14 Joliet-area Sisters celebrating Jubilees

For the second straight year, the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate has canceled its annual Jubilarian celebration.

Before Covid-19, these Joliet Franciscans would honor its annual Jubilarians in two ways, by attending a Jubilee Mass at the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus in Joliet and then a luncheon at the University of St. Francis.

However, the Joliet Franciscans are still recognizing 12 Sisters “who have nearly 700 years of combined service and dedication to the Congregation, our Church and to the people of God,” according to a news release from the congregation.

In addition, two Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, who are natives of Joliet, are celebrating Jubilees this year.

Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate

75th Jubilarian – Sister Elaine R. Schneider

Schneider began teaching in 1948 at Sacred Heart School in the Englewood area of Chicago and then went on to teach at schools in Illinois, Ohio, Alabama and Arizona. At one point, she even taught GED classes to adults.

She returned to Joliet in 2000 and at Our Lady of Angels Retirement Home, serving as a clerical assistant, companion driver and assistant sacristan before she retired.

75th Jubilarian – Sister Grace Ann Rabideau

Rabideau is a member of the Bad River band of Lake Superior Indians. In fact, she has ministered to the American Indian population in California, Montana, Colorado and her home state of Wisconsin for most of her religious life. She currently lives in her hometown of Bayfield, Wisconsin.

She served Holy Family Parish as a lector and Eucharistic minister and as a lector for funerals at St. Francis Parish on the Red Cliff Reservation prior to the pandemic.

75th Jubilarian – Sister Irene Yosick

Yosick served as an educator for over 40 years and moved frequently to different schools. When her parents became ill, she returned to her hometown of Shelby, Ohio and cared for her parents while teaching at St. Mary’s School in Shelby. Later, she began a 30-year ministry of home health care.

She now lives at Our Lady of Angels Retirement Home in Joliet. Yosick now spends her time praying, reading, writing letters, working puzzles, and crocheting items to donate.

60th Jubilarian – Sister Lois Prebil

Prebil was an educator during her early years as a religious sister. She taught mathematics in schools in Illinois and Ohio. She then served as an assistant principal and principal in schools in Illinois, Michigan and Iowa.

She also served as a social care coordinator and was elected to serve as a councilor and coordinator for the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate.

In the mid-1990s, Prebil began a career as an organizational consultant while simultaneously working with the Office for Racial Justice for the Archdiocese of Chicago throughout its existence (2000-2014).

Prebil helped establish the anti-racism committee of the congregation. She also helped pass its corporate stance on racism in 2016.

She is still working as a consultant with an emphasis on anti-racism.

60th Jubilarian – Sister Ann Freiburg

Born in Lombard, Freiburg earned her bachelor’s degree from the College of St Francis (now University of St. Francis). She also earned her master’s degree in literature from the University of Illinois (Chicago) and a certificate in religious formation from Aquinas Institute of Theology in Dubuque, Iowa.

Freiburg taught in the Los Angeles school system for several years and then joined the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate, teaching in schools in Illinois and Ohio as a Joliet Franciscan.

She became the director of formation and novice director for the congregation and then served as director of adult education at St. Walter Church in Roselle.

Freiburg then served as coordinator for bereavement services and chaplain for 20 years at CNS Hospice in DuPage County.

60th Jubilarian – Sister Martha Kienzler

Kienzler was born and raised in Springfield, Illinois. After entering the Congregation, she earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology/philosophy and a master’s degree in theology from the College of St. Francis (now University of St. Francis) in Joliet and a master’s degree from the School of Social Work in St. Louis University.

Her first assignments were as an educator because the congregation was a teaching order. She was then assigned to the congregation’s Guardian Angel Home (now Guardian Angel Community Services) in Joliet and served in the department of social services.

Kienzler was then sent to Ohio to work for Catholic Charities. She was appointed as the director of initial formation for the congregation. She served in Michigan and was later assigned to the department of social services at Our Lady on Angels Retirement Home.

She then served as a pastoral assistant at Immaculate Conception Parish in Morris, Illinois for 11 years. Kienzler now lives at Our Lady of Angels Retirement Home in Joliet.

60th Jubilarian – Sister René Simonelic

Simonelic has a degree in education, a certificate of church music and liturgy, a Master of Science degree in music – majoring in voice and choral conducting as well – and a Master of Arts degree in liturgical studies from St. John’s university in Collegeville, Minnesota.

She taught music and religious education in schools in Illinois and Florida. She also served in the office of worship in parishes across Minnesota, Illinois and Arizona. She then the liturgical consultant for the diocese in Columbus, Ohio.

Simonelic has also served as the development director for the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate and was the project manager for the Joliet-based Upper Room Crisis Hotline.

After she moved to Effingham, she served as the director of liturgy and music at Sacred Heart Church until 2019. Simonelic currently lived in Effingham.

40th Jubilarian – Sister Jeronima Marques da Costa

Marques da Costa was born and raised in Parauna in Goias State, Brazil. She began her ministry as a teacher at the Instituto San Damiano, the Sisters of St. Francis’ school in Brazil, and worked with the youth of the parish.

