[News Archive]

St. Anthony/Our Lady of Mt. Carmel parishes welcome new Pastoral Associate, Sr. Joan Maenner, OSF  by Judy Williams

Sr. Joan Maenner, OSF joined the staff of St. Anthony, Emmitsburg and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Thurmont this summer as Pastoral Associate doing adult faith formation.  Sr. Marietta Culhane, OSF and Sr. Eleanor Horneman, OSF, both actively retired, accompanied Sr. Joan and are volunteering within the parishes.

A native of Baltimore, Sr. Joan grew up in a family of four children, she being the only girl.  She attended Catholic grade schools and Towson Catholic High School.  She attended Notre Dame College in Baltimore and received a bachelor of arts degree in education.  She continued in her graduate studies at Towson State University and Notre Dame in Indiana, earning two masters degrees; one in education and the other in theology.

In 1958 she entered the Sisters of St. Francis in Philadelphia, having been taught and inspired by these sisters while she was a young girl.

As an educator, Sr. Joan taught in Catholic grade schools and also served as Principal of Baltimore’s St. Katharine Sienna.  Later, she was Assistant Provincial of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for eight years.

Since 1990, Sr. Joan has been in Western Maryland, serving first as Parish Administrator at St. Joseph in Midland, then as Pastoral Life Director.  This past summer Sr. Joan added yet another chapter to her life of service by answering Bishop Malooley’s invitation to relocate to Central Maryland and work with Fr. Jim Hannon at St. Anthony/OLMC parishes. 

Keeping in mind the critical need she sees in today’s church for adult faith formation, Sr. Joan is focusing her efforts in four areas: catechesis; Bible studies; retreats and social activities.  For catechesis purposes, the parish is currently offering a course in church history, taught by Sr. Marietta.  The first in a series of Bible studies is being planned and will focus on the Gospel of Matthew.  Sr. Joan hopes to have a retreat during the year which will be geared toward all those involved in parish ministry.  And finally, in the area of social activities, a bus trip to see the Christmas show in Radio City is planned for November. 

Sr. Joan has quickly settled in at both parishes, and has been welcomed by the enthusiastic parishioners.  She observed, regarding her new family of parishioners, "The Spirit of God is active and present in these people!"  When Sr. Joan speaks of the Spirit, she knows well of what she speaks.  After all, the Spirit has led her all her life – first to the Sisters of St. Francis, then to Western Maryland and now to Central Maryland.

When she reflects upon Scripture which inspires her, Sr. Joan recalls the words at the end of Matthew’s gospel,

“…Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age."

                                                                                                                        Matthew 28:19-20

Central Maryland extends a warm welcome to Sr. Joan!