Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania, Ohio
Sylvania
Franciscan
2026 • Vol. 27, Issue 2
An Educational Era Comes to a Close
Lourdes University
A Lasting Legacy
Joyful Servanthood
The small, private, Catholic university on the Sisters’ Motherhouse grounds went through many evolutions over its 68 years. Page 4.
As the university closes, its graduates are the clearest evidence of what it built. Page 12.
We journey forward in honor of the remarkable impact of Lourdes University and invite you to join in the mission. Page 14.
Letter from the Congregational Minister
A gift that God offers us every day
Leadership The Sylvania Franciscan newsletter is a publication of the Sylvania Franciscan Foundation Office of the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania, Ohio Sister Sharon Derivan, OSF Congregational Minister Sister Nancy Surma, OSF Assistant Congregational Minister Sister Rebecca Rutkowski, OSF Councilor/ Congregational Treasurer Sister Pat Gardner, OSF Councilor/Congregational Secretary Elizabeth Reiter Editor and contributing writer Director of Communications and Connections 419-824-3667 Maegen Anders Photographer Communications Specialist
On the Cover
Lourdes University, a beloved small Catholic university in Sylvania, Ohio, completed its final semester in summer of 2026. In its 68 years, Lourdes awarded 12,000 degrees to nearly 10,000 alumni, who now carry forth the University’s Franciscan legacy.
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Since February 11, 2026, when the closure of Lourdes University was announced, I’ve experienced the full gamut of emotions. Of course, there was sadness and disappointment — we Sisters ached at the thought of losing our treasured sponsored ministry, one that had educated many of us. The Lourdes community, and even the surrounding local community, mourned and feared (and some raged!). But as we all began to process the ramifications, I increasingly heard people express gratitude for the lasting legacy of Lourdes and a profound hope for what the Lourdes’ graduates have brought and continue to bring to the larger world. This issue of the Sylvania Franciscan celebrates that beautiful Lourdes University legacy. A few months ago, I happened upon two statements about “legacy” that have stuck with me: “Legacy is not leaving something for people. It’s leaving something in people.” “Legacy is not what you leave behind; it is what you set in motion.” These sentiments express perfectly what I’m feeling about Lourdes University. From its beginnings in 1958, when it was exclusively for educating our young Sisters (myself included — I’m an alum!), until its final days in 2026, when it had long since expanded its service to lay women and men, Lourdes has always been about forming people, not just about imparting knowledge. Lourdes has always been known for its community spirit and its welcoming atmosphere. It has been recognized for its dedicated faculty and staff, who have consistently supported students by going the extra mile to help them succeed. That was especially notable in its last several months when Herculean efforts were undertaken to graduate as many students as possible, even adding summer sessions for completion of those last few credits. Lourdes has maintained accreditation and high standards throughout its history — that has never been questioned! Lourdes, as a Catholic and Franciscan university, has unapologetically championed service, so as to instill and strengthen in students a sense of responsibility for the greater, common good. Many of its graduates have gone on to illustrious careers in various fields — a tribute to their time at Lourdes. In this issue, all of this is what we remember and celebrate with gratitude and true hope. Read with pleasure and appreciation. And say a little prayer that what Lourdes has set in motion will be an unstoppable force for good. I, myself, have no doubt. After you read and enjoy this issue, you might be wondering: “What’s next?” The Sisters of St. Francis were founded by (continued next page)
SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS OF SYLVANIA, OHIO
Mission Called like Francis of Assisi to live the Gospel in joyful servanthood among all people, the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania, Ohio, as messengers of peace, commit themselves to works that reverence human dignity, embrace the poor and marginalized, and respect the gift of all creation.
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News Notes A Year to Visit the Portiuncula
The Sylvania Franciscan Motherhouse has been honored to welcome many visitors to the Portiuncula over the years. This year, even more pilgrims have come as Pope Leo XIV proclaimed 2026 a “Year of St. Francis” to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the saint’s death. Bishop Daniel E. Thomas has designated three Franciscan Pilgrimage Sites in the Diocese of Toledo. Through January 2027, the faithful have the opportunity to receive a plenary indulgence by fulfilling the conditions established by the Church, including sacramental confession, Eucharistic Communion, prayer for the intentions of the Pope, detachment from sin and participation in designated acts of prayer, pilgrimage, charity and humility. The Franciscan Jubilee Year is an invitation to spiritual renewal — to deepen our faith, strengthen our relationship with God and one another, and embrace the spirit of St. Francis. Autumn and winter are beautiful times to visit the Portiuncula, when the quieter grounds and changing seasons offer a peaceful
Portiuncula
setting for prayer and reflection. Pilgrims may visit all three designated sites and collect a commemorative stamp at each location. Groups of more than 10 visiting the Sylvania Motherhouse are asked to contact Paige Strancar at 419-824-3618 in advance for additional guidance. General information about the Year of St. Francis and the diocesan pilgrimage sites is available at the Diocese of Toledo website.
