Franciscan sisters celebrate jubilees

In the tradition of the Catholic Church, the word “Jubilee” is used to designate an anniversary year.  Each year the Sisters of St. Francis of Dubuque honor jubilarians at a weekend of celebrations at Mount St. Francis Center.
 
Double Diamond—70 Years
Sisters Dorothy Hartz, Mary Clare O’Toole, Mary Lou Reisch and Ann Marie Weiler.
 
Diamond—60 Years
Sisters Mary Day, Meg Gemar, Virginia Heldorfer, Jeanette Homan, Cathy (Kate) Katoski, Janet Kreber and Mary Lechtenberg.

Sister Dorothy Hartz is the daughter of Fred and Francis Hartz and grew up in Leeds, a suburb of Sioux City, with her four siblings.  After graduation from Heelan High School in Sioux City, she joined the Sisters of St. Francis.  Sister received her bachelor’s degree from Briar Cliff, Sioux City, and taught in the congregation’s schools.  She also was a social worker for St. Mary’s Home, Dubuque, and Catholic Charities in the Archdiocese of Dubuque.  Sister also served as the congregation’s driver for 32 years.   She retired in 2011 and lives at Clare House at Mount St. Francis Center.  “All is gift,” said Sister Dorothy of her jubilee.

Sister Mary Clare O’Toole is the daughter of William and Clare O’Toole.  She was raised in Sioux City, with her brother, Joseph, and graduated from Heelan High School.  She has a bachelor’s degree from Briar Cliff University, Sioux City; a master’s degree from the University of Notre Dame, Indiana; and a PhD from Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona. Sister taught in the areas of science and mathematics at St. Mary High, Remsen; Wahlert Catholic High School, Dubuque; Heelan Catholic High School, Sioux City; and at Briar Cliff University.  She served on the congregations governing board as council member and later major superior.  She also was the congregational treasurer and worked alongside Sister Margaret Wick and Hoffman Planning, Design & Construction Inc. to design and build Clare House.
 
Sister Mary Lou (Mechtilde) Reisch, a native of Dubuque born to Albert and Lucille Reisch, entered Mount St. Francis after completing her junior year at Immaculate Conception Academy.  Her teaching in elementary schools of Iowa occurred in the small towns of Pocahontas, LaMotte, Bancroft, Templeton, Cascade, and Stacyville where she always felt “at home away from home.”  In 1994 she returned to Dubuque where she began 17 years of ministry at Holy Family Hall, first as a housekeeper and later as a personal services coordinator.  Sister enjoys living at Francis House, volunteering in various ways and joining her two siblings for a monthly nostalgic, “get-together.” “My little ‘YES’ of 70 years ago is now a big ‘THANK YOU,’ said Sister Mary Lou of her jubilee.

Sister Mary Day, a native of Redfield, S.D., was born to Lucille and Dean Day.  She received her bachelor’s degree from Briar Cliff University, Sioux City; both a master’s and a DMA in vocal performance from the University of Iowa, Iowa City; and a diploma of study from the Institute of Musical Study, Graz, Austria.  Sister Mary taught at Bishop Garrigan High School, Algona; Beckman High School, Dyersville;  served as the Director of Music at St. Timothy’s Catholic Church in Blaine, Minnesota; and was chair of the department of music at Briar Cliff University, Sioux City.  Most recently, she teaches ELL and mentors immigrant women. “Jubilee is a time to recall the blessings of the past 60 years where I have been mentored by and served with many gifted and dedicated women religious,” said Sister Mary.

Sister “Meg” Gemar is the daughter of the late Elmer E. and Doris M. Gemar.  She was born in Seattle, Washington, graduated from Springfield, South Dakota High School in 1962, then went on to get degrees in biology, chemistry, anatomy/physiology/theology, and Earth Literacy.  She entered the congregation in 1964 and taught in high school at Aquin, Cascade, and later at Columbus in Waterloo.  She then moved to Dubuque to serve as the community minister for the congregation.  She was a volunteer teacher at Roberta Kuhn Center in Dubuque for eight years teaching a cosmology class.  Sister Meg still loves to learn, read, walk, have fun, and make other people laugh.  “I have been richly blessed by a loving God with my family and friends, with our Franciscan Sisters and classmates, with many students over the course of my career, with neighbors wherever I lived, and with the staff at our Motherhouse.  I am grateful every day for the life I have been given,” said Sister Meg of her jubilee.

