Sisters Barbara Jean Wajda, left, and Sister Alicia Damien Lau brought up the gifts during the offertory; both are missioned in Kalaupapa. (Photos by Celia K. Downes / Hawaii Catholic Herald)
Hawaii Catholic Herald
Hawaii’s Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities welcomed members of the congregation’s leadership team last month as they celebrated 20 years of unity for the Sisters of St. Francis.
The sisters marked the occasion during a special Mass July 21 at St. Ann Church in Kaneohe. Franciscan sisters from across Hawaii gathered as the date was proclaimed the “Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities 20 Years of Unity Celebration Day.”
The community’s general minister, Sister Jeanne Weisbeck; assistant general minister, Sister Pamela Conte; and general councilors, Sisters Rita Marie Fritzen and Donna McGartland (a third general councilor, Sister James Peter Ridgeo, did not attend) sat with the Hawaii cluster in front of the church.
Msgr. Gary Secor, who celebrated the Mass, read a letter from Bishop Larry Silva congratulating the community on the milestone. Hawaii’s regional ministers also read proclamations from state leaders: Sister Joan of Arc Souza read a proclamation from Gov. Josh Green, and Sister Davilyn Ah Chick read a proclamation from Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi.
The Mass included the singing of the “Prayer of St. Francis.”
Sisters Pamela Conte, Rita Marie Fritzen, Jeanne Weisbeck and Donna McGartland, members of the community’s leadership team, listened as Msgr. Gary Secor read Bishop Larry Silva’s letter of congratulations.
The Franciscan Sisters filled the first several rows of St. Ann Church.