Three Franciscan Pilgrimage Sites in the Diocese of Toledo Designated by Bishop Daniel E. Thomas:
Portiuncula
Sylvania Franciscan Motherhouse 6832 Convent Blvd. Sylvania, OH 43560 Open daily, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Motherhouse Eucharistic Chapel Tiffin Franciscans 200 St. Francis Avenue Tiffin, OH 44883
The Basilica & National Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation Conventual Franciscan Friars, Province of Our Lady of Consolation
315 Clay St., Carey, OH 43316 Open 24/7
(continued from previous page) Mother Mary Adelaide Sandusky in 1916, and we have been on these Motherhouse grounds since 1917. Lourdes University shared our space for 68 of those 109 years. Lourdes was the “books” and the Sisters are the “bookends.” Now that Lourdes is gone, rest assured that the Sisters are still here and will remain so. We will still lovingly preserve and protect what we have built — our 89 acres — our home. In fact, we are currently involved in “legacy planning.” You can look forward to the next issue of the Sylvania Franciscan, which will celebrate our Motherhouse.
Thank you, dear readers, once again for your faithful support and for all you do to help us continue to “set in motion” the mission and ministry of the Sisters of St. Francis! Enjoy!
Sister Sharon K. Derivan, OSF Congregational Minister
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F E AT U R I N G M I N I S T R I E S
1958-2026
1982
1959-1961 circa
1975
1973
The Evolution of Lourdes University To do what is yours to do
Sylvania Franciscans find strength in words attributed to St. Francis at the end of his life: “I have done what is mine to do.” To everything there is a beginning and an end, and in the case of Lourdes University, founded as Lourdes Junior College in 1958, that end came this past summer. The small, private, Catholic university on the Sisters’ Motherhouse grounds in Sylvania, Ohio, went through many evolutions over its 68 years, yet each graduating class remained rooted in the same tradition: community, learning, reverence, and service.
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In the beginning, Lourdes Junior College functioned primarily to educate the Sylvania Franciscan Sisters. As entrance into religious life peaked in the late 1960’s, doors opened to admit lay non-traditional students to Lourdes College. In the early 1980s, Lourdes became accredited to offer four-year, baccalaureate degrees. Nearly 30 years later, the school transitioned to Lourdes University, expanding their focus to educate traditional-aged students and to begin offering graduate degrees. The university almost didn’t happen at all. Community historian Sister Nora Klewicki, OSF, points out that a college wasn’t even on the radar two years before Lourdes was founded. “Foundress Mother M. Adelaide Sandusky had no intention of including a university in the plans for the Motherhouse here in Sylvania,” Sister Nora says. “At the
SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS OF SYLVANIA, OHIO
1962-1963 2026
2019 General Chapter in 1954, she is quoted as saying, ‘It will never be necessary to found a college at the Motherhouse,’ explaining that the geographic location of the Sisters’ missions makes possible the completion of the education of the Sisters in institutions such as the College of Saint Teresa, the University of Detroit, Merrimack College, the College of Saint Catherine, Saint Thomas College, and Xavier University.” Because the College of Saint Teresa had created an extension university at the Sylvania Franciscan Motherhouse, Mother Adelaide was able to easily move her young novices from high school graduation at St. Clare Academy to college courses in
the same building that could quickly prepare them with certificates for teaching. However, things changed two years later. The Sisters’ Leadership Council learned from Sister Emmanuel, the Rochester Franciscan Dean of St. Teresa’s, that the extension arrangement would not continue. After researching the feasibility of a junior college, in 1957, Mother Justinian, then serving as General Superior, made the decision to open a school. By September 1958, the paperwork with the State of Ohio was complete, and Lourdes Junior College opened its doors — twenty courses, taught exclusively by Sylvania Franciscan Sisters, for the novices and professed Sisters. “She built Lourdes College as a twoyear college because she wanted Sisters to complete their baccalaureate degrees elsewhere, so they would have a broader experience base in the world — not just from
Lourdes University President Sister Nancy Linenkugel, OSF, worked with Lourdes faculty and advisors to make it possible for one third of the students reach graduation in 2026.
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Sister Helen Chmura, OSF, was a pillar of talent that helped create such a strong Lourdes University Art Department.
