Florida Catholic | About The jubilarians

About the jubilarians

Published: 02.29.08

60 YEARS OF RELIGIOUS LIFE

Sister Virginia Conant, Sisters For Christian Community

Entrance dates: June 21, 1948, Sisters of St. Francis; May 1970, Sisters for Christian Community

Family history: Born in Grand Rapids, Mich., to Regina and Lewis Conant. Has a brother, Eugene Lewis Conant.

Favorite memories: Playing mumblety-peg with Eugene and winning; ice skating on St. Adelbert’s playground after school.

Education: Bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Duquesne University.

Experiences in ministry: 1948-1970: educator in Elizabeth, N.J.; New Kensington, DuBois, Moon Run, Whitehall and Pittsburgh, Pa.; and Grand Rapids, Mich. After 1970: special religious education, Wyoming, Mich.; first Communion, Foremother’s Program, St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Port Charlotte; special religious education, pastoral minister/extraordinary minister of holy Communion, San Antonio Parish, Port Charlotte; created the “Greatest Commandment” book and developed the “Joyful Noise” Sunday program; board member, intake volunteer, volunteer meal server, Homeless Coalition, Port Charlotte; made changes in faith formation curriculum for Diocese of Venice.

Hobbies and interests: 1948-1970: Working with children to become good readers; making clothing and habits that are more comfortable; helping younger sisters with college reports. After 1970: Helping the homeless and the hungry; working to establish a library of love for children of people in jail or prison.

Father Marcel Dube, Order of Carmelites

Entrance date: Aug. 14, 1947

Family history: Born in Detroit to Joseph Dube and Diane Fortin; siblings are Lucille Nuber and Marie (deceased).

Education: Bachelor’s degree from St. Bonaventure University; master’s degree from Laval University.

Experiences in ministry: Schools in Chicago and Mundelin, Ill.; parishes in Darien, Ill., Niagara Falls and Mississauga, Ont.; and St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Grove City.

Hobbies and interests: Cycling, skiing, reading and listening to classical music.

Sister M. George M. Francis Riseling, Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary

Entrance date: July 23, 1946

Family history: Born to John Joseph Riseling Sr. and Teresa Marie (Galbam) Riseling; siblings are John Jr., George, Margaret, Joseph and Mary Pat.

Favorite memories: Playing catch with father in the backyard; Friday night rides with father; vacations each summer in Wildwood, N.J.; all teaching years.

Education: Bachelor’s from College of St. Rose; graduate school at St. Gabriel School in Washington, D.C.

Experiences in ministry: Teacher in Silver Spring, Md., Albany, N.Y., and Lakeland; principal in Bradenton, Washington, D.C., Lakeland, Altamonte Springs and Naples; assistant superintendent for the Diocese of Orlando; worked for State Housing Program, Okeechobee; director of development; St. John Neumann High School, Naples; principal emerita, academic dean, St. Ann School, Naples. Received the National Catholic Educational Association Distinguished Principal Award in 1990 while at St. Mary Magdalen in Altamonte Springs.

Hobbies and interests: Working jigsaw puzzles, bird watching, growing tomatoes and African violets, reading mystery novels, rooting for the Washington Redskins, Jeff Gordon and Tiger Woods.

Sister Francis A. Sochor, Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities

Entrance date: Sept. 8, 1947

Family history: Born to John F. and Frances M. Sochor, the middle child of 15.

Education: Attended college at St. Francis Normal (now Marian College), Marywood, Duquesne and St. Bonventure universities; attended graduate school at St. Bonaventure University.

Experiences in ministry: Teacher in Riverside, N.J., East Syracuse and Albany, N.Y., and Hoboken, N.J.; principal in North Syracuse, Syracuse and Fayetteville, N.Y.; Lorain, Ohio; and Temple Terrace; director of pastoral ministry at St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Port Charlotte; volunteer at St. Vincent de Paul food bank in Port Charlotte.

Hobbies and interests: Travel (has been on every Amtrak route in the U.S.); reading; nutrition and food preparation; visiting shrines in the U.S. and abroad; and visiting and caring for family members.

50 YEARS OF RELIGIOUS LIFE

Sister Ann DeNicolo, Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Entrance date: Aug. 2, 1958

Family history: Born in Chicago to Mary and Tom DeNicolo; has an older sister, Anne DeNicolo Carriket who calls herself the “Real Anne.”

Favorite memory: Celebration with family and friends

Education: Studied Spanish and elementary education at Clarke College and Mundelin College; attended graduate school at Our Lady of Angels, Chicago.

Experiences in ministry: Teacher in East Moline, Ill.; science teacher and parish youth minister in West Hempstead, N.Y.; campus minister and teacher in Mundelin, Ill. Initial membership coordinator (novice director) for her order, in Mount Carmel Motherhouse, Dubuque, Iowa; assistant director Transitional Housing Program for Women; operator of a thrift store at Myriam’s House, Baton Rouge, La.; program director, Catholic Charities Diocese of Venice in Arcadia.; summer experiences in Chile, Guatemala and El Salvador.

Hobbies and interests: Golfing, cooking, hiking, fishing, jigsaw and crossword puzzles, good mystery books and movies, the outdoors, nature, the ocean, mountains, animals, science, people and travel.

Father Morris F. Wells, Order of Carmelites

Entrance date: Aug. 17, 1957

Family history: Born in Manchester, N.H., to Walter and Regina (Lyons) Wells; has a sister, Janet Savoie, in Amesbury, Mass.

Favorite memory: First Mass at 9:15 a.m., Sept. 13, 1964, at St. Joseph Cathedral.

Education: Carmelite Junior Seminary in Hamilton, Mass.; bachelor’s degree from St. Bonaventure University; licentiate in sacred theology from Catholic University of America; master’s degree in biology from Canisius College; master’s degree in marriage/family and child counseling from Azusa University.

Experiences in ministry: 1966-1970: seminary formation ministry at Mount Carmel College and Marquette University; 1970-1984: Army chaplain, including one year in Vietnam as battalion chaplain with 196th Infantry Brigade; 1984-2006: pastor at parish in Bogota, N.J.; regional provincial for Easter Carmelites from 1987-1993; director, Carmelite Mission, Darien, Ill.; associate pastor at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Grove City; pastor, St. Raphael Parish, Englewood; medical retirement in 2006.

Hobbies and interests: Reading American Catholic history, traveling, theater and cooking.

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About the jubilarians

60 YEARS OF RELIGIOUS LIFE

50 YEARS OF RELIGIOUS LIFE

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