She became the novice director for the Brazilian community in 1998 while also serving the parish at Parque Antonio.

Marques da Costa was elected as the first regional councilor in Brazil in 2001 and then again in 2009 and 2017.

40th Jubilarian – Sister Peggy Quinn

Quinn earned her bachelor’s degree from the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, Minnesota and then entered the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate. She then earned her master’s degree in theology from the University of Notre Dame.

As a novice, she was assigned to Guardian Angel Home in Joliet, where she worked with the children. Quinn then spent 19 years at the former St. Francis Academy in Joliet (now Joliet Catholic Academy), where she taught religion and served as campus minister.

Quinn then served at Holy Family High School in Broomfield, Colorado until she was elected to the Sisters of St. Francis’ governing board in 2008. She was re-elected in 2012 for another four-year term.

She currently serves as the congregation’s vocation minister/director.

40th Jubilarian – Sister Barbara Kwiatkowski

Kwiatkowski earned her bachelor’s degree from the College of St. Francis (now University of St. Francis) in Joliet and her master’s degree in educational administration from Dominican University in River Forest.

For more than more 25 years she has worked in secondary education in the Chicago area. She also spent time ministering in Brazil and speaks Portuguese.

Kwiatkowski became the vocation director for the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate in 2005. She became campus minister at Joliet Catholic Academy in 2011.

She was elected to the governing board of the congregation five years later, where she continues to serve as a councilor.

40th Jubilarian – Sister Dolores Zemont

Zemont earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Illinois-Chicago, a master’s degree in business administration from Notre Dame University and a master’s degree in pastoral studies from Loyola University in Chicago.

She joined the Sisters of Saint Francis of Mary Immaculate after finishing college and working in the private sector. Zemont professed her final vows and spent the next 18 years ministering as the director of campus ministry at the University of St. Francis.

Zemont then served as a pastoral assistant at St. Mary Parish in Mokena. She was elected president of the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate in 2012. Her term will end in September.

40th Jubilarian – Sister Margaret (Meg) Guider

Guider has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and special education and a master’s degree in special education from the University of Illinois-Chicago.

She also has a master’s degree from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and a doctorate from Harvard University School of Divinity and a STL – Systemic Theology from Weston Jesuit School of Theology, both in Cambridge.

Guider is currently an associate professor of theology at Boston College School of Theology.

For more information, visit jolietfranciscans.org/our-jubilarians/.

In addition, two Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, who are natives of Joliet, are celebrating Jubilees this year.

75th Jubilarian – Sister Lois Ann Stoiber

Stoiber entered the congregation on Feb. 2, 1946, from St. Mary Carmelite Parish in Joliet. She professed perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1953.

She has a bachelor’s degree in education from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and a master’s degree in education from Illinois State University.

Stoiber’s ministries include teacher, St. John the Baptist, Fort Wayne (1948-52); teacher, St. Patrick, Indianapolis (1952-53); teacher, St. Jude, Fort Wayne (1953-58); teacher, Immaculate Heart, Galesburg, Ill. (1958-67); teacher, St. Athanasius, Evanston (1967-69); teacher/Principal, Immaculate Heart, Galesburg (1969-72); teacher, Costa Catholic, Galesburg (1972-73); teacher, St. Dennis, Lockport (1973-74); teacher, St. Mary-Sacred Heart, Joliet (1974-79); teacher, Romeo Blanchette, Joliet (1979-80); school clerk, Providence, New Lenox, Ill. (1980-82); assistant Teacher, Trinity School, New Lenox (1982-85); teacher, Trinity School, New Lenox (1985-86); secretary, St. Dennis, Lockport (1986-97); convent service/tutor, greater Chicago area (1998-2008); convent service, River Grove (2008-18), and convent Service, Northlake, Ill. (2018-20).

Stoiber currently ministers in prayer at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

60th Jubilarian – Sister Diane Mason

Formerly known as Sister Ann Vianney, Mason entered the congregation on Sept. 18, 1961, from St. Dennis Parish in Lockport. She professed perpetual vows on April 17, 1971.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, while also obtaining master’s degrees in education and education supervision administration, both from Indiana State University.

Mason’s ministries include teacher, Immaculate Heart, Galesburg (1966-68); teacher, St. Thaddeus, Chicago (1968-69); teacher, St. Leo, Chicago (1969-70); teacher, St. Francis Borgia, Chicago (1970-73); teacher, St. Alexander, Palos Heights (1973-78); teacher/Assistant Principal, St. Alexander, Palos Heights (1978); principal, St. Alexander, Palos Heights (1978-2003); chaplain intern, Advocate Christ Medical Center, Oak Lawn (2005-06); chaplain resident, Elmhurst Memorial Hospital, Elmhurst (2006-07); spiritual director/part-time facilitator for Institute of Religious Formation Program, Chicago (2007-08); assistant director of Providence Associates/spiritual director, Orland Park (2008-11); and director of Providence Associates/Spiritual Director, Orland Park (2011-18).

Mason currently serves in the ministry of care and as a volunteer at St. Michael Parish in Orland Park.

For more information, visit SistersofProvidence.org.