A Celebration of the Marianist Sisters -March 27, 2024
From Sanchez Loretta Liza
Celebrating 75 years of Service in the United States
St. Mary’s University
March 27, 2024
5:30 p.m.
University Center,
Conference Room A
Celebrating
75 Years of Service 75 Years of Service
in the United States
Sister Nicole Trahan, F.M.I., Ed.D.
Sister Nicole Trahan celebrates 16 years as a Marianist sister, professing
her first vows in 2008 and perpetual vows in 2013. She was born in the
city of Orange, Texas.
In addition to her bachelor’s and two master’s degrees, she recently
graduated from Gonzaga University with her doctoral degree in
education with a focus on educational leadership.
Her favorite ministry experience was her time at Chaminade Julienne
Catholic High School in Dayton, Ohio, where she spent the longest
amount of time, and allowed her to establish long-term relations both
personal and pastoral.
When asked why she became a Marianist she said, “Before I even knew
what a Marianist was, I fell in love with the charism. The Marianist
charism and way of being in the world is exactly how I felt drawn to
live my life!”
In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing, hiking, watching movies
and playing word games.
Sister Leanne Jablonski, F.M.I., Ph.D.
Sister Leanne Jablonski celebrates 42 years as a Marianist sister,
professing her first vows in 1982 in San Antonio and perpetual vows
in 1988 in Dayton, Ohio. She was born in Winnipeg, Canada, in the
province of Manitoba.
Sister Leanne has completed many degrees, including a bachelor’s, two
master’s degrees and a Ph.D. in Plant Physiological Ecology with a
focus on global climate change.
She fell in love with the Marianist charism and spirit, and was first a
Marianist layperson. She is grateful and appreciative for the gifts of her
sisters in North America and globally, as well as Blessed Adele de Batz
de Trenquelleon’s inspirational spirit.
One of her favorite ministry experiences is bridging science and faith
communities, and facilitating experiences with young people who are
encountering God’s creation in nature. This is a place where she feels
the warmth of Mother Nature.
Her hobbies include writing poetry, gardening, music ministry
and cycling.
Sister Laura Leming, F.M.I., Ph.D.
Sister Laura Leming celebrates 46 years as a Marianist sister, professing
her first vows in 1978 and perpetual vows in 1983. She was born
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
She graduated from St. Mary’s University with a bachelor’s degree, went
on to the University of Dayton to complete a master’s in Theological
Studies, then earned a Ph.D. in Sociology from Boston College.
Her first encounter with the Marianists was when she was 12 years old,
volunteering at the Marianist Retreat Center in Cape May Point, New
Jersey. She loved the spirit of the family and the way lay and religious
men and women all worked together. It was the model of the Church
that she wanted to be a part of.
When looking back, her favorite moments of her ministry are returning
to the family retreats in the summer where she can ground herself. She
is also very fond of the time she was the Marianist sister to welcome the
first community of sisters arriving in India to begin their foundation.
Her hobbies include walking outside, reading fiction and playing the
flute for liturgies.
Sister Grace Walle, F.M.I., D.Min.
Sister Grace Walle celebrates 49 years as a Marianist Sister, professing
her first vows in 1975 and perpetual vows in 1981. She was born and
raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
She later moved to Texas where she received her bachelor’s degree,
graduating with Magna Cum Laude honors from St. Mary’s University.
She also attended Boston College where she received her master’s in
Pastoral Ministry. A few years later, she earned her Doctor of Ministry
from McCormick Theological Seminary.
Volunteering for the Marianist Brothers Retreat house as a young
teenager, she saw first-hand that the Marianist sisters and brothers were
happy, welcoming people who provided ministry opportunities through
education, retreats and sacramental ministry. She immediately saw that
her personality and love for Jesus and Mary were a match with the
mission of the Marianist religious order.
Providing 42 years of service at St. Mary’s University and the School
of Law as a campus minister, she has developed a nationally recognized
program. She has been described as having her own “world wide web”
based on years of working with law students and the legal community.
Her hobbies include cooking, and she is well known at the School of
Law for her self-serve peanut butter sandwich table. Hundreds of law
students have been known to enjoy one.
Sister Gretchen Trautman, F.M.I.
Sister Gretchen Trautman celebrates 54 years as a Marianist sister,
professing her first vows in 1970 and perpetual vows in 1975. She was
born and raised in Dayton, Ohio.
She graduated from Julienne High School, attended the University of
Dayton in 1965 through 1966, where she had her first encounter with
the Marianist brothers, priests and sisters. Sister Gretchen quickly
became impressed with their strong faith values, community spirit and
service in ministry. Here is where she decided to be a part of it and
make a real difference.
Sight unseen, she moved onto join the Marianist Sisters in San
Antonio, where she began her vocation and completed her education
with a bachelor’s degree in education with teacher certification from
St. Mary’s University and a Master of Education from the University
of Texas.
Currently, Sister Gretchen is the Provincial of the Marianist Sisters
in the United States. For the five years prior to this, she served in her
favorite ministry role in Rome on the General Council, as Head of
Temporalities, overseeing the finances for the Sisters in 16 countries.
Her hobbies include reading mysteries, detective and spy stories, and
reading books that are made into movies.
Sister LaVon Kampf, F.M.I.
