A Mass of Thanksgiving to honor the School Sisters of St. Francis was celebrated by Bishop Alfred Schlert on March 22 at Incarnation of Our Lord, Bethlehem.
Concelebrants were Father Andrew Gehringer, Pastor of Incarnation and of Holy Infancy, Bethlehem; Father Miguel Ramirez, Assistant Pastor; and Monsignor Robert Kozel, former Pastor of Incarnation and Pastor Emeritus of St. John the Baptist, Allentown.
The ministry of the Sisters at Incarnation of Our Lord (formerly SS. Cyril and Methodius) began on June 18, 1948 and ended in December 2024 when the remaining sisters moved out of the convent to continue their ministry elsewhere.
For over 77 years the School Sisters of St. Francis dedicated their lives to not only educating and mentoring thousands of students at the parochial school, but also participating in parish religious and social activities. Some of those students are still actively engaged at the parish and were in attendance at the celebration.
After Mass, parishioners, friends, and alumni were served a buffet dinner in Labuda Hall prepared by the parish volunteers.
Milissa Bolcar, parishioner and SS. Cyril and Methodius (SSCM) alumna, welcomed everyone to the celebration.
Sister Marian Sgriccia, Provincial Minister, expressed her gratitude to Incarnation for the recognition of the sisters’ ministry.
Sister Roseann Velas, another SSCM graduate, took everyone down memory lane with all her experiences as a student and eventually a teacher at SSCM.
Father Gehringer, on behalf of Incarnation, expressed his gratitude and presented the sisters with a spiritual bouquet and monetary gift.
Francis Blanar, SSCM graduate and President of Slovak Catholic Sokols Assembly 78, also presented the sisters with a monetary gift.
Closing remarks and a final prayer and blessing were given by Monsignor Kozel, who continues to minister to the parish.
Photo: Pictured after the Mass are, from left: front, Sisters Mary Martha Zammatore, Regina Ann Rokosny, Maria Derecola, Bishop Alfred Schlert, Sisters Marian Sgriccia, Marie Therese Sherwood, Roseann Velas, Boncy Chaslissery, Sister Ann Marie Yenca (seated); middle, Father Andy Gehringer, Sisters Bonnie Marie Kleinschuster, Loretta Motko, Donna Pusch, Francine Garganta, Father Miguel Ramirez; back, Sisters M. Virginelle Makos and Jean Makovsky.
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