Sister Mary Yvonne Finley marks 75 years as a Sister of Mercy.
From a teacher who marked 75 years as a Sister of Mercy to a monk at Subiaco Abbey with a Purple Heart who celebrated his 25th anniversary, the religious jubilarians in Arkansas this year have had a variety of careers. Many of them had occupations even before taking vows.
They will be honored during a Mass at 12:05 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 5 at the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Little Rock.
On Dec. 2-3, the annual collection for the Retirement Fund for Religious will be taken up in parishes. Last year, Arkansans gave $133,058 to the fund. Five communities in the state received $87,934 in grants from the 2005 appeal to assist with caring for infirm and elderly sisters and brothers. Those receiving grants include St. Scholastica Monastery, Fort Smith, $32,111.70; Our Lady of Charity and Refuge, Hot Springs, $5,509.86; Holy Angels Convent, Jonesboro, $16,745.17; Carmelite Monastery, Little Rock, $6,100.17; and Subiaco Abbey, $27,467.34.
75 years
Sister Mary Yvonne Finley entered into the Sisters of Mercy in 1931 in St. Louis and made her perpetual profession in 1936. Sister Yvonne attended college in San Antonio, Texas, where she received a bachelor’s degree in elementary and high school education. During her ministry she has taught at Immaculate Conception School in Fort Smith, Holy Redeemer School in El Dorado and Mount St. Mary Academy in Little Rock. She also served on the regional leadership team in St. Louis. After teaching, she went to Hot Springs and cared for the senior sisters at St. Joseph Convent. Sister Yvonne retired at McAuley Convent in Barling in 1992 where she was the chapel sacristan for many years.
60 years
Sister Cabrini Fagan entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1946 in St. Louis and made her final profession in 1952. She received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education, English and history at Loyola University in New Orleans. During her ministry she taught in New Orleans, Hattiesburg, Vicksburg and Biloxi, Miss. Sister Cabrini retired to Our Lady of Wisdom in New Orleans before coming to McAuley Convent in Barling in 2003.
Sister Elizabeth Rossi, OSB, worked for 56 years as an educator in elementary schools in parishes. A native of Center Ridge, she received her bachelor’s degree in education from Our Lady of the Lake College in San Antonio, Texas, and her master’s degree in education from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. She is currently the coordinator of daily events, living arrangements and activities at St. Scholastica Monastery in Fort Smith.
Sister Kenneth Andreotti entered into the Sisters of Mercy in 1946 in St. Louis and made her final profession in 1952. She received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education at Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas. During her ministry Sister Kenneth taught in El Dorado, Hot Springs, Little Rock, Slovak, Fort Smith, Tontitown and Mission, Texas.
After Sister Kenneth’s teaching ministry, she became a home visitor for Immaculate Conception Parish in Fort Smith. She retired to McAuley Convent in Barling in 2001 where she continues to do some visitation ministry via the phone.
Sister Mary Theresa Dionne, a native of Quebec, was ready to begin her career as a teacher but God had other plans. In 1943 she graduated from school and responded to the call to join the sisters of Our Lady of Charity and Refuge in Hot Springs. Her intention was to be a teacher, but she was obedient and took on the task of running the laundry, one of the means of the sisters’ livelihood during those days.
Over the years she has served as the superior, assistant superior and counselor of the community. In the early 1960s she was prompted by Bishop Albert Fletcher to open one of the first child-care centers in the city, which is still open today.
50 years
Brother Augustine Konitzer, OSB, recently celebrated his 80th birthday in the Subiaco Abbey Wellness Center where he now resides. A native of Milwaukee, he joined the U.S. Army at age 18. After his military service, he became a mail sorter for the U.S. Postal Service. While sorting the mail there he came across a copy of The Abbey Message, Subiaco’s newsletter, in the “dead-letter” file. He liked what he read and got his own subscription. He entered the abbey in 1955 and was assigned to work on the farm and in the dairy. Brother Augustine professed his vows in 1956.
Brother “Gus,” as he is affectionately known, also served as tailor, custodian, supervisor of the academy dining room, custodian of the abbey church, porter and laundry manager.
Sister Bernadette Dixon, OCD, a native of New Jersey, came to the Carmelite Monastery in Little Rock in 1953 to help with the extern duties of the Carmel when it was located in downtown Little Rock. She pronounced her vows in 1956. Sister Bernadette cared for the chapel and sacristy.
In September 1961, the community moved to its present location on West 32nd Street. She became a cloistered nun some years later and served as the infirmarian. Today she is on the correspondence team and shares with others her confidence in God.
Sister Eileen Schneider, OSB, the former prioress of Holy Angels Convent in Jonesboro, was appointed in 2005 as the minister to religious in the Diocese of Little Rock. A Jonesboro native, she earned her bachelor’s degree in education at Arkansas State University and completed the Theology Institute at St. Norbert College in DePere, Wis. She entered Holy Angels in 1955 and taught in Catholic schools in Jonesboro, Little Rock, Pocahontas and West Memphis for 24 years and in the Diocese of Lafayette for eight years.
