Religious jubilees
SISTERS OF NOTRE DAME DE NAMUR
80 years:
Sister Ann Maureen King loved teaching-from the first graders at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School in Redwood City and Notre Dame School in San Francisco to the teenagers at Notre Dame High School in Belmont. Summers were spent at the College of Notre Dame instructing new Sisters in educational psychology and teaching methods. Sister AnnMaureen now resides at Mercy Retirement and Care Center in Oakland.
60 years:
Sister Aileen Marie Bermingham, as a new teacher in 1952, fell in love with her fifth-grade class at Moreland Notre Dame School in Watsonville. Later she would enjoy teaching middle and high school grades in St. Mark's Parish School in Seattle, Notre Dame School in Chico and Notre Dame high schools in San Francisco and San Jose. She now tutors at Sacred Heart Nativity School in San Jose.
Sister Avelina (Guadalupe Julie) Garcia entered the novitiate after high school graduation and for years served as cook, housekeeper and assistant nurse in the large SND communities including San Francisco and Belmont. Sister Avelinae earned a master's degree in religious education at USF and continues to serve as a religious education coordinator in Watsonville.
Sister Lois Hagerty has been an elementary school teacher in Notre Dame schools from Covina, California, to Portland, Oregon, including Notre Dame Elementary in San Francisco. Sister Lois, a proud San Franciscan, does not hesitate to tell you that her grandfather was one of the City's first fire chiefs.
Sister Teresa Ann Leahy entered the novitiate after graduating from Notre Dame High School in San Jose and was soon teaching sixth grade at Notre Dame Elementary in San Francisco. Sister Theresa's ministry for the past 30 years has been at Moreland Notre Dame School in Watsonville.
Sister Celeste Pagliarulo's teaching assignments took her to Catholic schools in California, Oregon and Hawaii, including Sacred Heart in Salinas, Star of the Sea in Honolulu and Mission Dolores in San Francisco. "My love is the ministry I'm doing now as a Eucharistic minister at O'Connor Hospital," she said.
Sister Cecilia Wallace taught and was principal in Notre Dame elementary schools throughout California, Oregon and Washington, including at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School in Redwood City. Former student Rita Gleason remembers, "Sister Cecilia modeled what I try to do now in my role as a principal: be attentive to one student at a time."
50 years:
Sister Georgianna (Priscilla Jo) Coonis taught elementary classes in schools in Salinas, Santa Clara, Covina and Honolulu. During the ‘90s she used her administration skills with the "I Have a Dream" program at the James Flood School in Menlo Park. Since 2003 Sister Georgi has been principal at Resurrection School in Sunnyvale.
Sister Anne (Mary Terence) Locke taught at many schools in California including Notre Dame High School in San Francisco. After completing her degree in chemistry and biology, she taught science and served as dean of students at Notre Dame High School, San Jose. In 1982 she went to work for Catholic Charities in San Jose.
Sister Kathleen "Kay" McMullen taught elementary grades in schools in Salinas, Chico, Carmel, Yuba City, and Belmont. In 1979 her work shifted to social justice and women's issues in both Washington, D.C., and San Francisco, including working for the Commission on Social Justice for the San Francisco Archdiocese. In the fall she will begin a mission assignment helping Sisters in Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Sister Jean (Mary Jean) Stoner's first assignment after college was teaching a lively second grade class later, teaching math at Notre Dame High School, San Jose. She also taught at Notre Dame High School, Belmont, later serving as vice principal. While she has enjoyed all her ministries, she admits that none had as much impact as doing a "financial needs assessment" for the SND provinces in Africa and Latin America.
SISTER OF CHARITY, BVM
50 years:
Sister Barbara Gaul, BVM (Charles Mary) taught at St Paul High School, 1965-72, 1973-74. She is currently a regional representative for the BVM congregation, and lives in Brookfield, Ill.