Sister LaVon Kampf celebrates 56 years as a Marianist sister, professing
her first vows in 1968 and perpetual vows in 1973. She was born in
Salt Lake City, Utah.
She earned an associate degree in Arts, a Bachelor of Arts in Education
and has attended many workshops on theology through the years.
Finding a connection with the Catholic Parish of Holy Rosary in
San Antonio, where she searched for meaning of life, looking to use
her life as best she could, she decided to join the Daughters of
Mary Immaculate.
Her favorite ministry experience was teaching at St. Albert’s
Elementary School in Dayton, Ohio, and with sister’s home health care
in San Antonio. Sister LaVon believes her vocation was everything
she expected and much more. She has found tons of laughter in her
ministry and with all those she encounters.
Her hobbies include embroidery, painting, drawing, crossword puzzles,
mystery and history books and Facebook.
Sister Evangelina Escobar, F.M.I.
Sister Evangelina Escobar, or Sister “Vange” as she is affectionally
called, celebrates 63 years as a Marianist sister. Professing her first vows
in 1961 and perpetual vows in 1964. She was born in El Paso, Texas.
Sister Vange completed her bachelor’s in Elementary Education from
Our Lady of the Lake and her post-graduate studies at the University
of Dayton.
When asked why she became a Marianist sister she said, “I wanted to
belong to a community who shared the same ideals I did: living the
Gospel, having a Christ-centered life with prayer as a way of life and
being sent on mission.”
Her favorite ministry experience was teaching and preparing second
graders for their first communion. She felt this ministry was a precious
responsibility in helping them in their mental and spiritual growth.
Her hobbies include crosswords and other puzzles.
Sister Durie Kim, F.M.I.
Sister Durie Kim celebrates 69 years as a Marianist sister. Professing
her first vows in 1955 in Spain, and perpetual vows in 1958. She was
born in Honolulu, Hawaii. When making her first vows, the ceremony
was moved up by one day so that she could travel to France to catch a
ship to the United States.
She was educated in New York City at Traphagen School of Fashion
concentrating in illustration. Once in San Antonio, she continued
her education by earning a bachelor’s and teaching certification from
St. Mary’s University.
Her favorite ministry experience was teaching religion to fourth graders
at St. Alberts in Dayton, Ohio.
When asked why she became a Marianist Sister she said, “Mary
recruited me through my mother, who saw an apparition on the
mountain side of Mary and Jesus everyday as she walked home. Also,
the painting-like apparition was easily seen by my mother from our
family’s home. My whole journey to becoming a Marianist is simply an
amazing story.”
Her hobbies include collecting shells from the beach and making shell
place cards, sketching people, especially women with modest clothing,
cleaning house, baking, sewing, carving wood, crafts and gardening.A “Trinity” of A “Trinity” of Co-Founders Co-Founders
Origins of the
Marianist Family
The Marianist story begins with its founders: Blessed William Joseph
Chaminade, Marie Thérèse Charlotte de Lamourous and Adele de Batz
de Trenquelleon.
Chaminade’s life changed dramatically with the beginning of the
French Revolution. The political tension and religious persecution
during that period all but destroyed Christianity in France and left
the Church in structural ruin. He was exiled to Spain, where he was
inspired by Mary at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Pillar in Zaragoza.
Marie Thérèse Charlotte de Lamourous was side-by-side with
Chaminade, living the vision he had for the Church even before she
knew him. When the pastor of her local parish was exiled, she took
charge, becoming the heart and soul of the parish community for
six years. With her experience of empowering the laity and building
religious communities, Marie Thérèse became an important ally of
Chaminade. She kept in touch with him during his years of exile and
worked with him in developing the small faith communities, which
they called Sodalities.Adele de Batz de Trenquelleon came from an aristocratic background;
her father was a Baron and a member of the French King’s Royal
Guard. She and her family were exiled during the revolution. During
her years of exile in Spain, she deepened her religious upbringing,
realized her responsibility to the poor, and began to understand the
importance of community — both in the pursuit of individual holiness
and in the regeneration of France. After her return to France, she began
forming small groups among her friends and acquaintances. Out of the
small groups of Christian communities, some of the members expressed
the desire to follow Christ as vowed religious. Together, Adele and
Chaminade founded the Marianist sisters — the Daughters of Mary
Immaculate. Just a year later, Chaminade founded the Marianist
brothers and priests — the Society of Mary. Both William Joseph
Chaminade and Adele de Batz de Trenquelleon have been beatified.
Chaminade was beatified on September 3, 2000, and Adele was
beatified on June 10, 2018.
In Remembrance In Remembrance
Sister Audrey Buttner, F.M.I.
Sister Christine Stevens, F.M.I.
Sister Eileen Cehyra, F.M.I.
Sister Frances Conrad, F.M.I.
Sister Grace Luther, F.M.I.
Sister Laola Hironaka, F.M.I.
Sister Marcy Loehrlein, F.M.I.
Sister Mary Elizabeth Howard, F.M.I.
Sister Mary Louise Foley, F.M.I.
Sister Mary Paul Jones, F.M.I.
Sister Rosemarie Eggleston, F.M.I.
Sister Stephanie Morales, F.M.I.
Acknowledgements Acknowledgements
Academic Media Center
Aramark
Center for Catholic Studies
Office of Inclusive Excellence
Office of Mission
Office of the President
President’s AmbassadorsThe Catholic and
Marianist University
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