Sister Jane Mary Sorosiak, OSF, taught both in the Lourdes Art Department and one-on-one in Alverno studio.
the classrooms at our Motherhouse,” says Sister Barb Vano, OSF, Vice President for Mission and Ministry. The college earned accreditation from the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools in 1964, just as entrance into religious life peaked nationally. In 1969, the Sisters opened the college to lay women; in 1975, to men. Educational opportunities were also extended to students from St. Vincent School of Nursing in Toledo, Ohio, and the Providence School of Nursing in Sandusky, Ohio.
unlike most colleges, Lourdes accommodated students that needed an extended timeline to complete their degree. “Lourdes was able to prepare people who didn’t have an opportunity to go earlier — the person who got married early and then didn’t have time for college,” Sister Barb says.
Sister Barb Vano
The Sisters found that the small classroom experience filled an important niche in the community. The non-traditional college quickly drew non-traditional students. Classes ran day and evening in small sections, still taught largely by Sylvania Franciscans — and
Older students with families and jobs couldn’t carry a full course load. But because Lourdes honored credits indefinitely, they could take one or two classes a year and, even if it took a decade, still walk away with a degree.
“I was always so proud of how the Sisters addressed the needs of these non-traditional students,” says Sister Shannon Schrein, OSF, professor of theology at Lourdes University for 24 years. Sister Shannon loved the
The MLK Jr. Fill the Freezer Marathon was an annual tradition for Lourdes University’s Campus Minstry Labre project, which served meals to those in need every Wednesday.
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SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS OF SYLVANIA, OHIO
Extra spring and summer tracks were added to help as many students as possible complete their credits and graduate this spring and summer.
adult students who gave her a run for her money in the classroom with their eagerness to learn. When Mary Manse College closed in 1975, hit hard by the recession, it left a vacuum in Catholic higher education across northwest Ohio. Two years later, the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania joined area business and civic leaders in a feasibility study on the need for a four-year Catholic college in the region. While the board’s approval was still pending, acting president Sister Marie Andrée Chorzempa, OSF, developed the first bachelor’s degree programs in religious studies and individualized studies. In 1981, the board approved the move to a four-year college; the following year, the Ohio Board of Regents authorized Lourdes and the North Central Association granted baccalaureate accreditation.
From 1983 to 2000, Sister Ann Francis Klimkowski, OSF, led as Lourdes College president, and the curriculum kept expanding: Bachelors of Science in Nursing completion, bachelor’s and associate degrees across the arts and sciences, and a full complement of courses. Classrooms were still small and often taught by the Sisters. Enrollment averaged 1,200 students, most attending part-time. Lourdes wasn’t competing for students with local universities such as The University of Toledo and Bowling Green State University, but it was out-competing other schools in producing excellent nurses, educators, and criminal justice professionals. Its small art department led by Sister Jane Mary Sorosiak, Sister Agneta Ganzel, and Sister Helen Chmura was a gem in the art community. From 2003 to 2012, under President Dr. Robert Helmer, Lourdes began its evolution into a more traditional university — welcoming residential students, launching its first intercollegiate athletic season, and in
The richness of athletic student life on campus brought strangers together in the fall and transformed them into a strong community by the end of the school year.
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2011, becoming Lourdes University. Graduate programs in Business, Education, Organizational Leadership, and Nurse Anesthesia earned accreditation that same era. The change brought a new energy to campus, with a new youthful student body drawn to the beauty of campus, small class size, and the promise of an outstanding Catholic education. Students thrived at Lourdes. Graduates left changed by the intimacy of their learning experience, the close community they found, and the proximity to their instructors who took the time to see the light of understanding reach each student’s eyes. Lourdes reached its enrollment height in 2011, with 2,487 mostly parttime students. By 2015, the roster had fallen to 1,550; in 2020 the entire world faced the Coronavirus Pandemic in which social distancing and severe isolation precautions kept people home and out of the public. Lourdes’ enrollment never recovered and by early 2026 when the closure decision was made, enrollment was at 676 students – barely half of what it had been pre-pandemic. For a tuition-based organization, this was catastrophic. But Lourdes isn’t alone. Across the USA since 2020, amid soaring tuition costs, new-found online technology enabling online classes, and changing demographics of fewer collegeaged students available, there has been a strong shift away from recognizing the value of higher education. “The Sisters’ focus had always been on the individual student’s success,” says Sister Nancy Linenkugel, OSF, the thirteenth and final president of the University. “This has remained true from the day Lourdes Junior College opened in 1958 to the day its last class ended. This past year despite mourning the closure of Lourdes, faculty and staff remained true to mission and continued focusing on the students. Of Lourdes’ 676 students, one-third graduated
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Sister Adrienne Urban, OSF, taught Anatomy and Physics at Lourdes from 1975-2012 and delighted in interacting with the students.
