Adorers of the Blood of Christ (ASC)
60th First Profession
Sister George Ann Biscan
Birthplace: East Chicago, Indiana
First profession: 1962
Education: Bachelor’s in elementary education, Youngstown University, Youngstown, Ohio, 1972
Master’s in education administration, Purdue University, Hammond, Indiana, 1979
Service in the archdiocese: Pastoral care and activities assistant, Sunshine Assisted Living Center, St. Louis, 2008-10
Resident service specialist and administrative assistant, Meadowlands, O’Fallon, 2010
Home healthcare, Angels on Duty Home Healthcare, St. Louis, 2010-14
Regional treasurer, ASC Offices, St. Louis, 2000-07
Service outside the archdiocese: Teacher, St. Raphael, Greenville, North Carolina, 1964-66
Teacher, St. Mary, Steelton, Pennsylvania, 1966-67
Teacher, Sacred Heart, McKeesport, Pennsylvania, 1967-68
Principal and teacher, Mt. Carmel, Niles, Ohio, 1968-70
Principal, West End Consolidation School, Johnstown, Pennsylvania, 1978-83
Provincial councilor and coordinator of ministry for ASC sisters, Columbia, Pennsylvania, 1983-86
Pastoral assistant, St. Peter Parish, Columbia, Pennsylvania, 1986-2000
Director of community life and mission, Columbia, Pennsylvania, 2014-17
About Sister George Ann Biscan: I loved working with the elderly. They were so appreciative of any kindness, and they had so much wisdom to share. When I visited classrooms as a principal, the conversations would often turn to the subject of vocations. I was happy to answer with experiences of my life as a sister. I was selected Woman of the Year by the Council of Catholic Women, and Teacher of the Month by Today’s Catholic Teacher. I am currently vice president of the Manos Board, a rehab center for drug and alcohol recovery in Columbia, Pennsylvania.
65th First Profession
Sister Alicia Drone
Birthplace: Ridgway, Illinois
First profession: 1957
Education: Bachelor’s in history, Saint Louis University, 1970
Master’s in religious studies, Saint Louis University, 1980
Institute of Religious Formation, Saint Louis University, 1973
Certificate in ministry to ministers program, Oblate School of Theology, San Antonio, Texas, 1995
Certificate in conversational and liturgical Spanish, Mexican American Cultural Center, San Antonio, Texas, 1995
Service in the archdiocese: Teacher, St. Jerome School, St. Louis, 1965-69
Teacher, Our Lady School, Festus, 1970-72
ASC vocation and formation director, DeMattias Hall, St. Louis, 1973-78
Service outside the archdiocese: Teacher, St. Albert the Great School, Fairview Heights, Illinois, 1959-60
Teacher, St. Elizabeth, East St. Louis, Illinois, 1960-61
Teacher, St. Bruno, Pinckneyville, Illinois, 1961-65, 1986-94
Director of religious education (DRE) and prison ministry, Ava, Willisville, Raddle, Menard Prisons, 1983-84
Prison ministry, Menard Prisons, Chester, Illinois, 1984-94
Principal, St. John, Red Bud, Illinois, 1985
DRE K-12, St. Patrick Parish, San Antonio, Texas, 1995-2001
Receptionist, St. Elizabeth of Hungary Clinic, Tucson, Arizona, 2001-02
English tutoring, 2002-03
Coordinator of spiritual formation, St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Effingham, Illinois, 2003-12
DRE K-12, St. Peter Parish, Quincy, Illinois, 2012-16
About Sister Alicia Drone: I became active in the retreat program Teens Encounter Christ (TEC) in the Belleville Diocese in 1973 and served as chair of the TEC Board for two terms. I founded the Kentucky Volunteer Group for TEC seniors who served in Tomkinsville, Kentucky, for more than two decades.