A native of Bancroft, Sister Virginia “Ginny” Heldorfer, born to Erwin and Julia Heldorfer, grew up with eight brothers and sisters.  Franciscan Sisters were her teachers at St. John’s grade and high school as well as at Briar Cliff University in Sioux City. She taught in Iowa at St. Michael, Kingsley; Xavier, Dyersville; St. Catherine-St. Mary’s, Oyens-Remsen; Sacred Heart, Sioux City; and was principal at Sacred Heart, Monticello.  Her pastoral ministry positions were at St. Dennis, Madison, Wisconsin, and St. Wenceslaus, New Prague, Minnesota.  Sister Ginny also served as the congregation’s Vocation Minister.  She currently serves as a spiritual director and medical companion.  “These 60 years have been filled with delightful relationships, adventures and opportunities that have expanded my world view. I am filled with joy and gratitude as I celebrate with my friends, family, and my Franciscan Sisters.”

Sister Jeanette Homan was born in LeMars, Iowa, to the late Gerald and Armella Homan.  As the oldest sibling, of six sisters and four brothers, she helped on the Homan Jersey Farm near Remsen, Iowa.  In August 1965, she was received as a member of the Dubuque Franciscans and professed final vows in 1972.  She graduated from Briar Cliff College in 1969 and also obtained two master’s degrees.  Sister taught at schools in Iowa and Illinois; served in parish ministry in Iowa and Minnesota; was campus minister at Loras College; and was the Director of Faith Formation for All Saints Parish in LeMars.  “I am happy to be able to celebrate our 60th Jubilee!  God is so good!”

Sister Cathy “Kate” Katoski is a native of St. Mary’s Parish, Waterloo.  Kate has a BA degree from Briar Cliff University, a master of theological studies from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, and a doctor of ministry degree from the University of St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein, Illinois.  She has served in ministry at Briar Cliff University in Sioux City; Arch/Dioceses of Dubuque and Joliet, Illinois; the National Pastoral Life Center in New York City; and various positions of service within the congregation since 1992.  “I’ve been blessed by a faithful God to share life and love with my classmates and Franciscan sisters, family and friends over these 60 years. Really, 60 years?”

Sister Janet Kreber is the daughter of Arnold and Lorraine Kreber of Granville, Iowa, and attended St. Joseph’s Elementary and Spalding High School.  She has three brothers and two sisters.  Sister Janet served as a homemaker in Iowa at Ashton, and Manchester, and Melrose Park in Illinois.  After receiving her BA from Cardinal Stritch in Milwaukee and a master of arts in special education from the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, she taught in Iowa at Dysart-Geneseo, Pocahontas, and Pekin Community School.   Sister Janet currently volunteers at the Bargain Center, takes persons to appointments, brings Communion to the homebound, and donates platelets every three weeks in Sioux City.   “As a Franciscan, I have been stretched by travel and experiences of different cultures, things I doubt I would have done if I were not a member of this community,” said Sister Janet.

Sister Mary Lechtenberg lived in Buchanan and Bremer Counties in Iowa with her parents, Lawrence and Jeanette (Pins) Lechtenberg, and four siblings.  She entered Mount St. Francis after graduating from Waverly-Shell Rock High School.  Sister Mary earned a BA from Briar Cliff University and taught in Cascade and Chicago.  After earning an M.Ed in religious education from Boston College, she coordinated parish religious education.  She also ministered in the Dioceses of Sioux City and Des Moines in adult religious formation, as the Vocation Minister for the congregation, as a Pastoral Associate at St. Ludmila Parish, Cedar Rapids, and as a vice-president on the Franciscan Leadership Team.  She currently serves part-time on the Pastoral Care team at Clare House and volunteers with MercyOne Board, Steeple Square, and the Tri-State Coalition against Human Trafficking  in Dubuque.  “What an opportunity this has been to live the Franciscan life while serving with the People of God in these years since Vatican II!”