in 2026 and the rest have transferred to other academic homes with a handful opting to enter the work force. While finances drove the closure, we were driven for our students.” Kofi Ohene-Larbi graduated this summer with a nursing degree. Ohene-Larbi found community here, through the soccer team where he found a family of international students, through campus ministry, and through the Lourdes Competitive Cheer Team, who took the team to Nationals for the first time in 2025. Instead of riding the high of that success, their final year was a struggle, OheneLarbi says. In December, their teammate Kaniya Durr was killed in a car crash. Weakened, they worked hard to care for each other and regroup. “We knew we needed to have heart and purpose and intention, but we were having a hard time holding it together,” Ohene-Larbi says. Then, the announcement of Lourdes closing came in February. Teammates brought each other up, held onto the pieces, and began to practice even harder just to spend more time with
SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS OF SYLVANIA, OHIO
Kofi Ohene-Larbi, who graduated this summer with a nursing degree, found community here in the large welcoming international student body.
Duns Scotus Library, dedicated in 1950, was named for the 13thcentury Franciscan philosopher John Duns Scotus. The Library is located at the west end of St. Clare Hall on the Sylvania Franciscan Motherhouse grounds.
These first Lourdes Jr. College Graduates attended the final graduation ceremonies. From left: Sister Ann Marie Chmielewski, OSF, Sister Irenaeus Samsel, OSF, Sister Kathleen Skog, OSF, and Sister Kateri Theriault, OSF.
each other while they could. “Purpose drove everything,” Ohene-Larbi explains. “We were doing it for Kaniya. We were doing it for each other. We were doing it all the way.” The team improved but made it to Nationals only as a draw. Still, they were there, for the second time. “We gave a nearly flawless performance,” Ohene-Larbi remembers. “We didn’t win, but it felt like we’d fulfilled our purpose together as a team.” The crowd stood, honoring the Lourdes Competitive Cheer Team with a standing ovation as the team stood, chests heaving with the emotion of the moment. “The impact of Lourdes University should not be measured by the closure,” Sister Barb says. “The standard it should be
measured by is the legacy that lives on through all of those who were called to become part of Lourdes University and have now taken a part of Lourdes with them into the world.” St. Francis died saying he had done what was his to do. Mother Adelaide said a college would never be necessary. Sixty-eight years, three eras, and one closure later, it was Kofi’s cheer team standing on a mat who said it best, in a language that predates the University and will outlast it: we were doing it for each other. We were doing it all the way. That, in the end, is what Lourdes leaves behind — the Franciscan way of showing up fully for whomever is in front of you, for as long as you’re given to do it. Lourdes University is closed. Its legacy continues.
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F E AT U R I N G M I N I S T R I E S
Lourdes University Educators Sylvania Franciscans who ministered at Lourdes for a decade or longer.
Sister Adrienne Urban 1975-2012: Anatomy; Physics; Other campus ministry
Sister M. Agnes Micek 1962-1972: Academic Dean
Sister M. Agneta Ganzel 1960-1964, 1967-1985; Art Dept.
Sister M. Ann Carmen Barone 1994-2020: Director of Campus Ministry; VP Mission and Ministry
Sister M. Ann Francis Klimkowski 1983-2000: President
Sister M. Aquinas Rolek 1964-1974: Psychology Dept.
Sister M. Augustine Kwitchen 1959-1964: Social Sciences 1966-1978: Education; Archivist
Sister Barbara Stallman 1992-2003: Chemistry Dept. Chair 2005-2024: Chemistry Dept.
Sister Barbara Vano 1996-2026: Math; Computer Science; Campus Ministry; Mission Integration; VP Mission Ministry
Sister Brigid O’Shea Merriman 2005-2025: Theology Dept.; Tutoring
Sister M. Cabrini Warpeha 1983-2000: Academic Dean
Sister M. Constantia Fudali 1967-1988: Psychology Dept.
Sister M. Felice Gorny 1980-2000: Director of Business Affairs
Sister M. Helen Therese Chmura 1976-1995: Art Dept.
Sister Jane Mary Sorosiak 1976-2004: Art Dept.
