Sister Gloria
Sr. Gloria Clapperton
High School Teacher
St. Louis, Missouri
Hailing from Fairborn, Ohio, Sister Gloria says about her vocation, "According to my grandmother, my religious vocation comes from my mother who wanted to enter religious life but was not able to do so because she had to go to work to help support her family after her father died." Sister Gloria knows for a fact that she is a Franciscan because of her mom who met the Franciscans in college in Pennsylvania and always spoke so positively of them. Having lived the Franciscan life for 48 years, Sister Gloria says she loves their spirit. She adds, "Most of all, it is a precious gift for me to belong to a worldwide group that advocates peace, justice and joy as well as care of the earth." Sister Gloria has been about evangelization for many years. She has taught at all levels of education including administration in grade and high school. The last ten years have been a unique experience for her to teach in an all boys’ high school, where she says it has been a privilege to teach English, her favorite subject. She especially enjoys getting to know the boys and sharing who she is with them on a different level through the Kairos Retreats. She says her spirituality centers around living in the knowledge of a loving God, loving others, living in the present moment and practicing peace and joy.
Sister Ann Pierre
Sr. Ann Pierre Wilken
Director of Faith Formation
Teutopolis, Illinois
Sister Ann Pierre Wilken, the oldest of eight children, was born and raised in Clyde, Ohio, a small rural area about 30 minutes from Lake Erie. While growing up, Sister's grandfather took her to Marian devotions on Saturday evenings. She thinks he had the most influence on her vocation. Sister Ann Pierre serves parish members through a variety of programs to assist parents in developing the faith in their children, personal adult faith growth programs, as well as, religious education of young children and teens. In her "spare" time, she enjoys knitting, reading and being in God's creation. Her favorite story about St. Francis is when St. Francis took Brother Leo out to preach. They walked through the city of Assisi and returned without having spoken to anyone. When Brother Leo asked Francis when they were going to preach, Francis' response was, "We already did." It's not about what we do, but who we are with others that makes the difference. It is in this evangelizing spirit that she writes "I love being a Franciscan Sister of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Being with the Sisters is one of my greatest blessings. Their example and willingness to share God's life with me is awesome."
Sister Rose Marie
Sr. Rose Marie Przybylowicz
Executive Assistant
Fairfield, Ohio
"I have been blessed to have worked and lived with so many wonderful women. I've come to love each one and to appreciate their faith journey as I daily try to live out the gospel values in my own life," says this native of Dayton, Ohio, who has been a Franciscan Sister for 45 years. She was taught by three different communities of religious women and felt attracted to religious life while still in grade school. To Sister Rose Marie, there was something about the Franciscan Sisters' spirit that she thought was "down-to-earth." She says they were fun to be with and they had fun with one another. Sister Rose Marie currently ministers with the Glenmary Home Missioners, a community of religious priests and brothers who are committed to the work of evangelization by bringing the Catholic Church to counties where there is no church; who work to foster ecumenism; who work with the very poor, marginalized and sometimes forgotten; who seek justice around many issues; who do social outreach; who love simplicity and live simple lives; and who work to transform the lives of the people they are serving. Sister says, "Their spirituality is so Franciscan. I believe that is why I love working with Glenmary. Even though I am at headquarters providing support services, I have an opportunity to be about Franciscan mission in an indirect way." Sister Rose Marie has a real love for nature. She likes to take care of plants - in her office and home. "I love the springtime of the year. It's exciting to watch new life pop up out of the ground." In addition, Sister Rose Marie enjoys reading novels or fiction and following the "Fighting Irish" football games.
