School Sisters of St. Francis celebrate jubilees

By Michael O’Loughlin
MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Thirty-five School Sisters of St. Francis of the United States Province celebrated milestone anniversaries of service as women religious on June 15, 2024. A Jubilee Mass was celebrated in St. Joseph Chapel at the sisters’ motherhouse in Milwaukee.

In addition, six lay women in Associate Relationship with the community celebrated their 25, 40, and 50-year jubilees.

Five sisters who are each celebrating 60, 70, 80, and 85 years of consecrated life have significant service in the Diocese of Jackson.

60 Years – Sister Bernadette Engelhaupt (St. Mary, Iuka) and Sister Kathleen McNulty (St. Francis School, Yazoo City and CADET School, Holly Springs)
Sister Bernadette Engelhaupt was born in Spencer, Nebraska. She has a bachelor’s degree from Alverno College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and a master’s degree from Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois. In the Diocese of Jackson, she served as the parish minister at St. Mary Parish in Iuka (2002–2009).

Sister Kathleen McNulty was born in Blue Island, Illinois. She has a bachelor’s degree from Alverno College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and a master’s degree from Colorado State University in Fort Collins. In the Diocese of Jackson, she taught at St. Francis School in Yazoo City (1968–1969) and CADET School in Holly Springs (1969–1975 and 1976–1978).

70 Years – Sister Ramona Ann Schmidtknecht (St. Mary School, CADET School, Child Care Center, Holy Family School, Holly Springs and Sacred Heart Southern Missions, Walls)
Sister Ramona Ann Schmidtknecht was born in Galesville, Wisconsin. She has a bachelor’s degree from Alverno College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and a master’s degree from St. Louis University in Missouri. In the Diocese of Jackson, she has served in Holly Springs as a teacher at St. Mary School (1963–1969); teacher at CADET School (1969–1973 and 1975-1995); director of Child Care Center (1973–1975); and food service manager at Christopher Care Center (1999–2001). At Holy Family School in Holly Springs, Sister has ministered as a teacher (1995-1999 and 2004-2016) food service manager of the early childhood center (2001-2004), volunteer and substitute teacher (2016-2024). Since 2016, Sister has also volunteered at the Sacred Heart Southern Missions Garden Café.

80 Years – Sister Michele Doyle (St. Francis High School, Yazoo City; State College, Jackson; Director of Religious Education and Lay Ministry Program, Diocese of Jackson; Director of Education at St. Francis Early Learning Center, Madison)
Sister Michele Doyle was born in Forest Park, Illinois. She has a bachelor’s degree from Alverno College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and master’s degrees from Loyola University in Chicago and the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis. In the Diocese of Jackson, she taught at St. Francis High School in Yazoo City (1949–1969 and 1973-1975) and State College in Jackson (1969–1975). She served the Diocese of Jackson as director of adult religious education (1975–1983) and in the diocese’s lay ministry program (2006-2021). She also served as director of education for St. Francis Assisi Parish in Madison (1991-2006).

85 Years – Sister Arlene Welding (St. Francis School, Yazoo City)
Sister Arlene Welding was born in Oakdale, Nebraska. She has a bachelor’s degree from Alverno College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and a master’s degree from the University of San Francisco. In the Diocese of Jackson, she taught at St. Francis School in Yazoo City (1953-1962).

Cards and donations in honor of sisters’ years of service may be mailed to each sister’s attention, c/o Jubilee Committee, School Sisters of St. Francis, 1545 S. Layton Blvd., Milwaukee, WI 53215.

Sister Dorothy Heiderscheit, OSF celebrates 60th jubilee

DUBUQUE, Iowa – Sister Dorothy Heiderscheit, OSF, a member of the Sisters of St. Francis, of Dubuque, Iowa, celebrated her Diamond Jubilee (60 years) on Sunday, June 23, at Mount St. Francis Center in Dubuque.

Sister Dorothy was born in Iowa. She received a bachelor’s degree from Briar Cliff University, Sioux City, Iowa, and Marycrest College in Davenport, Iowa; and a master’s degree from Tulane University, New Orleans.

Sister served at Region V Community Mental Health Center, Greenville, Mississippi, and was Director of Family Ministry at Catholic Charities from 1987-2000. She now resides at Mount St. Francis Center in Dubuque and serves as a facilitator and consultant for religious congregations.

“Community and ministry have been a blessing in my life. The gift of experiencing God in everyone I encounter and share life with is truly the Gospel coming alive. The joy of this Jubilee is deeply embedded in my gratitude for family, community and the People of God around the world who have touched my life,” she said of her Jubilee.

Cards may be sent to Sister Dorothy at 3390 Windsor Ave., Dubuque, IA 52001.