Her other duties have included formation director and subprioress.
Sister Hilary Decker, OSB, a native of Rhineland, Texas, has a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Dallas, a master’s degree in history from Illinois State University, a master’s degree in theological studies from La Salle University and advanced studies at Gonzaga University.
She taught in elementary and secondary schools and college. She also worked as a procurator at the monastery and director of religious education in parishes. As the campus ministry director at West Texas State University in Canyon, Texas, she was responsible for the building of a new Catholic student center. She is currently the director of the Benedictine Spirituality Center at St. Scholastica Monastery in Fort Smith.
Sister Theresa Marie Lalancette and Sister Mary Anne Lalancette made joining Our Lady of Charity and Refuge in Hot Springs a family affair. They recently celebrated their 50th anniversaries.
Sister Theresa Marie started her teaching career in Canada in 1945 and continued her work until 1953. After becoming proficient in English, she taught at St. Michael School until her retirement in 2002. Her other ministries included novice master and assistant superior. Today she is the superior of the community.
Sister Mary Anne came to the community with her biological sister, Theresa Marie. She spent most of her career working with 4-year-old children in the convent’s day care. She started the first preschool program in 1969 and continued in that field for 30 years. After her “retirement,” she assisted the infirm sisters, cooked for the community, remodeled rooms and served as an organist for the Lithuanian people in Hot Springs from 1978 to 1998.
The following year, another biological sister, Mary Gerard Lalancette, joined the community. This year the three sisters traveled back to Canada to celebrate their jubilees.
25 years
Sister Ann Marie Ferricher, OSB, grew up in North Little Rock and graduated from high school in 1973. She attended St. Vincent Infirmary School of Nursing and became a licensed practical nurse in 1977. In 1979 she entered Holy Angels Convent in Jonesboro and made her profession in 1981. For more than 20 years she worked at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro and assisted in the convent’s infirmary for five years. Today she works in the Pastoral Care Department at St. Bernard.
“God has fulfilled many of my dreams and continues to be the Lord of my life and the source of all that I am,” she said.
Sister Judith Dalesandro, OSB, grew up in Chester, Mass., and graduated from Berkshire Community College in 1973 with a degree in physical education and recreational leadership. In 1975 she graduated from Hendrix College in Conway with a bachelor’s degree in physical education. In 1978 she learned about Holy Angels Convent in Jonesboro and entered the community. In 1981 she made her monastic profession and taught physical education and fifth and sixth grades in Catholic schools. In 1981 she received her elementary education degree from Arkansas State University and in 2005 she earned her theology degree from St. Gregory University in Shawnee, Okla.
Her other ministries have included working at St. Bernards Medical Center and serving as vocation director from 2000 to 2005.
Sister Katharine Wewer, OSB, is unique because she is celebrating her second 25th anniversary as a member of St. Scholastica Monastery in Fort Smith. She made her first monastic profession in 1948 as Sister Eugenia and worked in the dietary departments at the monastery and hospitals. In 1973 she was serving at St. Joseph Home in North Little Rock and received dispensation from her vows and worked in Little Rock area nursing homes.
“After seven years I missed community and felt a need to return to St. Scholastica and I did and re-admitted in 1980,” she said.
After a probationary period, she made monastic profession in 1981. She worked as a receptionist and assisted with the sisters in the infirmary. She currently lives in the infirmary.
Sister Marya Duscher, OSB, was born in Redwood Falls, Minn., and graduated from high school in Sleepy Eye, Minn. She worked in a nursing home caring for the elderly. She was also training to become a dental assistant.
After seeking guidance from the Franciscan sisters who taught her, she entered Holy Angels Convent in Jonesboro in 1979 and made her first profession in 1981.
Today Sister Marya makes art pieces that are sold in the convent gift shop and is the supervisor of the dining room. She enjoys the outdoors and nature.
Brother Mel Stinson, OSB, was raised in the Baptist faith, but during his service in the Navy in 1966 he joined the Catholic Church.
While he is well known today as the Coury House guestmaster at Subiaco Abbey, his previous service in the Navy is often not known. He was a member of the medical corps in Vietnam and was critically wounded. He earned a Purple Heart for his bravery.
He entered Saint Leo Abbey in Florida in 1980 and professed his vows in 1981. He later moved to St. Pius X Monastery in Columbia, Mo. When that community was suppressed, Brother Mel transferred to Subiaco Abbey in 1990. Brother Mel also serves as the oblate director and master of ceremonies.
Sister Miriam Burns, OSB, worked in different occupations before she entered Holy Angels Convent in 1979. A native of El Dorado, she attended Arkansas Teachers College (now UCA) in Conway. She was a surgery/urology technician in the U.S. Air Force where she obtained the rank of staff sergeant.
After joining the convent, she earned a bachelor’s degree in religious studies from Benedictine College in Atchison, Kan., and graduated from the Spiritual Direction School in Pecos, N.M. She taught religion for 23 years as a religious education coordinator, youth minister, religion teacher and pastoral assistant. In her current position as formation director, she assists six junior sisters, two novices and two candidates.
