| The Sisters of St.
Francis of Rochester, Minnesota, have elected a new
Leadership Team that will take office in July of this
year.
The team includes the
new President, Tierney Trueman, OSF, and full-time
ministers, Ramona Miller, OSF, Marilyn Geiger, OSF, and
Anne Walch, OSF; part-time ministers, Joan Brown,OSF,
Marlene Pinzka,OSF,and Kathleen Warren, OSF, will also
serve the community. The team was identified through a
Congregational election process. The new team will take
office in July.
Tierney Trueman, OSF,
originally from Harvey, IL, has served for the last 30
years in
 a
variety of ministries in Bogotá, Colombia, first as a
teacher and then as director of Colegio Santa Francisca
Romana, k-12; most recently she has been Coordinator of
the Franciscan Mission in Bogotá. She received “Al
Merito Educativo Medal,” and was appointed to the
Education Commission by the National Senate of Colombia,
SA. She graduated from the College of Saint Teresa with
a BA in Biology and from the University of Alabama with
an MA in Educational Leadership and Administration.
Before leaving for Bogotá, S. Tierney served for nine
years in ministry in St. Francis Parish in Rochester,
teaching, working in liturgy and in Religious Education
in the parish.
Ramona Miller, OSF,
originally from Waseca, MN, will leave her position as
Director of
 Spiritual
Formation and Director of Field Education at the
Franciscan School of Theology at the Graduate
Theological Union in Berkeley, CA. Her ministry
experiences include elementary education, secondary
education, parochial faith formation and retreat
ministry. She earned an MA in Ministry in 1983 from
Seattle University, WA, afterwards serving in parish
ministry. Since 1987 she has also served as a Franciscan
pilgrimage leader in Italy several times a year. After
completing her MA in Franciscan Studies in 1992 from St.
Bonaventure University, she was assigned to Tau Center
in Winona, MN, where she served as Program Director from
1992-2000. She also served as the director of a
Franciscan Sabbatical Program there.
Marilyn Geiger, OSF,
originally from Seward, NE, is currently serving as a
Pastoral
 Coordinator
at Saint Anne’s Parish in the Archdiocese of Seattle,
WA. With a bachelor's degree in nursing, S. Marilyn
worked at Saint Marys Hospital in Rochester, and later
taught at the College of St Teresa in Winona, MN. She
went on to receive a degree as a Family Nurse
Practitioner, working for 13 years in a Seattle
Community Clinic. In 1991 she received her Master's of
Divinity at Seattle University, among the first women to
do so at SU. She is one of ten women appointed by the
Archbishop to lead a parish. She has served on numerous
committees in both the church and civic community.
Anne Walch, OSF,
originally from Altura, MN, holds a BA in Education from
the College
 of
Saint Teresa in Winona, MN, an MA in Culture and
Creation Spirituality from Holy Names College, Oakland,
CA, and an MA in Pastoral Ministry from Seattle
University in Washington. S. Anne has served in a
variety of ministries including primary grade teacher
and vocation minister. She ministered in Montana for 25
years in St. Leo’s Parish and on Saint |
Labre Reservation. Sister
Anne also served as a pastoral minister in other
parishes in Minnesota and Montana. She served as
community Vocation Minister for seven years and on the
Leadership Team from 1994-2000. She will be leaving her
current position as Pastoral Associate at St. Joachim’s
in Plainview, Holy Trinity in Rollingstone, and St.
Mary’s in Minneiska, MN.
Joan Brown, OSF,
originally from Emporia, KS, received a BA in English
from St. Mary
College, Leavenworth, Kansas, and an MA in Religion,
Philosophy and Cosmology from California Institute of
Integral Studies in San Francisco. S. Joan is a
cofounder of the Tierra Madre strawbale community. She
directed the Pike's Peak Justice and Peace Commission
and Pace e Bené. She currently serves as an Ecology
Minister working through the Social Justice Office of
the Archdiocese of Santa Fe and the Interfaith
Non-Profit Partnership for Earth Spirituality.
Kathleen Warren, OSF,
originally from Rochester, MN, just completed her Doctor
of Ministry degree at the Graduate Theological
Foundation in South Bend, IN. She holds a BA in
Religious Studies from the College of Saint Teresa, an
MA in Religious Education from Loyola University in
Chicago, and an MA in Franciscan Studies from St.
Bonaventure University. All of her ministry has been
concerned with pastoral work, specifically in empowering
lay leadership in parishes. S. Kathleen has worked in
Nigeria, the Philippines, Ghana, India, Ireland, and
Italy as well as around the United States. She has
served on the Congregational Incorporation Team and as
National Coordinator of RENEW International.
Marlene Pinzka, OSF,
originally from Sleepy Eye, MN, has served on the
faculty of Loras College in Dubuque, IA, for 17 years.
She
has Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees in
mathematics education. Her ministry has been in
education at the junior high, senior high, and college
levels. She co-chairs the Catholic Identity Committee
and has served on a variety of committees at Loras,
including the Faculty Senate. S. Marlene’s other service
activities include working with area elementary and
secondary teachers and serving as a mentor to students
in the Dubuque schools. She is a board member and
treasurer for People in Need, an interfaith outreach
program for persons in crisis.
The Rochester
Franciscans (OSF) were founded in 1877 by Mother Alfred
Moes, and observe the Third Order Franciscan Rule which
calls them to follow in the footprints of Jesus. The
community is headquartered in Rochester, MN, and
includes more than 300 vowed members and 120 Cojouners.
Contemplation in action characterizes their lives.
Rochester Franciscans serve in Minnesota and many states
across the nation as well as several foreign countries.
In addition to education and health care, the Sisters
work in a variety of ministries including pastoral
ministry, counseling, and numerous support services.
They commit themselves to being a compassionate presence
for peace in our world, striving for justice, and
reverencing all creation.
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