Since 1916, over 500 women dedicated their lives to living in joyful servanthood as Sylvania Franciscans. Here is an ever-growing collection of their stories.
The Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania, Ohio are engaged in such diverse ministries as education, health care, social services, religious education, media, law, art, parish and retreat ministries, and spiritual direction. Click on a Sisters’ story below to learn more about their service.
Five Sisters, 98 lives, one new ministry
1918 Pandemic Launched Sisters’ Ministry in Medicine Covid-19 is the second pandemic weathered by Sylva nia Franciscans. The Influenza of 1918 swept the world just two years after Mother M. Adelaide and 24 Rochester Franciscans […]
Sister Pam’s Very Franciscan Call
Sister Pamela Nosbusch in 1993 on her Reception Day; with Sister Barb Vano, OSF. Sometimes learning where God needs you to be in life requires good listening skills. Clarinet player Sister Pam Nosbusch discovered that […]
Sister Gretchen Faerber’s Blue-Ribbon Ministry
Sister Gretchen Faerber Hildegarde (Sister Gretchen) Faerber grew up the seventh out of ten children in New Ulm, Minnesota and she entered the Sylvania Franciscan community in 1956. Before arriving in Sylvania, she stayed in […]
Sister Ann Lorette offers a hand to hold
Sister Ann Lorette Piekarz is a blessing sent by God to the many individuals living at Rosary Care Center who are impacted by the isolating symptoms of dementia and Alzheimer’s. Several days each week you’ll […]
Sister Geraldine Paluszak – How did we DO all of that?
Sister Geraldine remembers the year she taught 75 first graders in the morning – and another 75 first graders in the afternoon at St. Ann’s in Cincinnati. She was part of a group known as the Angels from Sylvania.
Sister Margaret Zacharias – Discovering the Diamonds of Poverty
Sister Marge is Franciscan in mind, heart and soul. She has two master’s degrees, six belts in Tae Kwon Do and she spent nearly a decade living, in the spirit of St. Francis, among the poor in Brazil and then Africa.
