Franciscan Sisters of Mary (FSM)
60th Entrance
Sister Frances Marie Haarmann
Birthplace: Effingham, Illinois
Entrance: 1963
First profession: 1966
Final profession: 1972
Education: Bachelor’s in nursing, Saint Louis University, 1970
Service in the archdiocese: Co-director, St. Mary of the Angels Convent, St. Louis, 1998-2001
Community director, Our Lady of Victories, St. Louis, 2005-11
Volunteer, SSM DePaul Health Center, St. Louis, 2011-15
FSM Leadership Team, St. Louis, 2015-19
Service outside the archdiocese: Nurse, St. Francis Hospital, Blue Island, Illinois, 1971-1976
Nurse, head nurse, nursing supervisor, and hospice nurse, St. Eugene Hospital, Dillon, South Carolina, 1976-95
Nurse, Good Samaritan Hospital, Mount Vernon, Illinois, 1995-97
About Sister Frances Marie Haarmann: Sister Fran is a Franciscan Sister of Mary, a registered nurse and has focused her life living the mission of the Franciscan Sisters of Mary: which is to be the presence of the loving, serving, compassionate, healing Jesus. Now retired, Sister Fran enjoys sewing, crocheting baby blankets and donating them to various organizations here in St. Louis Growing up on a farm in Illinois, she thanks God for her family and the rural community where values were taught and faith was the bedrock of life. Sister Fran says: “Learning to care for creation and all of life from an early age has been a blessing. I am so very grateful to have been called to live religious life in a Franciscan community.
Sister Marylu Stueber
Birth name: Mary Lu Anne
Birthplace: St. Louis
Entrance: 1963
First profession: 1966
Final profession: 1972
Education: Saint Louis University School of Nursing, St. Louis, 1963
Service in the archdiocese: Nurse, St. Mary’s Health Center, St. Louis, 1966-68
Nursing supervisor, Mount St. Rose Hospital, St. Louis, 1968-70
Statistician, St. Mary’s Health Center, St. Louis, 1971-74
Secretary, FSM Congregational Leadership Team, St. Louis, 1975-77
Archivist, Franciscan Sisters of Mary, St. Louis, 1978-2013
Founding member, St. Louis Area Religious Archivists (SLARA), 1986
Chair of SLARA, St. Louis, 1987-96
Service outside the archdiocese: Administrative assistant, St. Clare Hospital, Baraboo, Wisconsin, 1970-71
About Sister Marylu Stueber: I marvel at the words of Psalm 139 and the movements of God in my life. One of my blessings has been as a graduate of St. Alphonsus (Rock) High and Saint Louis University School of Nursing. Presently I live in the Sarah Community, in Veronica House, after beginning as a nurse and then having spent 35 years in the archives of the Franciscan Sisters of Mary. There were many wonderful things in which I have participated, having founded the St. Louis Area Religious Archivists. Oh, how much I have experienced! The history of our congregation became a real part of my life. Today I enjoy a ministry of presence. My days may be in correspondence, on genealogy, reading both spiritual and history, then I enjoy nature. God teaches us much when we reflect on the gifts of nature and contemplate them. Our life is much different today than in the past. Would that I would heed and live out Mother Odilia’s admonition to her sisters in the congregation before she died: “Continue courageously for the love of God.”
Sister Mary Michelle Yates
Birth name: Olive Amelia Yates
Birthplace: Hannibal, Missouri
Entrance: 1963
First profession: 1966
Final profession: 1972
Education: Bachelor’s in medical records, Saint Louis University, 1971
Service in the archdiocese: Activity aide, Skilled Nursing Facility, St. Charles, 1992-93
Caregiver, CSJ Care, St. Louis, 1999-2013
Volunteer caregiver, St. Louis, 2013-present
Service outside the archdiocese: Assistant director of medical records, St. Anthony Hospital, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 1971-77
Councilor, OSF Leadership Team, Maryville, Missouri, 1977-83
Christian effectiveness coordinator, St. Francis Hospital, Maryville, Missouri, 1983-85
Mission awareness coordinator, St. Anthony Hospital, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 1985-91
Pastoral care aide, Villa Marie Skilled Nursing Facility, Jefferson City, Missouri, 1997-99
About Sister Mary Michelle Yates: Sister Michelle is interested in reading and learning about the present realities and the rapid changes affecting people throughout the world that are opposed to social justice and the common good. She looks for ways to make peace and justice relevant and life-giving for herself and for others and to experience the interconnectedness of all creation. She finds God’s presence in caring for the earth’s plants and animals all seasons of the year a joy and a reminder of God’s gift of her family and rural roots. She is very grateful and happy that God has continued to call her to live in community with her sisters for the past sixty years. She currently lives at the Sarah Community in Bridgeton. She is thankful for the gift of life and the opportunities to be of service in various ways in this retirement community and in her congregation.
