Our 2023 Jubilarians
Congratulations to our 2023 Jubilarians. Click on any name below and it will take you to their individual stories.
75 Year Jubilarians
Sister Mary Frances Seeley
Sister M. Paula Bingert
60 Year Jubilarians
Sister Kathleen Rossman
Sister Odelia Kloc
Sister Margaret Hoffman
Sister Maria Pesavento
40 Year Jubilarian
Sister Grimaldina Oliveira dos Santos
25 Year Jubilarians
Sister Irmã Rita Cristina Lima dos Santos
Sister MaryAnn Jerkofsky
Sister Mary Frances Seeley
75 Year Jubilarian
Joliet has been my home for many years, beginning with my birth — the second oldest of six children. I lived in Joliet until I entered the convent and was assigned to other cities until 1975.
I was an elementary teacher and principal before transferring to Ft. Lauderdale where I was a guidance counselor at Cardinal Gibbons High School. While there, I was a volunteer at the Crisis Line of Palm Beach County and later became Assistant Director. That instilled in me a love for crisis line work in which I’ve been involved ever since. It presented the opportunity to serve the poor in the spirit of St. Francis. The poor we served were sometimes physically deprived, but also lacking in education, spirituality, and sometimes they were mentally ill. This ministry was the most life-giving to me. I believed that, “What you do for others, you do for Me.”
I went to public schools except for Grades 1, 3, and 5, so I had no special sister to inspire me. Fr. Francis Blum, O.Carm. picked up on a casual comment and I was in the convent a week later. For that I am eternally gratefully. Currently I am enjoying writing a book on the history and development of hotlines which began as a study of the laws that affect hotlines. I earned my Ph.D. at Northeastern University in Boston. I’ve traveled throughout the world attending conferences and lecturing in many countries. I’ve been fortunate enough to have been to every continent except Antarctica (the penguins don’t use telephones!).
God has been good. I’ve been blessed.
Sister M. Paula Bingert
75 Year Jubilarian
Sr. Paula was born Rosemary Bingert in Mansfield, Ohio, and our Sister Theolinda, was her aunt. So, there was no doubt once she made the choice after college to become a sister that it would be with the Joliet Franciscans.
There was also no choice in the matter of her name …that name should be Robert after Theolinda’s brother according to Theolinda. But as things played out, the name Paula came into the mix. ln Sister Eulogia’s college classroom, Rosemary started calling herself Sister Paula and Eulogia liked it. So when the names were announced at profession, Rosemary was to be Sister Paula.
For most of Sister Paula’s working years she was a librarian. She ministered in Chicago at St. Clement; in Joliet at the College of St. Francis and St. Francis Academy; in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, at Cardinal Gibbons High School and in Mansfield, Ohio, at St. Peter Elementary School. During her later years, Sr. Paula volunteered at the House of Prayer Library, the archives and the postage stamp ministry.
Sister Kathleen Rossman
60 Year Jubilarian
To this day I am grateful for the ways my brother, Paul, and I were raised by our parents in Lima, Ohio. Hospitality, neighbors, education, faith and generosity are words that come to mind when I think of those years. My brother’s family of five children, along with their total of 12 children continue to deepen my gratitude.
When my family moved near Mansfield, I attended St. Peter’s High School where I encountered the Joliet Franciscans. I yearned to be a part of their spirit and mission, and after one year at the College of St. Francis, I entered the Congregation. With my bachelor degree in sociology and master’s in counseling psychology, I realized my passion lay in integrating psychology and faith with communication skills.
Both Congregation and Campus Ministry gave me many years to live out this passion. In Congregation Ministry I had the added bonus of getting to know our sisters. In Campus Ministry at the University of Dayton for 30 years, I had the privilege of leading grief support groups for students, of being a link with the GLBTQ+ community, and welcoming international students. I have been so very blessed by the Holy Spirit who I’m convinced works overtime in me!
In retirement I try to “Think (and pray) globally and act locally,” trusting in God’s presence, ever-grateful that I have been called where I need to be, a Joliet Franciscan, being a part of something bigger than I am.
Thank you, God…
Sister Odelia Kloc
60 Year Jubilarian
Odelia came from Chicago, Illinois, and met our sisters in school. When she knew she would like to be a sister she checked out a few communities, but the choice for her was easy. The Joliet Franciscans were the happiest and that’s what mattered to her. Throughout her years of ministry and even now she especially enjoys working with the elderly and enjoying music with them, whether that was in Brazil or in the States, the last years at Our Lady of Angels or where she lives now. To share music with the elderly and watch them respond to the music, singing or playing an instrument, is very rewarding.
She also enjoys watching musical presentations and reading books. When asked what she now cares about, prays about or puts her energy into she responded, “I pray about what is happening in our world especially the violence. I enjoy being attentive to the needs of the elderly and being helpful.”
Sister Margaret Hoffman
60 Year Jubilarian
Among the 60 year Jubilarians for the Sisters of Saint Francis of Mary Immaculate of Joliet, Illinois, for this year, is Sister Margaret Hoffman (formerly Sister Thomas More). Sister Margaret was born in Bexley, Ohio, and graduated from Saint Thomas the Apostle Grade School, Saint Mary of the Springs Academy, College of Saint Francis, Joliet, Illinois, with a bachelor’s degree in English, and The Ohio State University with a master’s degree in English.
