DUBUQUE, Iowa – Sister Mary Francile Luking, BVM, 92, died May 7 at Caritas Center in Dubuque. Burial took place in the Mount Carmel Cemetery, Dubuque. She would have celebrated her diamond jubilee in September.
In the Diocese of Jackson, Sister Luking was principal at Jackson Christ the King Elementary School and served for many years as Montessori school volunteer in Jonestown, Miss.
She is survived by a sister, Anne Luking, Louisville, Ky., nieces, nephews and the Sisters of Charity, BVM, with whom she shared life for 74 years.
SALTILLO, Mexico – Father Benny Piovan, pastor of the San Miguel mission in Saltilllo, Mexico, died early Monday, August 4, of an apparant heart attack.
Father Piovan retired as a priest of the Archdiocese of New Orleans in 2006, but decided to take on the job as pastor in Saltillo, where he pastored seven parish churches as well as dozens of rancho churches serving some of the poorest people in Mexico.
Father Piovan founded Ascension of Our Lord Parish in Laplace, Louisiana. In fact, he celebrated his 50th anniversary of ordination there in August. “I love Laplace, but this is where I need to be and I thank God every day for giving me the opportunity to serve Him through the poor of Saltillo,” said Father Piovan during his anniversary Mass.
Arrangements were still pending as of the time of press time.