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| Sister Pat |
Members of Utica’s St. Joseph Fraternity, Vernon’s Holy Family Fraternity, and representatives from St. Kateri Tekakwitha Region and the international order gathered on Sunday, July 21, to celebrate the 25th Jubilee of the fraternities’ spiritual assistant, Franciscan Sister Pat Schofield, OSF.
Sister Pat renewed her vows during mass at St. Joseph & St. Patrick Church, Utica. The celebrant was Franciscan Father Nader Ata, OFM Conv., from Assumption Church, Syracuse.
Secular Franciscans joined Sister Pat’s family and friends in applauding her renewal and in praying over her.
Following the 1 p.m. mass, everyone headed across the street to the Irish Cultural Center for a celebratory reception, with refreshments and Franciscan community.
Sister Pat was a Secular Franciscan herself, married with children, before discovering a late vocation and entering the Syracuse-based Sisters of St. Francis (now the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities). She served in Hawaii before returning to Central New York and becoming spiritual assistant to both St. Joseph Fraternity and Holy Family Fraternity.
Among the Franciscan dignitaries present were Tutti Wagner, OFS, regional vice minister; Sr. Pat Larkin, OSF, regional spiritual assistant; Mary Francis Charsky, OFS, international councilor for the U.S. National Fraternity, and Mary Stronach, OFS, vice minister general of the order.
Praying over Sister Pat upon renewing her religious vows.
