Sisters Margaret Hoffman and Lucille Krippel were recently honored for the dedicated service at their varied ministries. Both of these sisters are members of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate, more commonly known as the Joliet Franciscan Sisters.

Sister Margaret Hoffman, OSF was recently honored by the Diocese of Columbus (Ohio) Department of Education for her dedication to Catholic Education.

A native of Columbus, Sister Margaret has been a high school English teacher for more than 50 years. When she first entered the Congregation, her first teaching assignment was at St. Francis Academy (now Joliet Catholic Academy- JCA) in Joliet followed by St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Louisville, Ohio.

Sr. Margaret was then assigned to the Diocese of Columbus where she continued to teach high school English. She has been at her present ministry, St. Charles Preparatory High School in Columbus, Ohio, for the past 25 years, and counting!

In addition to her teaching duties, Sister Margaret also prepares the school’s liturgies and serves as the local chapter coordinator for several of the Joliet Franciscan Sisters who live in Ohio and Michigan.

Congratulations, Sister Margaret!

Sister Lucille Krippel, OSF received the Sister Myra James Bradley Award by the Penrose-St. Francis Health Foundation. This annual award is given to an individual who has selflessly helped fulfill the mission of the Foundation.

Sister Lou, as she is called, served in schools for many years before being named the Administrator of Guardian Angel Home in Joliet, IL, 1971. She served at Guardian Angel until 1976. In 1980, Sister Lou moved to Colorado where she served in parish ministry for the Diocese of Colorado Springs. She then became the director of what is now Catholic Charities in that diocese. After returning to Joliet for a few years to serve as CEO of Joliet Catholic Academy (JCA), Sister Lou returned to Colorado and joined Penrose-St. Francis Health Services as the Director of Mission Effectiveness and Spiritual Care.

In 2007, she joined the planning committee for the John Zay Guest House and became the house manager a year later, a position she still holds today. Sister Lou has made the guest house a “home away from home,” a place of comfort, of healing and of love.

Congratulations, Sister Lucille!