people,” she says. Two of Sr. Sifferlin’s seventh-grade students, Sister Lourdes Boyer and Sister Rosemary Winter, celebrated their 50th anniversary of profession the same day as Sr. Sifferlin celebrated her 60th.
“Transferring from the classroom to the business office was quite an adjustment,” Sr. Sifferlin says. “But, looking back, I can see how I was being trained for my future ministry in leadership.”
Sister Lourdes Boyer, 50 years
Sister Lourdes Boyer, a native of Toledo, was a member of Toledo Immaculate Conception where she also attended grade school. She attended Toledo Notre Dame Academy from 1954 to 1957 before graduating from St. Francis Academy (now Joliet Catholic Academy) in July 1957. She received her Bachelor of Arts from the College of St. Francis and a master’s of education from the University of Toledo.
Sr. Boyer taught intermediate and junior high mathematics and music and was organist at Toledo Immaculate Conception and other parishes in Illinois and Ohio. She taught in the mathematics department and directed the PLATO Computer System at the College of St. Francis. In 1984 Sr. Boyer became general secretary for the congregation.
After completing two terms of administration, she became director of finances at an Illinois parish and then was the coordinator for the sisters living at Our Lady of Angels Retirement Home. In June 2008 she again assumed the position of general secretary for the congregation.
Sr. Boyer expressed gratitude for the people who have been a part of her ministry, who have walked with her these many years offering their love and support. She has found each place of ministry very rewarding, with the 16 years she has given in community service to the Sisters of St. Francis being especially rewarding for her — “a joy to serve in the family business.”
Sister Geraldine Podobnik, 50 years
A native of Joliet, Sr. Podobnik earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of St. Francis and graduated from St. Joseph’s School of Nursing in Joliet.
She taught elementary school in Illinois before becoming a Registered Nurse.
She was a staff nurse at St. Vincent Medical Center in Toledo, patient care coordinator at St. Charles Hospital in Oregon and director of medical/surgical oncology at Flower Memorial Hospital in Toledo. She also worked as a nurse in Illinois.
Sr. Podobnik was a director of nursing in Illinois and director of health and wellness for the Joliet Franciscans in addition to her duties at the Joliet Medical Quick Care Department. In 1999 she was appointed director of nursing at Our Lady of Angels Retirement Home.
Presently, she serves as director of the pharmaceutical assistance program at Will County Community Health Center.
Sister Rosemary Winter, 50 years
Sr. Winter, a native of Toledo, attended Toledo Immaculate Conception grade school and St. Francis Academy (now Joliet Catholic Academy) in Joliet. She earned her bachelor’s degree at the College of St. Francis.
She ministered in the field of education for 44 years, teaching in Headstart, pre-school, kindergarten and elementary grades and serving as a principal in Illinois and Alabama.
She currently serves the congregation at Our Lady of Angels Retirement Home where she is a caregiver for the sister residents. She also serves the congregation as a local chapter group coordinator.
“I loved teaching and working with children, especially third-graders,” she says. “I found this to be rewarding. I found the children to be so creative and eager to learn.”
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Last Updated on Friday, 06 August 2010 20:51 |
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Middle School Rally
Click the image above to watch a video about the first Diocese of Toledo Middle School Rally March 24.
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