Sister M. Justinian Warpeha 1954-1966: University Founder; First President; General Superior
Sister M. Ladislas Oleszkowicz 1976-1978: Science Instructor 1979-1990: BSN Program 1990-1994: Library Aide
Sister M. Lucilla Osinski 1969-1984: Academic Dean; English Instructor 1988-1997: English Instructor
Other Sylvania Franciscan Instructors who Ministered at Lourdes over the years. Sister M. Alberta Uzendoski Sister M. Alonzo Gozdowski Sister M. Alphonsine Goclowski Sister Ann Burbul Sister Anton Marie Parker Sister Antoinette Dudek Sister Beatrice Zawisza Sister M. Bernard Gruba Sister M. Catherine Labouré Busam Sister M. Charles Borromeo Walczak Sister M. Clarice Ganzel
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Sister Clara Kabick Sister M. David Narog Sister M. DeLourdes Daniels Sister M. Edith Kwiatkowski Sister M. Edwardine Konopka Sister Emily Lechlak Sister M. Fabian Labuzinski Sister M. Felicia Novak Sister M. Florentine Rys Sister M. Francis Lopata Sister M. Georgiann Manikowski
Sister M. Gervase Lochotzki Sister M. Grace Ellen Urban Sister M. Helen Frances Spears Sister M. Honoria Zwolski Sister M. Inez Tabaka Sister M. Janeen Sobczak Sister Joan Rutz Sister M. Jordan Schaefer Sister M. Juliana Sienko Sister Laureen Marie Painter Sister M. Lois Anne Palkert
SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS OF SYLVANIA, OHIO
Sister Lois Wasielewski Sister M. Lorena Dulas Sister M. Louise Draur Sister Lucille Metro Sister Margaret Hall Sister M. Margaret Janowiec Sister Marie Muskala Sister Mary Peter Kaminski Sister M. Michaeline Lesiak Sister M. Michaelinda Szwast Sister M. Miriam Bartko
Sister M. Marcelline Drewniak 1971-1995: Biology Dept. Chair
Sister M. Marguerite Polcyn 1978-1983: Chemistry Dept. 1987-2012: Registrar; Health Education; Math Dept.
Sister Maria Goretti Sodd 1992-2002: Continuing Education
Sister Marie Andree Chorzempa 1963-1967: Registrar; Physical Science Dept. 1981-1983: President
Sister Mary Ann Wojcik 1971-1986: Head Librarian; Librarian Assistant
Sister Mary Thill 1975-1996: Gerontology Dept. Chair
Sister Nancy Surma 1984-1989: Associate Academic Dean; Director Student Services 1993-1998: Vice President
Sister Pauline Gazda 1977-1988: English Literature Dept.
Sister Rachel Marie Nijakowski 1982-1988: Psychology Dept. 1990-1996: Psychology Dept.
Sister Rebecca La Point 1999-2023: Coordinator of Field Experience
Sister M. Remigia Kostick 1957-1972: Academic Dean; President; Latin Dept.
Sister M. Rosaria Petra 1972-1981: President
Sister Roselynn Humbert 1990-1999; Development
Sister M. Rosine Sobczak 1975-2012: Biology; Chemistry; Natural Sciences and Math Chair
Sister Sandra Rutkowski 1993-2025: Director of Library Services
Sister Shannon Schrein 1984-1990: Religious Studies 1998-2016: Theology Dept; Graduate School Dean
Sister Sharon Havelak 1983-2025: Art Dept.
Sister M. Thomas More Ruffing 1975-2003: Head Librarian
Sister M. Virgilia Choy 1976-2002: Senior Citizens Program Director
Sister Valerie Grondin 2005-2023: Education Dept.; Math Dept; Student Teacher Supervisor
Sister Nora Klewicki Sister M. Norbertine Zacharias Sister M. Olivia Jazwiecki Sister Pamela Nosbusch Sister Paula Blevins Sister M. Rosamond Jasinski Sister M. Rose Therese Lange Sister Ruth Marie Kachelek Sister M. Siena Lemm Sister M. St. Anne Matlon Sister M. Victorine Lopata
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The Legacy of Lourdes
For nearly seventy years, Lourdes stood on the values the Sylvania Franciscans built into it from the beginning: community, learning, reverence, and service. Ask an alum what they remember, and nearly every answer starts in the same place — not a building or a class, but a feeling of being known. As the University closes, its graduates are the clearest evidence of what it built.
