After a combined 103 years of service to communities in Colorado, Sister Joan Hentges and Sister Johnette Sawyer have returned to St. Scholastica Monastery in Chicago. Of course, a sister never truly retires and these sisters are continuing their ministries in various ways.
Sister Joan is serving as Associate Director with the Benedictine Oblates and as the contact person for Oblates living in Colorado. Sister Johnette has transfered her liturgy skills to the monastery and is a Working Member of the Liturgy Committee, in addition to assisting in the infirmary. Prayer is also a significant part of Benedictine life and both sisters take part in the community's schedule of daily prayer.
Sister Joan initially served as a teacher in Chicago at St. Symphorosa, Queen of All Saints, and St. John Nepomucene. In these early years she also taught at Sacred Heart in Tucson, Arizona. In 1962 she traveled to Colorado where she began many years of ministry, including at St. Michael (Delta), St. Joseph (Salida), the San Luis Valley, and Christ the King (Pueblo).
Sister Johnette also began her ministry in Chicago at Queen of All Saints, St. Symphorosa, and St. Hillary's. In 1965 she moved to Colorado where she ministered at a number of sites including St. Leander (Pueblo), the San Luis Valley and San Juan Cluster of Parishes and Missions, the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart (Pueblo), St. Paul the Apostle (Pueblo), Sacred Heart Parish (Alamosa), the Shrine of St. Therese (Pueblo), and St. Michael (Delta).
If you would like to wish the sisters well on their new ministries at the monastery, you can be in touch by sending them a card:
7430 N. Ridge Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60645