Sister’s teaching career began in September of 1965 at Saint Francis Academy, Joliet, Illinois, where she taught for two years, followed by eight years at Saint Thomas Aquinas High School in Louisville, Ohio, 15 years at Bishop Watterson High School in Columbus, and 32 years at Saint Charles Preparatory School in Bexley, Ohio, where she currently teaches English and co-ordinates the liturgical celebrations.
Sister Margaret is the daughter of Catherine Duffy Hoffman and John Valentine Hoffman, deceased, and has eight brothers and sisters, six of whom live in the Columbus area and two of whom live in the Boston area, all with their respective spouses and children. She has 25 nieces and nephews, 27 great nieces and nephews, and a great, great nephew and niece. Sister Margaret is the family genealogist and enjoys reading and writing in her spare time.
A quote from Sr. Margaret: “The motto of the Franciscans, Primo unctio et postea speculatio, was liberally translated by one of my mentors early in my community life as meaning, “The one who sees the problem is anointed to solve it.” It is this advice that has empowered me in my experience as a Franciscan woman for these sixty years. Decisions call for zeal and enthusiasm which for me results in the joy that informs the lives of those with whom I have walked this journey.”
Sister Maria Pesavento
60 Year Jubilarian
Daughter of Theresa (Fassola) and Stephen Pesavento, I was born and raised in Joliet, Illinois. After attending two different grade schools (Sacred Heart and St. Thaddeus), I received my high school education at St. Francis Academy and was a member of the first Freshman class in the new building on Larkin Avenue. It was there that I met our sisters and experienced how they lived Franciscan life. Their joy, care for each other and care for us, their students, was evident and I wanted to be part of that life. Hence, the September after high school graduation, I became a postulant and my religious life journey began.
My ministry through the years has been varied. I have been a teacher and school administrator. I served my Congregation for eighteen years in various roles: Assistant Treasurer, Counselor/Coordinator/General Treasurer and President. I was CEO/Administrator of Our Lady of Angels Retirement Home and worked in the Joliet Catholic Academy Business Office. I have enjoyed each of my ministries throughout these years. Whether ministering to teenagers, our Sisters or to the seniors placed in my care, I have experienced enjoyment and fulfillment.
My personal interests include reading, working crossword and other puzzles, cooking and watching sports, especially the Chicago White Sox and Notre Dame Football.
Currently, I continue to serve my congregation as Local Coordinator for thirteen Sisters and help where and when I am able. The gift of being “retired” is having more time for prayer, contemplation and relaxation.
Irmã Grimaldina Oliveira dos Santos
40 Year Jubilarian
I was born in a small town in the interior of the State of Goiás, called Montevideo—small but immense in its potential to make me a happy child. When I was about eight years old my parents separated and I began a long journey of homesickness and family. God, in his infinite goodness, placed two angels in my path, Tia Carolina and Tio Armando, who raised me from 8 to 22 years old when I entered the Convent.
It’s amazing how God takes care of me. Without much difficulty, I soon adapted to conventual life. Little by little, I felt a sense of belonging that led me to my first vows.
Today, looking back, my heart is filled with tenderness, joy and gratitude for having had and still have the opportunity to live with so many wonderful and spectacular sisters. I am a happy consecrated woman, and every day I make a humble prayer to the Lord of my life.
Thanks! Thank you for being so kind and taking care of me. I experienced difficult days with my health but the Lord, my sisters and my family were always with me.
Irmã Rita Cristina Lima dos Santos
25 Year Jubilarian
Sister Rita Cristina is from Morrinhos, Goiás, Brazil. She was attracted to the Franciscan Charism as it was expressed in our sisters in Brazil. She particularly likes being a missionary and working directly with the people. Her pastoral work is about being present to people and giving testimony of this Franciscan life to them.
She also loves to travel with friends, enjoys dinners with community and celebrates life with her family.
When asked what she is doing right now she shared that she is studying for a Master’s Degree in Canon Law and being Spiritual Director for the leaders of the Group of Our Lady in Jataí, and involved in orientation of catechists in the Parish.
Sister MaryAnn Jerkofky
25 Year Jubilarian
In looking back over my life, it seems that uncommon choices have played a big part. It started with my father. Although my extended family lived in a part of Texas dominated by Czech culture, he became a Navy dentist. That meant that we moved frequently before it became popular. Thus we learned early to be flexible because there was no one way to do things. In pursuing a nursing degree at the University of Texas, I was introduced to scientific research. Although there were few women in the field, I went on to get a PhD degree in Virology at Baylor College of Medicine and spent the next 26 years doing research with viruses. I was successful, having my own lab and graduate students. But something was missing; there were parts of me that were not being used.
While serving as a volunteer faculty member of the American University of Les Cayes in Haiti, I met a Joliet Franciscan sister, Miriam Clare Rosler, and everything changed.
On a visit to Sr. Miriam Clare in Joliet, I heard the call to become a Joliet Franciscan at a time when few women were entering religious congregations. But in 1995, at the age of 55, I entered. I immediately discovered that the Franciscan charism of Incarnational Spirituality resonated deeply in me and supported the insights I had from my scientific background. Community is the charism of Religious Life. But it is difficult to live, as I learned from trying to live in various situations. I also learned that salvation is given, not to individuals, but to a community, so it is worth the effort. And I learned that the gift to follow threads from various sources to form a concept can be done with spiritual, as well as scientific topics, and I learned to write prayer services that can be shared. The Pascal Mystery is always a factor and as physical limitations increase, I find that I am being asked to give up control and surrender to you the designs of the whimsical God who provided all of the previous choices.