Community & Service
Danilynn Miller
“Community is where we can call someone and people will drop what they are doing to help if you need it,” says Nick Dietrich, outgoing Campus Minister and Residence Life Coordinator. “I’m going to miss the strength of community at Lourdes.” Arlan Bruyas (2025, [SS1.1]B.A. Business and Marketing, golf team captain and assistant coach) felt it in the size of the place as much as the spirit of it. “It was the perfect size campus. We were within walking distance from dorms to classes, and the student population was small enough that we could all be friends with each other. We’d have campfires at night. The campus just brought people together.” He remembers the pull it still has: “When we heard it was closing, people who hadn’t been there in years came back just to see it one more time. The school won’t be there any longer, but the Sisters will. We hope to be welcomed back as alumni.” Tracy Rodriguis (1987, Lourdes College/St. Vincent School of Nursing; 2014, M.A. Nursing; Chair of the Lourdes University Alumni Association) describes it as almost tangible: “There is something that greets you when you walk on campus. You hear a whispering welcome.” She calls it a culture of kindness that alumni carry forward — “I’d say that among my cohorts, ninety-nine percent of them volunteer. We saw what it was to be kind, and we witnessed that service to others, and now we model it too.” For Dietrich, that spirit of showing up for one another hasn’t
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stopped just because the school has. “Even now, I have a couple of students who show up to help me, even though there is no school, because there is nobody else to help me with Labre on Wednesday,” he says.
Learning, the Non-Traditional Way Sylvania Police Chief Danilynn Miller finished her degree in 1997 while working full time at the Sylvania police station, taking evening classes built for adults. “Everyone was so nice, and we got to know the instructors, and they got to know us,” she says. “The instructors were as non-traditional as their students, and they really got into their subjects.” One class, an art history requirement she took during her final year, will always stay with her. “I know everything there is to know about the Sistine Chapel, front arch to back. When I finally get to Europe, I’ll be glad for everything the Sisters tried to teach me.” Bruyas remembers instructors who brought the outside world in with them: “So many of my instructors had experience in the business field before they came to teach — experts who were formerly with Fortune 500 companies, experts in the financial world. Instead of relying just on textbooks, we had plenty of hands-on simulations which taught us so much.” For Rodriguis, the education was inseparable from the
SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS OF SYLVANIA, OHIO
values underneath it. “We were grounded in a holistic way of understanding nursing,” she says. “We learned the hospitality of hospital. We learned in an environment where everyone wanted the best for each other.”
Reverence
For Dietrich, Lourdes has been his home for nearly half of his life, from his first tour of campus through the years he spent leading Campus Ministry. “I loved it immediately. It had me as soon as I saw how beautiful it is, but the smaller class size really sealed the deal for me,” he says. “Our First Year Experience programs were great, and we were able to connect with everyone very quickly.” What stayed with him most was the way faith was lived rather than preached. Professor Paul Mueller, he says, “has been a part of my journey, as has just witnessing the Franciscan tradition. I’ve never been interested in the type of people who try to convince you that their faith should be your faith. Here they just live it. We could see their faith. And if anyone wants to ask questions and talk about it, they are happy to do so.” That tradition shaped the rest of his life in more direct ways, too. He met his wife, Hannah, at a bonfire behind the campus ministry house — “it’s bittersweet that this house is going to be sold,” he says — and in 2015, Lourdes sent him on pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi (and, two years later, Hannah also went) “To walk in the steps of St. Francis, to grow alongside other Catholics who were maybe not as strong in their faith but have continued to grow with me” — it’s stayed with him ever since. “Lourdes, in so many different ways, has contributed to my faith.” For Taylor Knapp (2016, B.A. Biology; 2025, M.A. Organizational Leadership), Lourdes was a home she returned to twice. “I still give credit to Sister Barb for teaching me how to cook chicken in the Campus Ministry house during the Fill the Freezer event,” she says. “Sister Barb Stallman taught me Organic Chemistry, and I still remember when I finally earned a hundred Nick Dietrich
Taylor Knapp
on one of my lab reports — probably still one of my greatest accomplishments.” When she came back for her master’s in 2023, this time from two and a half hours away, she found the same spirit waiting. “Carrying reverence with me has been the most pivotal part of my life,” she says. “From being a parent to leading a team at work, reverence has allowed me to enter every opportunity with a sense of wonder — something that would not have been so foundational for me had I attended another school.” Laurie Kneuven, (2009, B.A. Theology; 2012, M.A. Theology), served as Campus Minister after graduation before returning to her family dairy and farm business to help when her father fell ill. Now, far from Lourdes and the community she so loved, she says that her world is much different. “What I learned and experienced at Lourdes is still with me,” she says. “That welcoming spirit has helped what I’m able to bring to my employees. We model it at the café in our relations with each other and the customers, always striving to appreciate the dignity of everyone we meet.”
Closing
Rodriguis, watching the University wind down from her post as Alumni Association chair, sees the same character in its ending as in everything before it: “Even now, in these tumultuous times of closing down the school, there are so many dedicated people still working hard to make sure it is done well, that it is done right, and that the closing goes as well as it can.” “I’m really going to miss Lourdes and especially the community that was established here. I know that I might not find that easily in the future, but I know what it feels like and can work to build community wherever I go,” says Dietrich. “That part of life that was so important to me is over, but the Sisters are still there, and the Sisters are what made it so special,” says Kneuven.
