Jubilarians

A native of New Kensington, PA, Sister J. Lora Dambroski entered the community after graduation from New Kensington High School.  She served as an educator in schools where our Sisters served including St. Anthony in Detroit, MI, and St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin, St. Valentine, James Lavelle, Holy Trinity, and  St. Francis Academy in the Pittsburgh area. In 1978 she moved to Adamstown, MD to serve as Associate Director of the Christian Brothers Retreat Center.  Sister J. Lora moved back to Pittsburgh in 1983 to serve as Formation Director and was elected to serve in leadership as General Councilor, then Assistant General Minister. In the early 1990s, Sister J. Lora served as construction coordinator for the massive undertaking of renovating the Pittsburgh campus including the Motherhouse, Franciscan Child Day Care Center in the Academy building, and construction of townhouses for the Sisters. She then served as retreat and program director at the Franciscan Spirit and Life Center before being elected USA Provincial Minister in 2000. During this time, she was also elected to serve in the Presidency of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR). From 2009 to 2012, Sister J. Lora ministered as a spiritual director and retreat facilitator then was elected to leadership as General Councilor until 2017. After her term in leadership, she returned to spiritual direction. Sister Lora earned her B.S. and M.S. degrees at Duquesne University, as well as a Master of Christian Spirituality at Creighton University

Born in Piranguçu, Minas Gerais, Sister Maria Conceição Rodrigues joined the Congregation in July 1952. Three of her sisters are also members of our Congregation: Sisters M. Maristela, M. Mercedes, and M. Marisa. Sister M. Conceição has a degree in Literature and Theology, with specializations and postgraduate degrees in Education, Psychology, Religious Education, and English. Her ministries focused on education and she served as a teacher and director at Pius XII, Our Lady of Carmel and St. Michael the Archangel Schools. She also served as Provincial librarian and translator for the General Leadership. Sister M. Conceição’s other ministries include teaching catechism classes at the Nossa Senhora do Carmo Parish in Vila Alpina, teaching English and Religious Education at Our Lady of Carmel. In 1997, she participated in the Pilgrimage to Assisi. Currently, Sister M. Conceição resides in Recanto Paz e Bem engaged in the ministry of presence and prayer.

Sister Suzana Kirkila entered the Congregation in July 1952 and earned a degree in education with additional studies in pastoral care and catechesis.  Sister Suzana’s education ministry included teaching at Pius XII School. For many years she served rural communities in Cipó, São Paulo through parish and pastoral ministry, which included catechetical preparation, liturgical services, visits to the sick, youth ministry, and enrichment workshops for women.   She also provided pastoral services to persons experiencing poverty who set up camps on vacant government agricultural land as part of the landless farm workers movement seeking agrarian reform in Brazil, including giving unused or unclaimed land to persons who experience unjust barriers to land ownership.  Sister Suzana resides in Recanto Paz e Bem, where she is engaged in the ministry of presence and prayer, interceding for our missions and persons experiencing poverty, homelessness, and other hardships.

Sister Maria Flávia Quintanilha was born in Cruzeiro, São Paulo and joined the Congregation in March 1958. Sister Flavia’s education prepared her to serve as a teacher and nursing assistant, with specializations in elementary education and catechism. She served at Pius XII, Our Lady of Carmel and St. Michael the Archangel Schools in São Paulo, St. Clare and St. Francis of Assisi Social Center in Vila Alpina, São Paulo, and the Dr. Eugênio Gomes de Carvalho Maternity Hospital in Pedro Leopoldo, Minas Gerais. Her ministries included nursing, coordinating uniform and handicraft sales, chapel and pastoral care for employees, catechesis and various administrative duties in personnel and finance. Currently, Sister M. Flávia resides in Recanto Paz e Bem, in São Paulo engaged in the ministry of presence and prayer.

Providentially, Sister Maria do Carmo Pereira grew up in Pedro Leopoldo where our Sisters served and inspired her to join our  Congregation in August 1973. Sister’s education prepared her to serve in education ministry, specializing in Early Childhood Education, school management, and guidance counseling with additional studies in ​​school administration and psychology. Sister Maria do Carmo served at Pius XII, Our Lady of Carmel, and St. Michael the Archangel Schools in São Paulo and St. Francis of Assisi in Barbacena, Minas Gerais. She also served as Provincial Councilor, in addition to engaging in pastoral ministries in São Paulo, IV Centenário (Paraná), Água Branca (Piauí), and Barbacena (Minas Gerais). In Paraná, she served as director of the child daycare center serving the municipality and local parish. Currently, Sister Maria do Carmo lives and serves at the Recanto Paz e Bem Community in São Paulo.

Sister Maria Isabel Rosa, was born in Matozinhos, Minas Gerais and first encountered our Sisters when her family moved to Pedro Leopoldo, where our Sisters operated the Dr. Eugênio Gomes de Carvalho Maternity Hospital. She joined the Congregation in July 1973.  Sister Maria Isabel earned a degree to become a nursing assistant and technician, with a focus on Alzheimer’s care and the elderly. She also completed courses in human and community development and Franciscan and catechetical studies.  She served in healthcare ministries in various hospitals including Dr. Eugênio Gomes de Carvalho Maternity Hospital in Pedro Leopoldo, as well as in ministries of the Diocese of Penedo, Alagoas. She also served at Bom Pastor Hospital in Guajará-Mirim, Rondônia where she engaged in healthcare and pastoral ministries. In Nossa Senhora d’Ajuda Parish in Itinga, she served in childcare ministry, catechesis, visiting the sick, and other pastoral ministries to persons experiencing hunger and poverty. Sister Maria Isabel Rosa presently serves in Vila Zelina, São Paulo at St. Michael the Archangel School.