National Catholic Sisters Week ~ Polished Diamonds

Greetings from our sisters celebrating 70 years of profession,

Each day of National Catholic Sisters Week, we will be sharing the story of our Jubilarian Sisters, those celebrating significant anniversaries in religious life!

 Sister Jane Frances was born in Farisita, CO, into a very religious family—three older half-sisters were vowed religious. Her faith was nurtured by her home parish in Gardner, CO. It was the influence of the Sisters who taught vacation school in Gardner that brought S. Jane Frances to Yankton in 1941.

After first profession in 1944 she was sent to work at Sacred Heart Hospital which paved the way for her mission in nursing, a profession she learned “on the job.” She was a founding member of the Watertown community in 1959. Her heart’s desire was to serve the poor and underprivileged Spanish and Mexican people, so S. Jane Frances volunteered as a missionary to Guatemala for two years. On her return, she continued her education and graduated with degrees leading to nursing registration. In June 1977 she transferred her stability back to Sacred Heart Monastery in Yankton and resumed serving the Hispanic people in Colorado, including religious education and pastoral care in parishes, nursing homes, and jails.

Of special memory was the summer of 1995 when she was privileged to spend a month in Rome for a Benedictine Monastic experience. She writes, “Life as a Yankton Benedictine has been a tremendous fulfillment in my ministries as a health provider, serving the poor, the incarcerated, and preparing young people for confirmation and Holy Eucharist. How can I begin to thank God for the graces afforded me to carry out His Holy will.”

 Sister Yvonne came to Yankton from Lefor, ND, where her parents made their home after moving to this country from Hungary. She says that she was surrounded by Benedictine Sisters and monks all her life. The second oldest of eleven children, S. Yvonne was engaged in domestic work thinking at 18 years of age she was past the age for acceptance to a convent. She was set right when she became more informed and so became a postulant on December 8, 1942.

During her years as a Benedictine Sister S. Yvonne was engaged primarily in the Ecclesiastical Vestment Department and domestic work at the Bishop’s House in Sioux Falls and at the chaplain’s residence at the Monastery. S. Yvonne’s work with the aged began when assigned to St. Thomas More in Canon City, CO. in 1972. She received her degree in Social Work from Mount Marty College and her ministry with the aged continued on several mission assignments. She especially enjoyed her five years at Albion, NE where she was engaged in parish visiting and assisted with religious education.

Of her 70 years in Benedictine living, Sr. Yvonne says, “What I treasure most is the Sisters learning to live together, seeing how they do so much for one another. Monastic life just grows on a person when you see what is being done.”

Tomorrow we will introduce their shining classmates...

Curious about more of our stories? Follow this link to our "Meet the Sisters" page. You can 'click' on different sisters names to find out more about their story, our vows, and living as a Benedictine Sister! Or follow the "Vocation" link at the top of our blog to request more information!