Sister Therese Anne Kiefer
Birthplace: Belle Rive, Illinois
First profession: 1957
Education: Bachelor’s in theology, Saint Louis University, 1969
Master’s in religious education, Fordham University, Bronx, New York, 1972
Master’s in pastoral studies, Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois, 1983
Certificate in spiritual direction, Aquinas Institute of Theology, St. Louis, 2006
Service in the archdiocese: Teacher, St. Jerome School, St. Louis, 1963-67
Director of ASC Ongoing Formation, St. Louis, 1994-2005
Spiritual director, Behavioral Medical Institute, St. Louis, 2006-present
Spiritual director and spirituality coordinator, St. Louis, 2006-present
Service outside the archdiocese:
Teacher, Immaculate Conception School, Centreville, Illinois, 1959-63
Principal, teacher, organist, parish school of religion coordinator, Sacred Heart, Dupo, Illinois, 1967-71
Principal and organist, SS. Peter and Paul, Waterloo, Illinois, 1978-80
Director of religious education and teacher, St. Stephen, Flora, Illinois, 1980-82
Principal and organist, St. Joseph, Olney, Illinois, 1980-91
Director of religious education and teacher, St. Joseph, Olney, Illinois, 1980-91
Director of evangelization, St. Francis Xavier School, St. Joseph, Missouri, 1992-94
Liturgist, Ruma Center, Ruma, Illinois, 1994-2004
About Sister Therese Anne Kiefer: I worked some years on the North American Forum on the Catechumenate, giving talks and workshops. I spent a year in Australia, focusing on “Re-Membering,” the effort to bring former Catholics back into the Church community. In addition to my work with the Behavioral Medicine Institute, I have also had a private spiritual direction practice. I engage in, read about, and pray the cosmic/universe story. This nurtures my prayer life and spirituality. I also enjoy podcasts, books and conversations on this topic.
Sister Joan Marie Voss
Birthplace: St. Louis
First profession: 1957
Education: Bachelor’s in business education, Saint Louis University, 1965
Master’s in spirituality, St. Mary University, San Antonio, Texas, 1971
Teacher certificate, Grades 6-12, University of Champaign-Urbana, 1965
Service in the archdiocese: Postulant director, DeMattias Hall, St. Louis, 1974-75
Novice director, DeMattias Hall, St. Louis, 1975-76
Spiritual leader, DeMattias Hall, St. Louis, 1975-80
CPE/hospital intern, Deaconess Hospital, St. Louis, 1996-99
Service outside the archdiocese: Elementary teacher, St. Mary School, Chester, Illinois, 1958-61
Elementary teacher, St. Clare School, O’Fallon, Illinois, 1961-63
High school teacher, Althoff Catholic, Belleville, Illinois, 1965-66
High school teacher, St. Teresa Academy, East St. Louis, Illinois, 1966-70
CCD coordinator for Diocese of Belleville, Illinois, 1971-74
High school teacher, Assumption, East St. Louis, 1974-75
Administrator, Catholic Children’s Home/Alton Orphanage, Alton, Illinois, 1980-82
Diocesan Office Executive of Social Concerns, Springfield-Cape Girardeau, Springfield, Missouri, 1982-83
Provincial Leader, Ruma, Illinois, 1983-87
Councilor on ASC General Administration, Rome, Italy, 1987-95
Ministry team member, King’s House Retreat Center, Belleville, Illinois, 1999-2006
Spiritual director and retreat director, 2006-21
About Sister Joan Marie Voss: For the last 25 years, I have served others as spiritual director at the King’s House Retreat Center in Belleville, Illinois.
70th First Profession
Sister Celine (Mary Gilbert) Birk
Birthplace: Evansville, Illinois
First profession: 1952
Education: Bachelor’s in elementary education, Newman University, Wichita, Kansas, 1970
Master’s in adult religious/elementary education, St. Thomas University, Houston, Texas, 1980
Service in the archdiocese: Principal, Our Lady School, Festus, 1971-78
Director of religious education, Our Lady Parish, Festus, 1981-86
Pastoral associate, St. James the Greater Parish, St. Louis, 1988-96
Chaplaincy and home care, Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, St. Louis, 2002-04
Finance office volunteer, ASC Mission Center, St. Louis, 2004-2014
Service outside the archdiocese: Teacher, Holy Family, Cahokia, Illinois, 1952-54
Teacher, Holy Rosary, Fort Dodge, Iowa, 1954-62
Teacher, Sts. Peter and Paul, Waterloo Illinois, 1962-63
Child care, Catholic Children’s Home, Alton, Illinois, 1963-65
Religion CCD team for eight parishes, based in Dahlgren, Illinois, 1965-68
Teacher, St. Mary, Chester, Illinois, 1978-79
Director of religious education, St. Libory Parish, St. Libory, Illinois, 1979-81
Director of pastoral care/community life, Ruma Center, Ruma, Illinois, 1998-2002
About Sister Celine Birk: Sister Celine is currently Living Mission in Later Life at the Benedictine Living Community on the grounds of the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows near Belleville.
