Eight Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth marked their golden jubilees with a combined celebration at the SCL Mother House, Leavenworth, Kan., on Sunday, June 22.
Renewing their vows during a Mass of Thanksgiving in Annunciation Chapel were Sisters Margaret Finch, Maureen Kehoe, Jean Lockett, Susan Rieke, Jean Marian Rilinger, Phyllis Stowell, Mary Ann Theisen and Renée Washut. A reception followed for family and friends.
· Sister Margaret Finch has ministered in elementary education, clinics for the uninsured and social services, including Mother-to-Mother Ministry and Alliance Against Family Violence in Leavenworth. She currently is an administrator at the SCL Mother House.
· Sister Maureen Kehoe has served in schools, libraries, a nursing home, senior housing, small trade school management and the former post office at the University of Saint Mary, Leavenworth. Today, she applies her pastoral, liturgical, musical and Spanish talents as a volunteer at Saint Joseph Hospital, Denver.
· Sister Jean Lockett served as a physical therapist in hospitals, at the SCL Mother House and in home health. She then earned a master’s degree in social work and began offering counseling services in Topeka, a ministry she continues today as a military and family life counselor at Fort Riley, Kan.
· Sister Susan Rieke has taught at high schools in Falls City, Neb., Helena, Mont., and Kansas City, Kan. For the past several years, she has been a professor of English at University of Saint Mary, Leavenworth, where she currently holds the McGilley Chair for Liberal Studies.
· Sister Jean Marian Rilinger spent 32 years of service at Mount Saint Vincent, Denver, where she was an office manager, secretary and bookkeeper. She opened a unit for girls at the residential treatment center and eventually became assistant director and therapist at MSV. In her current ministry, Sister Jean Marian is secretary to the SCL Community treasurer.
· Sister Phyllis Stowell realized her desire to be a teacher, enjoying service in schools in Kansas, Missouri and Montana. She spent the next 20 plus years in New Mexico first as an educator and principal who opened Santo Nino Regional Catholic School, Santa Fe. She then became spiritual director and director of adult faith formation for the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in Santa Fe. She currently ministers at St. Francis de Sales Parish, Lansing, Kan.
· Sister Mary Ann Theisen taught 10 years in schools in Missouri and Colorado. She transitioned to become a school secretary at high schools and elementary schools in Kansas, Missouri and Montana. Her current role is office assistant at the SCL Community leadership offices in Cantwell Hall, Leavenworth.
· Sister Renée Washut was a teacher and assistant administrator for 23 years. Her other ministries have included roles with Denver’s Archdiocesan Housing and Catholic Charities of Wyoming and Cheyenne Interfaith Hospitality. Since 2006, she has volunteered with the Saint Joseph Hospital Foundation, Denver.
Founded in 1858, the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth serve in the United States, Peru and South Sudan. For more information, visit www.scls.org.
– from Therese Horvat, communications director, Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth
Sr. Phyllis was a teacher at Sacred Heart in Topeka when I was a youngster. Glad to see she’s doing well and continues to serve and live in God’s plan. Thanks for your years of service!
Congratulations Sister Susan! You were inspiring in sophomore English at Ward high school and one of the best English teachers I ever had. Thank you for introducing me to TS Eliot and Walt Whitman in high school. I wish you the best and am glad to hear you are still teaching.
Colleen Mahoney Martin
Congratulations, Sister Susan! I credit you (and a stellar English department) for my love of writing, literature and poetry and my subsequent work in publishing. Eight years after my sister Colleen, our Ward High School sophomore English class was a bit rowdy — I seem to remember things flying out the window while you were outside the classroom and you running in, “WHAT are you PEOple DOing?” (caps for emphasis) — you were seemingly shocked at our antics. Today I yearn for a lively discussion of Romeo and Juliet versus West Side Story, or a discourse on the symbolism of the Mississippi River in Huck Finn. You were an inspiring teacher and a beautiful human being. You have touched so many lives and made more of a difference to your students than you can possibly imagine! We are eternally grateful for your wisdom and guidance and may God continue to bless you in your ministry.
Thank you Sister !