Meet Our Sisters
If you are looking for information about a particular sister or places of ministry where our sisters have worked, click here and complete the form. Print the form and mail or fax it to us, or simply push the "Submit Request" button on the bottom of the form to send your request via e-mail.
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.
Sr. Pamela Marie Falter
Counselor for Homeless St. Louis, Missouri Sister Pamela followed her second grade dream to become a Franciscan Sister of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Born and raised in St. Louis, Sister Pam was influenced by the Sisters who taught her in grade school and was inspired by the life of the St. Francis, especially his love for creation. Since becoming a Franciscan Sister, Sister Pam has been about the work of evangelization by teaching grade school for 13 years. She then embraced a call to spread the Good News by working in homeless services for twelve years. Her current ministry with people who have mental illness, addictions and are homeless has helped her grow in recognizing the face of Christ in our world today. She says she finds her strength in her "ever-growing ability to listen for God's voice through prayer, scripture, friends and strangers". Sister Pamela enjoyed hiking, camping and traveling as a child and continues these activities when she gets a chance. In addition, she enjoys photography and running.
Sr. Clarice Faltus
Pastoral Minister Omaha, Nebraska A professed Sister for 53 years, Sister says that in her current ministry she is privileged to be about the work of evangelization through care ministries, outreach programs and adult small faith sharing groups. Each of these areas provides numerous opportunities to instill Franciscan mission and vision. She is most passionate about her role as a Stephen Ministry Leader. In this capacity, she trains and works with individuals who are willing to make at least a two-year commitment of service to others. She says it is a joy to be associated with these men and women and to provide them with the tools they need in order to minister to those who are experiencing some sort of crisis in their lives. There are many ways we can evangelize. The dedication of these individuals is an inspiration to everyone. "Walking the journey with our brothers and sisters who are suffering enables us to see Christ in others in a very special way every day. It is inspiring to experience the working of the Holy Spirit in the lives of those who serve, as well as in those who are served. I am grateful to God for calling me to this ministry. It is truly a blessing to witness renewed faith, hope, courage and determination in so many lives."
Sr. Monica Marie Laws
Director of Mission Integration St. Louis, Missouri "Being a Franciscan Sister of Our Lady of Perpetual Help for 43 years has awakened me to a sense of our connectedness with Christ our Brother and therefore to God our Creator." Sister Monica Marie says she feels connected, almost more alive being a Franciscan Sister because they are attentive to the moment and seek to find God in it. She believes her current ministry, Director of Mission Integration, has come at the right time and in the right place. “In the health care ministry, we follow the healing tradition of Jesus. With Francis, we reach out to the poor and marginalized. This is our way to be about the work of Evangelization. At St. Anthony's Medical Center, that translates to those who are uninsured or under-insured." Sister Monica is passionate about gardening and taking care of flowers. In past years, she has had tomatoes until the first frost. This summer she says she fed more squirrels, rabbits and birds than harvested tomatoes and peppers. She says the dahlias and zinnias were beautiful and colorful this past summer, and lots of hummingbirds have come to her garden. Her favorite story of Francis, she says, is the "Wolf of Gubbio." The symbolism opens up multiple interpretations and levels of understanding. "At some time, each of us likely meets a wolf in our own familiar setting."
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.
Sr. Laura Reynolds
Pastoral Associate West Frankfort, Illinois "I am privileged to be a member of the Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, with whom I have lived and ministered as an educator and parish minister in Missouri, Illinois, and Wisconsin for almost 40 years," says Sister Laura, a native of the town of Christopher in southern Illinois. In her ninth year as a Pastoral Associate in a merged Catholic parish in the diocese of Belleville, Illinois, Sister Laura’s evangelization ministry is to coordinate all aspects of parish life. Sister Jovita Chierek is a retired, volunteer Mission Assistant who ministers with her all day, every day. The two Sisters are involved with a 5-parish cluster of Catholic churches in Franklin County, Illinois. Sister Laura credits Sister (Anselm) Wanda Marie Strozek with teaching her the Bible verse from Philippians 4:13 – "I can do all things in Him who strengthens me." Sister Anselm helped her to feel God's initial call to religious life when she taught Sister Laura in 8th grade at St. John the Baptist School in West Frankfort. Sister Laura loves to swim for exercise, play the church organ for liturgical services and sew for fun. She is planning to form a small discussion group with three laywomen who are members of the Secular Franciscan Order. Someday, she would like to look into GED and literacy work.
Sr. Marie Angele Sanchez
Program Coordinator Austin, Texas Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and raised in El Paso, Texas, Sister Marie Angele reflecting on her vocation says, "When asked why I came to this particularly Community, I find myself thinking back to being in grade school with our Sisters and thinking whatever makes them so joyful, I want some of that, too. Whatever the ups and downs in the years since, it is my conviction that God called me to be with my Sisters in the congregation." A Franciscan Sister for 38 years, Sister Angele is currently Program Coordinator for Eremos, A Center of Contemplative Life. Their Mission is to invite persons to behold the God Who dwells within each and, out of that God-connection, to be empowered to live and to love others. Sister Angele thinks this mission is a perfect fit to our congregational commitment of evangelization. By being a transforming presence and by responding to a critical need in our society, we are helping others know God in the silence of their hearts and out of the substance of their daily lives. She says she has always considered obedience, a radical listening to God, as the primary witness of Francis—from which passion he became the Poor One, the Mirror of Christ, the great saint and model he is to this day. She believes that our own congregational commitment to discernment, i.e. our coming to know God's word for us through radical openness to God and each other, mirrors Francis' own obedience and affirms our Franciscan heart. Sister Angele finds that living a discerning life is a great challenge and affirmation of her own Gospel call.
Sr. Jacqueline Svellinger
Elementary School Teacher Logansport, Indiana A native of Dayton, Ohio, Sister Jacqueline is very proud of being a Franciscan Sister of Our Lady of Perpetual Help for 43 years. She was taught by the Franciscan Sisters and says she admired the Sisters who taught her. She remembers her first grade teacher, Sister Catherine, who told her she would be a Sister one day. Later on, the vocation director Sister Sylvia came to her school to talk about vocations. In her senior year of high school, she went to St. Louis and met Sister Paula who took her to see the Motherhouse. "From that moment on, I knew that this was the place I wanted to be," she says. A teacher for over 40 years, Sister Jacqueline has been about the work of evangelization and says, "I love to teach God’s little ones (especially first graders). It is such a joy to see them in their eagerness to learn." Her favorite Francis story is the Christmas story about St. Francis and the Baby Jesus. An avid sports enthusiast, Sister enjoys playing sports as well as watching them. Her favorite sport to watch is football.