75th First Profession
Sister Florence (Bernarda) Korte
Birthplace: Damiansville, Illinois
First profession: 1947
Education: Food service, Fontbonne University, 1972
Domestic Service Apostolate Institute, St. Louis, 1967, 1969
Food Management Institute, Canon City, Colorado, 1970
Council of Christian Service and the Restaurant, Chicago, Illinois, 1971
Service in the archdiocese: Food service, Cantian Seminary, 1949-50, 1956-60
Food service, Our Lady House of Studies, 1960-63
Food service, De Mattias Hall, 1966-73, 1980-82
Housekeeper, St. Joseph in Zell, 1963-66
Sacristan, Regina Cleri, 1981-82
Service outside the archdiocese: Food service, Catholic Children’s Home, Alton, Illinois, 1947-48
Food service, St. Clement Hospital, Red Bud, Illinois, 1948-49
Food service, St. John Nepomecene, Dahlgren, Illinois, 1950-51
Housekeeper, St. Clare Convent, O’Fallon, Illinois, 1951-52, 1953-54
Housekeeper, St. Anthony, Lively Grove, Illinois, 1954-55
Tutor and religious education, St. John Nepomecene, Dahlgren, Illinois, 1954-55
Housekeeper, St. Bruno, Pinckneyville, Illinois, 1955-56
Home care, Damiansville, Illinois, 1972, 1982-84
Housekeeper, St. Augustine, Belleville, Illinois, 1973-74
Housekeeper, St. Rose, St. Rose, Illinois, 1974-79
Food service, St. Ann’s Home, Chester, Illinois, 1979-80
Receptionist, Ruma Center, Ruma, Illinois, 1984-94
Hair care, Ruma Center, 1984-2001
About Sister Florence Korte: Sister Florence died Sept. 2, 2022
Sister Marita Toenjes
Birthplace: Red Bud, Illinois
First profession: 1947
Education: Bachelor’s in history, Saint Louis University, 1968
Elementary teaching certificate, Missouri and Illinois
Service in the archdiocese: Teacher, St. Joseph, Union, 1959
Teacher, St. Jerome, St. Louis, 1963-65
Admissions and clerical assistant, Edgewood/Tealwood Program, St. Louis, 1980-82
Secretary, ASC Health Ministries, St. Louis, 1982-89
Executive secretary, Nazareth Living Center, St. Louis, 1997-98
Tutor, Literacy Council of Greater St. Louis, English as a Second Language, 1999-2010
Service outside the archdiocese: Teacher, St. Joseph, Olney, Illinois, 1950-52
Teacher, St. Mary, Mt. Carmel, Illinois, 1950-52
Teacher, Holy Rosary, Fort Dodge, Iowa, 1952-56
Teacher, St. Augustine, Belleville, Illinois, 1956-59
Teacher, St. Mary, Chester, Illinois, 1959-63
Teacher, St. Clare, O’Fallon, Illinois, 1965-66
Teacher, St. Peter and Paul, Waterloo, 1966
Teacher assistant, St. Patrick, Ruma, Illinois, 1968-71
Office work, St. Ann’s Home, Chester, Illinois, 1970
Office work, St. John School, Red Bud, Illinois, 1971-72
Office work, Catholic Children’s Home, Alton, Illinois, 1972-73
Office work, Ruma Center, 1974-78
Secretary, Gibault High School, Waterloo, Illinois, 1979-80
Administrative assistant, Ruma Center, Ruma, Illinois, 1993-94
Executive secretary, ASC Health System, O’Fallon, Illinois, 1990-93
Provincial secretary, Ruma Center, 1994
Assistant librarian, Ruma Center, 2010-22
About Sister Marita Toenjes: Sister Marita is currently Living Mission in Later Life at Benedictine Living Community on the grounds of the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows near Belleville.