50th profession
Sister Georgette Lehmuth
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Birthplace: St. Louis
Entrance: 1965
First profession: 1968
Final profession: 1971
Education: Bachelor’s in French, theology and English, Marillac College
Master’s in administration, University of Nebraska
Service in the archdiocese: Teacher, Our Lady of Guadalupe School, 1972-76
Leadership of her congregation, 1990-2000
Process and planning facilitator throughout the archdiocese, 1990-2000
Service outside the archdiocese: Teacher, campus minister and assistant principal at Gross Catholic High School, Omaha, Neb., 1976-88
Served in the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Archdiocese of Omaha, 1988-90
Teacher, Creighton University, Omaha, 1989-90
President and CEO, National Catholic Development Conference, 2001-present
About Sister Georgette Lehmuth: In 2001, she was named president and CEO of the National Catholic Development Conference and remains in this position today. In her ministry she travels extensively. She enjoys meeting new people and personally witnessing to the incredible good that is happening in our world by people who have made Jesus’ mission truly their own. She is honored to be the voice of those whose ministries so deeply impact the lives of so many, especially those less fortunate and most vulnerable. She cherishes time with her family and with her Franciscan sisters. She likes to pray, play and dialogue with others. She enjoys theatre, museums, reading, walking, playing the piano and visiting family and friends in France.
Sister Regina Strassburger
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Birthplace: St. Louis
Entrance: 1965
First profession: 1968
Final profession: 1971
Education: Bachelor’s in biology, Marillac College, St. Louis
Master’s in administration, University of Missouri
Service in the archdiocese: Teacher, St. Bartholomew School, 1977-80
Principal, St. Francis of Assisi School, 1985-91
Principal, Sts. John and James School, 1991-2000
Congregational leadership in Kirkwood, 2000-10
Principal, St. Agnes School in Bloomsdale, 2011-16
Service outside the archdiocese: Served as teacher in Illinois and principal in Louisiana
About Sister Regina Strassburger: Since 2016, she has ministered as secretary and archivist for her congregation. She enjoys family and community gatherings, music, Billiken basketball games and occasional movies. She is grateful for her vocation, her family, her friends, her Franciscan Sisters and all of the wonderful children and adults who have blessed her life in her places of ministry.
60th profession
Sister Raphael Karnish
Birthplace: Omaha, Neb.
Entrance: 1955
First profession: 1958
Final profession: 1961
Education: Bachelor’s in history, Saint Louis University
Master’s in American history, Saint Louis University
Service in the archdiocese: Teacher, St. Casimir School, 1958-63
Principal, Our Lady of the Pillar School, 1977-79
Formation and vocation director, Franciscan Sisters, 1969-75, 1979-84
Leadership, Franciscan Sisters, 1977-84
Tutor, Notre Dame Learning Center and Innovative Concept Academy, 2008-15
Service outside the archdiocese: Served as teacher in Ohio, Nebraska, Louisiana, Kansas and Wyoming.
About Sister Raphael Karnish: After retiring from active ministry, I cherished my role as a volunteer. Now my main ministry is the ministry of prayer. I enjoy music, reading, especially mysteries, following golf, the Nebraska Cornhuskers and St. Louis Cardinals. Most of all, I enjoy visiting my one remaining sibling, Father Robert Karnish, in western Nebraska. I thank God for life, faith, love of family and my religious vocation and religious family.
Sister Aquinas Kurtz
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Birthplace: Omaha, Neb.
Entrance: 1955
First profession: 1957
Final profession: 1961
Education: Bachelor’s in English, Saint Louis University
Master’s in English, University of Dayton
Master’s in administration, Wright State University
Service in the archdiocese: Teacher, Our Lady of the Pillar School, 1960-68
Principal, St. Francis of Assisi School, 1983-85
Service outside the archdiocese: Served as teacher in Fairborn, Ohio; and Omaha, Neb.
Served as principal in Ohio, Illinois and New Mexico
About Sister Aquinas Kurtz: Since retiring in 2004, she has been volunteering at Memorial Hospital in Belleville, Ill., where she feels she has been blessed with the opportunity “to spread the Good News to both staff and patient visitors.” She continues cheering on her favorite sports’ teams: the Nebraska Cornhuskers football and St. Louis Cardinals. Reading consumes much of her quiet time. She is very grateful to her birth family and her Franciscan community, along with the many students/families who have touched her life throughout these 60-plus years.