Women Religious Jubilarians Who Reside in the Rockford Diocese
June 17, 2021
School Sisters of St. Francis
60 years
Sister Elaine Hirschenberger, SSSF
Sister Elaine Hirschenberger celebrates 60 years as a School Sister of St. Francis.
She was born in Takoma Park, Maryland. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Alverno College in Milwaukee.
In the Diocese of Rockford, Sister Elaine taught at St. Nicholas School in Aurora (1964-1965) and served her congregation’s Mount St. Francis Province in Rockford as administrative assistant (1973-1975) and communications director (1975-1978). She co-founded Womanspace, Inc., in 1975 and has since served as its co-director, administrative director, and executive director.
In the Diocese of Joliet, Sister taught at Sacred Heart School in Lombard (1965-1971) and Driscoll High School in Addison (1971-1973).
Sister Elaine currently resides in Rockford.
60 years
Sister Patricia McCarthy, SSSF
Sister Patricia McCarthy celebrates 60 years as a School Sister of St. Francis.
She was born in Chicago. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education from Alverno College in Milwaukee, a Master of Arts degree in religious education and pastoral ministry from Loyola University in Chicago, and certification in spiritual direction from Loyola.
In the Diocese of Rockford, Sister Patricia taught at St. Joseph School in Aurora (1961-1966) and served as formation director for her congregation’s Mount St. Francis Province in Rockford (1970-1978). She also served in Rockford as pastoral care director and coordinator at Maria Linden (1979-1995) and as chaplain at Rockford Memorial Hospital (1996-2018).
In the Diocese of Joliet, she served as teacher and religious education coordinator at St. Matthew School in Glendale Heights (1966-1970).
Sister Patricia currently resides in Rockford.
Sister Jubilarians Who Previously Served in the Rockford Diocese
Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary
50 years
Sister Linda Hatton, SSCM
Sister Linda celebrates 50 years of profession with the Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary this year.
Her education includes a bachelor’s in English from Benedictine University, a master’s in Liturgical Theology from the University of Notre Dame and certificates from St. Louis University (religious formation) and Claret Center, Chicago (spiritual direction).
Sister Linda began her ministry as an elementary teacher in Minnesota and Chicago.
She then served at parishes in Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota in various positions including: parish ministry, director of liturgy, and co-parish administrator. She also served in the ministry of prayer and presence at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Marshall, Alaska.
In the Diocese of Rockford, Sister Linda served her community as director of formation at Holy Heart of Mary Novitiate in Batavia. She also served the SSCM as province leader, was involved in sponsorship of the former healthcare systems of Servant Cor, Provena and Presence Health, and she has been active in retreat ministry and in giving presentations on liturgy and religious life.
Currently Sister Linda resides in Beaverville, where she offers spiritual resources to the rural parishes of Ford and Iroquois Counties in the Joliet Diocese. She also serves on the Diocesan Pastoral Council and the deanery board of the Council of Catholic Women. She is a spiritual director and a frequent presenter for the spiritual ministries of the Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary for online and in person programming.
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