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Living in joyful servanthood This year, the Sylvania Franciscan Foundation was blessed to provide financial and prayer support to 17 non-profit organizations who serve our local community in ways that embrace the mission of the Sisters of St. Francis. The Sylvania Franciscan Foundation carries the values of the Sisters of St. Francis into the wider community. Not as an abstraction, but as pivotal financial support - a shelter funded, a garden planted. Every gift traces back to a single conviction, one the Sisters have carried since their founding: that the Gospel is lived not in word but in joyful servanthood. We uplift compassionate services reverencing human dignity, embracing the poor and marginalized, and respecting the gift of all creation. This conviction takes shape across our four areas of funding, inspiring positive change for generations to come. We could not do this without the support of YOU, our partners in ministry. This year we are invited to reflect on the impact of St. Francis during the 800th anniversary of his death. I am reminded by his iconic prayer, that we are called to be of service to one another. O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. As we journey forward in service to others, and in honor of the remarkable impact of Lourdes University, we recommit to generosity of spirit and invite you to join in the mission. To learn more about the impact of the Sylvania Franciscan Foundation and share in the legacy of the Sisters of St. Francis, reach out to Deidra at 419-824-3625 or email dlashley@sistersosf.org. Learn more about the 2026 Grantees.
An envelope is attached for your convenience. Thank you in advance for your prayerful support.
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In Memoriam Sister Diana Lynn Eckel, OSF Sister Diana Lynn Eckel (formerly Sister M. Brian) died at Rosary Care Center in Sylvania, Ohio, on May 27, 2026, two days before her 81st birthday. She entered the Sylvania Franciscan congregation from St. Aloysius Parish in Bowling Green, Ohio, in 1959 and made first profession in 1965. She earned degrees from Mary Manse College and the University of Detroit and principal certification from the University of Toledo. Sister Diana began her ministry teaching in elementary schools in Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio and Maryland. She later served the Toledo Diocesan School Office as a consultant to principals and counselor for students. After helping plan the opening of St. Joan of Arc School in Toledo, she served as its principal. She later helped merge two Rossford parish schools and served at All Saints Parish for 12 years. She loved being a principal and was remembered for listening, encouraging and helping others be their best. Sister Diana was elected to Congregational Leadership, serving first on the Leadership Team and then two terms as Congregational Minister. She led with courage, love and compassion. Later, she served as Director of Mission Integration at St. Clare Commons in Perrysburg until 2021. In retirement, Sister Diana embraced a Ministry of Presence and Prayer among the Sisters and enjoyed family, friends, camping and travel, especially to Gaylord, Michigan, her favorite place on earth. On her 60th Jubilee, she reflected, “It’s really not so much ‘what’ I’ve done, but the way God used me to touch hearts and impact lives on this Franciscan journey.” She will be greatly missed by her Sisters, family and many friends.
Sister M. Lois Anne Palkert, OSF Sister M. Lois Anne Palkert died peacefully on July 18, 2026, at Rosary Care Center in Sylvania, Ohio, one week after her 88th birthday. Originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, she entered the Sylvania Franciscan congregation in 1956 and became a U.S. citizen in 1957, a highlight of her life. She professed her first vows in 1959. For nearly 64 years, Sister Lois Anne ministered in the Franciscan tradition of service to the poor and marginalized. She began by teaching in elementary schools in Ohio and Michigan, then served as Novice Director, Associate Director for Lay Ministry in the Toledo Diocese, Director of Lifelong Learning at Lourdes College, and Director of Faith Formation and Pastoral Associate in Minnesota parishes. Her final ministry was in Texas, where she served as Director of Mission Integration and Mission Services for two hospitals. Sister Lois Anne was a lifelong learner, earning B.A. and M.A. (continued next page)
SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS OF SYLVANIA, OHIO
Sister M. Lorena Dulas, OSF Sister M. Lorena Dulas died on July 27, 2026, at Mercy St. Anne Hospital in Toledo, Ohio. The daughter of Henry and Catherine Dulas, she came to Sylvania in 1953 after graduating from St. Casimir School in Wells, Minnesota. She made her first profession in 1959 and final profession in 1962. Sister Lorena earned degrees from Mary Manse College in Toledo and the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. She taught for 26 years in elementary schools in Michigan, Ohio and Minnesota. In 1984, she returned to the Motherhouse, where she served in the print shop, reception, transportation, hospitality, housing and housekeeping. She also ministered at Vianney Center in Steubenville, Good Counsel Education Center in Mankato and Lourdes College. In later years, Sister Lorena resided in Our Lady of Grace Hall, where she enjoyed prayer, sharing stories with other Sisters, activities at Rosary Care Center — especially BINGO — and working on jigsaw puzzles. Over the years, Sister Lorena learned to let go and “not take myself so seriously.” She found comfort in Acts 17:28: “…in Him we live and move and have our being.” Her warm and loving personality will be deeply missed by her Sisters, family and friends. (continued from previous page) degrees from Mercy College in Detroit and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. She also pursued studies in pastoral care and religious formation. Friends remembered Sister Lois Anne as a listening presence—kind, positive and always willing to help. She will be missed by her Sylvania Franciscan Sisters, caregivers, friends in Texas and loving family.
