La Crosse, Wis. — Three Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration (FSPA) with ties to the Diocese of Davenport celebrated diamond jubilees this year, marking 80 or 60 years of vowed religious life.
80 years
Sister Dolorice Schier entered St. Rose Convent in La Crosse, Wis., from West Point, Iowa. She began her ministry as a teacher of intermediate school students in Iowa and Wisconsin. She returned to La Crosse and from 1950-82 worked at St. Michael’s Orphanage, first as a teacher and then as group mother, supervisor and central service coordinator. Sr. Schier volunteered at Holy Trinity School before working in the library at Viterbo College. Beginning in 1984, she spent her time in the audiovisual department, primarily in the nursing center, until she retired to St. Rose in 1996. Since 2009, she has resided at Villa St. Joseph, the FSPA skilled-care retirement home, in La Crosse.
A jubilee celebration for Sr. Schier was held May 15.
60 years
Sister Anita (Mary Kenneth) Beskar pronounced first vows with FSPA in 1952, serving then as an elementary teacher. She became a high school science and math teacher (working also in administration) in West Point and Lansing, Iowa. When the Lansing school closed, she transitioned to religious education and youth ministry. After an interim experience in El Salvador, Central America, she became part of a national team developing youth ministry programming across the United States while also serving St. Pius X Parish in Cedar Rapids. Sr. Beskar then served the Diocese of Davenport in adult formation programs and as diocesan director of youth ministry. FSPA invited her to initiate a ministry for Viterbo College as the Franciscan chair of Global Education. Upon her retirement from Viterbo, she undertook a six-month ministry with the Tertiary Sisters of St. Francis in Cameroon, West Africa. She then worked with new FSPA members as they transitioned into religious life. Sr. Beskar currently provides hospitality at Marywood Franciscan Spirituality Center in Arbor Vitae, Wis.
Sister Emma (Gerosa) Kriz was born in Brainard, Neb., and entered St. Rose Convent from her home in Britt, Iowa. She ministered as an elementary school teacher and principal. Sr. Kriz worked in schools in Wisconsin and Iowa, including at West Point, Iowa. In 1983, she moved to David, Ky., and for 24 years ministered to Appalachian high school dropouts and at-risk youths at The David School as principal, teacher, volunteer coordinator and school board chair. She retired to St. Rose Convent in 2007.
Sisters Beskar and Kriz celebrated their jubilees April 20.
