Sister Jeanine is a daughter of the Diocese of Minneapolis, MN. She entered the Sylvania Franciscan community in 1949 and made first profession in 1951. Sister Jeanine entered the ministry of education, serving in Michigan, Ohio, Minnesota, Mississippi, and Texas from 1950-1988. After a period of renewal in St. Paul, MN, Sister returned to Ohio and served as a Home Health Aide, Finance Office Aide, driver, tutor, volunteer, and Umbria Receptionist.

As a young Sister on retreat, I began praying a simple question, “Lord, what do you want of me?” That prayer has guided every assignment since. Often, it meant sitting with someone who was carrying more than they could manage and offering a listening ear. In Texas in 1985, I worked beside a third-grade teacher on crutches who endured unkind treatment with steady dignity. In Mississippi, I accompanied a principal grieving her mother and struggling with a pastor who dismissed her. Sometimes my role was simply to be present. Later, at Umbria Hall, I greeted visitors and offered a quiet blessing as they passed. Over time, that small gesture became my daily ministry—steady, simple, and faithful.

Sister Jeanine spends her free time engaged in needle arts, diligently cross-stitching exquisite patterns throughout the months, then donating the finished work to the Sylvania Franciscan Gala auction. Sister enjoys being out in nature, praying, doing projects for Haiti, serving as the composting and recycling chief at Our Lady of Grace, and laughing with her Sisters and friends.

Sister Ann Carmen was born in Modica, Sicily, raised in the Saints Peter and Paul Parish of Sandusky, OH, and entered the Sylvania Franciscans in 1963. Sister made first profession in 1966 and proceeded to “learn from my Sisters how to bring a song of joy and love to all those who need it.”

Sister taught grades 3 – 8 until 1973 and then taught music and religion at Cardinal Stritch for over a decade. She served as Vocations Director for the community, Liturgist and Campus Ministry Director at Lourdes University, and as VP of Mission & Ministry and Director of Liturgy from 2000-2020 at Lourdes University.

Sister Ann Carmen reflects, “It’s difficult to pick just one moment over 60+ years of Franciscan life and ministry. What I think of instead is how the themes of music and beauty have been woven through these years. Music has taken me into so many parishes and schools, playing for liturgies, prayer services, and programs. I’ve been blessed with former students who continue to reach out and share how their experiences with music became a way for them to become confident and learn that they were capable of more than they ever imagined.

“I give thanks to the cast of characters for the life-giving memories … of ice cream scoops, shared breakfasts, prayer gatherings, our Franciscan celebrations, outreach opportunities around world issues, mission moments, and times to reconnect with the past and move it forward.”

For those who know Sister Ann Carmen, this favorite quote, a line from Dag Hammarskjold’s journal, Markings, rings true to her spirit: “For all that has been – thanks! For all that shall be – yes!”

In third grade at Our Lady Queen of Heaven School in Toledo, OH, Sister Faith’s teacher asked her if she had ever considered becoming a Sister. “I never forgot that question. It was nurtured by the faith of my family and the example of the Sisters who taught me. The answer to the question eventually became a desire that has stayed with me through the years. It proved to be the first of many desires that God placed in my heart,” Sister M. Faith remembers.

Sister made first profession in 1966 and began the ministry of education, teaching grades 1 and 2 in OH and MN from 1965-1981. Sister Faith then served in the role of Formation and Novice Director at the Motherhouse until 1987 and as a Pastoral Associate at St. Pius X Parish in Toledo until 1990.

From 1989 – 1997, Sister Faith ministered at Bethany House as the Assistant Director and later Director. Sister became a Chaplain and ministered at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor, MI from 2000-2020. She currently works in Pastoral Care and as a volunteer with two parishes in Michigan.

“Some of the desires God put in my heart included teaching little ones, assisting those who were in formation discerning their own call, serving survivors of domestic violence at Bethany House and supporting the sick and dying as a Chaplain. I truly believe God called me to each diverse role because I always found unfailing grace and an unexpected awareness of God’s presence in those I served. God has certainly blessed my heart’s desires and being a Franciscan Sister has drawn me closer to God. I’m so grateful,” Sister Faith says.