Sister Anne Kendall, BVM (Robertine) was a librarian at St Paul Elementary School, 1990-92. She also worked in youth ministry at St Paul Parish, 1992-93. She was principal at St Monica Elementary School, 1994-2002. She is now retired and lives in Glendale.
Sister Margaret Lynn Lester, BVM (Ann Joseph) taught mathematics and computer literacy at St Paul High School, 1971-93, where her tremendous interest in computers began with the advent of the Apple IIe. "This was something new to learn, and I wanted to know all about it!" While at St. Paul, Sister Lynn worked to energize students through emerging technologies. Currently, she is an associate professor of education and director of assessment at Clarke College, Dubuque, Iowa.
Sister Mary Ann Zollmann, BVM (Clement Mary) taught religion at St Paul High School, 1973-81. She is currently the president of the BVM congregation, and resides in Dubuque, Iowa. She shares, "It is said that one leaves one's heart in San Francisco. Part of mine is always there with the students I taught and learned from at St. Paul High School, the faculty who were inspirational colleagues, and the devoted people of St. Paul Parish. Those years live on in me."
SISTERS OF THE HOLY NAMES OF JESUS AND MARY
75 years:
Sister Carletta Marie Anderson taught at St. Joseph in 1938-1939 and at Marin Catholic in the 1950s.
Sister Mary Louise Guenther (Sister Regina Rose) taught at St. Anselm more than 70 years ago, then at St. Cecilia, St. Joseph, and St. Monica.
Sister Theresa Rose Valerga taught at St. Cecilia and St. Monica in the 1940s.
70 years:
Sister Marygene Heller (Sister Stephen Mary) taught at St. Monica, then at St. Joseph.
Sister Emily Marie McKernan was at St. Anselm in 1943-1944.
Sister Mary Nessi (Sister Mary Theophane) taught at St. Anselm, St. Joseph, St. Cecilia, St. Monica and Marin Catholic.
60 years:
Sister Frances Franey (Sister Maria Anna) taught at St. Cecilia from 1963-1966.
Sister Patricia Kenny (Sister Mary Bartholomew) served at St. Cecilia and Marin Catholic through the 1950s, then at Sacred Heart and St. John of God in the 1990s, followed by administrative service at Presentation Convent in 1996-1997.
Sister Juliana Lucey (Sister Mary Aloyse) taught at St. Cecilia in 1957-1958.
Sister Joan Frances Ortega was at St. Anselm in 1956 and Marin Catholic from 1958-1960.
50 years:
Sister Dolores Barling (Mary Dolores) returned to the Archdiocese from Southern California in 2008 to accept a music position at St. Robert in San Bruno. Her previous experience in the Archdiocese was teaching at St. Anselm in 1962. She lives in Daly City.
Sister Margaret Kinzie (Sister Maureen Assumpta) is a native San Franciscan who has taught and directed choir at St. Cecilia School since 1978. For many summers she also worked in the Sisters' infirmary.
Sister Dianne Nixon (Sister Brian Anthony), Pacifica, taught mostly in Southern California until she transitioned into parish ministry in 1989, first at St. Raphael Parish and, since 2000, at St. Peter in Pacifica. She has coordinated RCIA, liturgy planning, training of liturgical ministers, and adult faith formation. She was a board member of Marin Interfaith Homeless Chaplaincy and has been involved in community organizing with Peninsula Interfaith Action in San Mateo County.
Sister Elizabeth Adams (Sister Clare Margaret) who began playing the piano at St. Thomas Parish when she was in seventh grade and was a liturgical minister at St. Patrick's Seminary in Menlo Park.
Sister Sharon Francis (Sister Judith Marie), who taught at St. Cecilia in the mid-1960s. For 32 years Sister Sharon was an award-winning high school biology teacher in Southern California. For 14 years her ministry has involved working as Peace and Justice co-coordinator and as a Justice and Peace team member in California for the Holy Names community.
From July 24, 2009 issue of Catholic San Francisco.