Sister M. Magdala Davlin, OSF Sister M. Magdala Davlin died peacefully at Rosary Care Center in Sylvania, Ohio, on September 9, 2026, five days before her 80th birthday. She entered the Sylvania Franciscan congregation from Sandusky, Ohio, in 1960 and made first profession in 1966. She earned degrees in nursing from Lourdes Junior College, Madonna College in Livonia, Michigan, and The Catholic University of America. During 60 years of ministry, Sister Magdala taught in elementary schools and served for nearly 43 years as a nurse in hospitals and nursing homes. She also served as coordinator of an inner-city clinic in Toledo and as Pastoral Care Director at Trinity Medical Center West in Steubenville, Ohio. After returning to the Motherhouse in 2015, Sister Magdala fulfilled a lifelong dream of developing her artistic gifts. She studied art at Lourdes University and worked in Alverno Studio with Sister Jane Mary Sorosiak and volunteers, creating ceramic murals for the Motherhouse campus, churches, retirement communities and public places in several states. Her special artistic project was the bronze statue of Mother Mary Adelaide Sandusky, foundress of the Sylvania Franciscans. Unveiled in 2021, the statue represented for Sister Magdala “a graced vision of all that has been and all that will be.” Those who knew Sister Magdala remember her gentle, peaceful manner and her desire simply to “go about doing good.” She will be deeply missed by her Franciscan Sisters, especially her classmates, those who cared for her, and the many volunteers who worked with her in Alverno Studio. She is survived by her siblings Christine Kochendoerfer, Elizabeth (Robert) Cassidy and Robert (Suzanne) Davlin Jr., and many nieces and nephews.
2026 • VOL. 27, ISSUE 2
Sister M. Clarinda Coffel, OSF Sister M. Clarinda Coffel died at Hospice of Northwest Ohio Ebeid Hospice Center in Sylvania, Ohio, on September 17, 2026. The daughter of Clarence M. Coffel and Catherine McGuire, she felt called to religious life at an early age and followed her older sister, June (Sister M. Alexandra), to the Sylvania Franciscan congregation in 1949. Both sisters had attended Immaculate Conception Parish School in Columbia Heights, Minnesota, where they were taught by Sylvania Franciscans. Sister Clarinda made first profession in 1954 and earned degrees from the University of Detroit. During nearly 72 years of ministry, Sister Clarinda devoted herself to education, teaching in elementary schools in Ohio and Michigan and serving as a principal in Ohio and Minnesota. For 20 years, she was principal of Immaculate Conception School, where she had been a student. She was known for her dedication to the dignity of each student, excellence among faculty and the partnership between parents and school. After retiring as a principal, Sister Clarinda served a parish in New Brighton, Minnesota, as Director of Religious Education, Pastoral Minister and Bible Study Coordinator. She especially loved Bible Study with the parish’s older adults. This ministry fulfilled her dream “to invite myself and others to live the Gospel Message.” Sister Clarinda returned to the Motherhouse in July 2026 after months of celebrations with parishioners, family and friends who gathered to express gratitude for her many years of ministry. Though her time back with her Franciscan Sisters was brief, she shared her gifts by proclaiming the Word and singing at Mass with her beautiful voice. She will be deeply missed by her Sisters, brother Jerome (Hallett) Coffel, many nieces and nephews, and countless friends and former students. Rest in peace, dear Sister.
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Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania, Ohio 6832 Convent Blvd. Sylvania, Ohio 43560 sistersosf.org facebook.com/sylvaniafranciscans
6832 Convent Blvd. Visit us in our new convenient location in the historic farmhouse next to the Franciscan Center. Beautiful gifts in a cozy and convenient new location!
www.allgoodthings.org 419-824-3749
SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS OF SYLVANIA, OHIO
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