Sister M. Fidelis entered the Sylvania Franciscans from her home parish of St. Raphael in Garden City, MI after eighth grade. Sister made first profession in 1966.

Sister taught grades 1-7 until 1977. She became the Youth Minister for Northeast Regional CCD in Minneapolis, MN, transitioning to Pastoral work in 1983 and serving in Ohio, Louisiana, Mississippi, Michigan, and Virginia until 1999. After a two-year renewal and sabbatical while attending Catholic Theological Union, Sister was ready to go on mission, spending the years 2001-2014 serving the people of Haiti.

She remembers her first trip to Haiti vividly. As she was preparing to leave her ministry in Virginia, she decided to join a diocesan trip to their twin parish in Haiti. Children greeted their vehicle by running along the road asking for candy. “Apparently all Haitians have a sweet tooth,” she laughs. She found the trip deeply rewarding, but she had plans already to work with the poor in the deep south in the States. “The trip leader and a couple on the trip told me later that they knew then that I would be returning to Haiti. A year and a half later I did – and stayed for 13 years!”

Since Sister’s return to the Motherhouse in 2017, she’s volunteered in the community and authored “Called Forth,” which details her experiences and ministry in Haiti. In her free time, Sister Fidelis loves reading and getting outdoors. You’ll find her on the pickleball court, bicycling, walking with friends, visiting the park, and on or in any water she can find.

Sister Janice Marie made first profession in 1966.

As Sister Janice Marie celebrates her 60th year of religious life, she offers this advice: “Be kind. Be kind to whomever – two-legged, four-legged, no-legged, winged. Be kind to trees, flowers, water, grass… every piece of God’s creation. Be kind whenever you can, every moment of every day. Kindness blesses the giver and the receiver. It’s that simple. Be kind.”

I remembered the day I entered the convent and joined my memorable ‘crowd’ – Francine, Marueen, Cathy, and Carmela – now known as Sisters Faith, Magdala, Fidelis, and Ann Carmen. These women have been and are living moments of God’s grace for me. They are intelligent, creative, dedicated, compassionate and kind. No matter where we are or what we are doing, we are linked. They are like a soft mattress I can fall back on for comfort and support. I am greatly blessed that God placed these “Sister moments” in my life. Do Gratias!

Sister Magdala is a daughter of Saints Peter and Paul in Sandusky, OH entered the community in 1960 and she made first profession in 1966.

Sister Magdala taught grades 1 and 4 until 1970, then returned to school to study nursing. She ministered from 1973-1978 as an RN and the Associate Director of Nursing at St. Jude Hospital in Brenham, TX, transferred to Holy Cross Hospital in Detroit, MI until 1987, and spent a decade as the Director of Nursing at Providence Care Center in Sandusky, OH. Sister returned to Sylvania to serve as the Director of Nursing and Staff Development at Rosary Care Center for a few years and, from 2004-2006, she ministered as the Clinic Coordinator for the Neighborhood Health Association. Sister Magdala transitioned to Pastoral Care Director of Trinity Medical Center West in Steubenville, OH, serving from 2006-2015.

Since 2015, Sister Magdala has ministered as an artist at Alverno Studio, taking classes and creating an impressive body of work that includes 2-D and 3-D pieces. In March 2021, Sister Magdala unveiled a life size sculpture of Mother M. Adelaide Sandusky that she created with the help of Lourdes University instructor Patrick DuBreuil. “It commemorates our 100 years as Sylvania Franciscans. Positioned at the center of campus in front of the Portiuncula, overlooking all that Mother Adelaide envisioned and brought to life, to me it celebrates a graced vision of all that has been and all that will be,” Sister says.

“I still say the prayer, ‘Lord make me a religious according to your own heart; meek, humble and obedient, a soul of meditation and of prayer, insensible to contempt, to injury, to earthly things and sensible only to the goods of the Holy Spirit,’” says Sister Magdala. But, she adds, “In recent years I have taken to a saying from St. Padre Pio: “Pray, hope, & don’t worry.”