60th First Profession
Sister Margaret Mary O’Gorman
Birthplace: Kansas City, Missouri
Entrance: 1963
First profession: 1966
Final profession: 1969
Education: Bachelor’s in theology, Mundelein College, Chicago, 1969
Master’s in theology, St. Mary’s University, San Antonio, Texas, 1981
Certification in spiritual direction, Aquinas Institute of Theology, St. Louis, 2004
Certificate in dream work, Haden Institute, Asheville, North Carolina, 2017
Service in the archdiocese: Councilor and congregational secretary, FSM Leadership Team, St. Louis, 1995-2001
Director, Office of Friendship and Justice, St. Louis, 2003-06
Member, Board of SSM Health, St. Louis, 2009-13
Spiritual direction, St. Louis, 2004-20
Service outside the archdiocese: Religion teacher, Mount Alverno Academy, Maryville, Missouri, 1969-70
General councilor, Congregational Leadership Team, Maryville, Missouri, 1970-75
Religious education consultant, Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, 1975-76
Superior, Mount Alverno Convent (the motherhouse), Maryville, Missouri, 1976-77
Director of religious education, St. Eugene Parish, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 1977-81
Director of religious education, five parishes in the Maryville, Missouri, deanery, 1981-84
Formation director, Maryville, Missouri, 1984-85
Assistant director, Rural Life Ministry, Diocese of Jefferson City, Missouri, 1985-95
About Sister Margaret Mary O’Gorman: Being a Franciscan Sister of Mary has been a journey of grace, growth and gratitude for me. At this time, my lifelong search for God feels more like finding God. And becoming aware that the journey has really been about letting God find me. I have experienced joy ministering in adult faith formation with rural communities, LGBTQIA persons and women in jail. I find meaning in faith sharing and serving as a facilitator as, together with my sisters, we continue to reflect on and live our mission and focus. I want to be a welcoming, compassionate presence to all whom I meet; to stand in solidarity with those on the margins; and to care for creation in collaboration with others.
70th Entrance
Sister Victoria Ewers
Birthplace: St. Anthony, Missouri
Entrance: 1953
First profession: 1956
Final profession: 1961
Education: Bachelor’s in psychology, minors in business administration and philosophy, Saint Louis University, 1964
Licensed in dietetics, Fontbonne College, 1964
Master’s in public health and nutrition, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 1968.
Service in the archdiocese: Dietary, St. Mary’s Hospital, St. Louis, 1953-64, 1965-67
Head of clinical dietetics, St. Mary’s Hospital, St. Louis, 1968-72
Instructor, Saint Louis University School of Nursing, St. Louis, 1970-72
Service outside the archdiocese: Missionary nutritionist, Sento Se, Brazil, 1972-86
Missionary nutritionist, Manacapuru, Brazil, 1986-2004
About Sister Victoria Ewers: Sister Vicki knows that healthy relationships are life-giving for her and for others, so she spends time each day maintaining and strengthening her relationship with God, self, family, friends, the sisters, staff and all whom she encounters in her daily routine. To her, God is personal and loving and asks that she be kind and loving to all she contacts, be it physically or through phone calls, email, or social media. Some of her relationships have endured for 60 years. Very special to Sister Vicki is the 32 years she and the late Sisters Mary and Jovita Stenger ministered to the people in Brazil. During their 14 years in the Diocese of Juazeiro, Bahia, they not only provided health care but also trained 500 local people to be village health workers and 300 to be midwives to care for the people of their parishes. During their 18 years in the Diocese of Coari, Amazonas, the sisters worked with the local people to carry out the duties of the Pastoral da Crianca in all the parishes. Since the sisters returned to the United States, the local people have continued the ministry. Sister Vicki and the Brazilian people maintain their relationship through social media. Today, ever the optimist, Sister Vicki accepts that as she ages, diminishing eyesight and hearing will limit what she can do, but as long as she can breathe, through prayerful intention, she can be a compassionate presence to the universe!
70th First Profession
Sister Jacqueline Motzel
Birthplace: St. Louis
Entrance: 1953
First profession: 1956
Final profession: 1961
Education: Bachelor’s in radiologic technology, Saint Louis University, 1960
Bachelor’s in theology, Saint Joseph’s College, Rensselaer, Indiana, 1969
Master’s in counseling/guidance, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1971
Certificate in liturgical studies, University of Notre Dame, 1988
Certificate in Church music ministry, Fontbonne College, 1988
Service in the archdiocese: Radiology, St. Mary’s Health Center, St. Louis, 1960-62
Director of postulants and affiliates, SSM Motherhouse, St. Louis, 1969-78
Core member of Greccio, SSM House of Prayer, Pacific, 1978-82
Assistant, SSM Congregational Council and heritage/worship specialist, St. Louis, 1982-86
Director of pilgrimages, Commissariat of the Holy Land, St. Louis, 1986-90
Secretary, Ministry Options, St. Louis, 1991
President, FSM Congregation, St. Louis, 1995-2007
Volunteer, City of St. Louis Lead Program, 2008-15
Service outside the archdiocese: Supervisor of radiology, St. Mary’s Hospital, Jefferson City, Missouri, 1962-63
Department head and technical director, School of Radiology, St. Mary’s Hospital, Madison, Wisconsin, 1963-70
Administrative assistant, Catholic Social Services, Belleville Diocese, Belleville, Illinois, 1991-95
About Sister Jacqueline Motzel: I am daily thankful for the gift of God’s created universe and my life. I also enjoy garage sales, flea markets, poetry, golf and making a difference in the world.