Companion conections






El Salvador, Guatemala: We celebrate our tenth anniversary (1995-2005) of being a Companion Community with the Sisters of St. Clare in El Salvador and Guatemala. They are a region of the Sisters of St. Clare whose Generalate is in Dublin, Ireland. In Central America they minister among the very poor in El Salvador in San Salvador and San Francisco Gotera in Morazan and in Guatemala in Guatemala City.

		Left to right: Hermanas Del Rosario Palacios Ramirez (junior professed); Silvia Vasquez (junior professed); Maria Natividad (Carmen) Santos (superior); Etelbina Ryes Mijango (junior professed).
		Left to right: Hermana Juana Guzman; Hermana Maria Estelina Vasquez (junior professed); Sister Anne Kelly (superior).
		Left to right:Hermanas Domitila de la Cruz Garcia (novice); Concepcion Nolasco Gomez (junior professed); Elvia Alvarez Serrano; Hermana Elba Esperanza Marquez (novice).
	.	Left to right: Jessica Isabel Arevalo Vasquez (postulant); Hermana Rosa Orellana Hernandez (Sister in charge, Directress of Postulants); Sister Blanca; Hermana Maria Ignacia Alfaro Rodriguez (Junior Professed).
		Left to right: Hermana Elida Hernandez; Hermana Ana Lilian Fidelina Gamez Perez (junior professed); Hermana Maria Amparo Melgar Cruz, Sister in charge.
		Left to right: Hermana Sobeyda Judith Hernandez (Junior Professed); Hermana Estilena; Hermana Maria Felipa Ortez Gutierrez(Regional); Hermana Sonia Marleny Velasquez Galdamez (Junior Professed); Hermana Lucinda; Hermana Cruz Maria Hernandez Mendez ( Regional Councilor).


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El Salvador continued ...

Korean Sisters:


The Sisters of St. Francis’ relationship with the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Service in Korea began after Father Juniper Cummings, OFM Conv., met Sister Heide Brauckmann, superior and founder, in Zambia. In response to the need for Korean Sisters to learn English before beginning missionary work, Father Juniper contacted Sister Virginia Welsh, then community minister. The first Korean Sisters arrived in Tiffin February 14, 2003, for six months of study: Sisters Bernadetta Woo, Julietta Yu, and Vincentia Kim. In July 2005, Sister Stella Magers and Veronica Nowakowski visited them in Zambia. Shown here (back row, from left) are Sister Julietta, Sister Stella Magers, a Zambian woman, Sister Bernadetta, Sister Vincentia, and Zambian children near Ibenga, Zambia.

	Sister Goretti Kang, who had been ministering in the Philippines, arrived June 11, 2004, and stayed for one year. Presently she is serving in the small poor village of Midagduo in Ethiopia. She is pictured with Sisters Roberta McKinnon (left) and Virginia Gase who are the primary English teachers at the motherhouse.

	Sister Benedicta Oh arrived in Tiffin September 15, 2006, shortly after making her final vows. She spends her time in the U.S. living with the Sisters of St. Francis, participating in the prayer and social life of the community, taking English lessons, and performing some volunteer work at the motherhouse.


Shown here is the 2006 final profession group of the Korean Sisters. Sister Benedicta (front row, fourth from left) is to the Bishop’s right. Sister Vincentia (back row, far right) also made her final profession.