School Sisters of St. Francis

2025 JUBILARIANS

Sister Anita Kuchera, OSF
75th Jubilee

Originally from Egypt, Pa. (now known as Whitehall), Sister Anita Kuchera entered the School Sisters of St. Francis from Holy Trinity Parish there in 1949, and professed first vows at Mount Assisi Convent in Pittsburgh in 1950. She celebrates her 75th Jubilee in 2025.

While her earliest school days were at a public school close to home, she later attended St. John’s Catholic School in Stiles, Pa. It was here that she first encountered Catholic Sisters and where the thought of becoming one took hold. “I grew to love and admire them,” she recalls.

Later, at Central Catholic High School in Allentown, Pa., Sister Anita met the School Sisters, and her calling began to bloom. Her algebra teacher, Sister Magdalene Lovrich, greatly influenced her decision to pursue religious life in the Franciscan community. She went on to earn bachelor’s degrees in education and guidance counseling and a master’s degree in religious studies.

Sister’s first teaching assignment was at St. Gabriel School in Pittsburgh, the very first parish where the Sisters of her community lived and taught when they came to the United States in 1913. She later taught at St. Michael in New Castle, Pa.; SS. Cyril & Methodius in Boonton, N.J.; and, finally, at the former St. Francis Academy in Bethlehem, Pa. Sister also served as a pastoral associate for six years at The Catholic Community of St. Matthias in Somerset, N.J.

A new, defining chapter began in 1970 when Sister Anita was asked to lead St. Francis Retreat Center in Bethlehem. She served in retreat ministry for 33 years, receiving the Center’s Woman of Strength award in 2012 for her work. “This ministry touched my life in so many ways,” she says. “It truly deepened my relationship with God.”

Today, Sister Anita lives in Bethlehem, where she spends much of her time devoted to prayer. “The world is in great need of prayer,” she says. “It gives me much joy to bring healing to the world this way.”

Sister Elaine Hromulak, OSF
70 Years

Originally from Northern Cambria, Pa., Sister Elaine entered the School Sisters of St. Francis in 1954, from St. John the Baptist Church in Barnesboro, Pa., and professed first vows at Mount Assisi Convent in Pittsburgh in 1955. She celebrates her 70th anniversary in 2025.

Sister taught for 13 years at St. Francis Academy in San Antonio, Texas, before moving back to the Pittsburgh area. She devoted 18 years to serving as principal in various schools in our region, including the former Mount Assisi Academy, St. Patrick School in Canonsburg; Ave Maria School in Ellsworth; and St. Scholastica School in Aspinwall.

Sister Elaine also served for 17 years in leadership with her religious community, including four as a provincial councilor, eight overseeing the Pittsburgh Province, and five as the first provincial minister of the U.S. Province. She also spent six years doing historical data conversion for the Catholic Cemeteries Association of the Diocese of Pittsburgh.

“I consider my vocation to religious life to be my greatest blessing. For me, the rhythm of religious life encourages inner reflection and fosters spiritual growth in a unique way,” Sister says.

No matter where she was assigned, Sister complemented her spiritual life with a love of the outdoors that she nurtured through camping and hiking. She also frequently planted flowers and trees, beautifying the grounds around convents where she lived.

In 2016, Sister took on a new passion with Little Dresses of Love, coordinating a small team of volunteer seamstresses to sew and ship some 5,500 new dresses and new-found hope to impoverished children around the world.

Today, Sister Elaine is enjoying retirement from active ministry and the leisure time it allows for prayer, reflection and reading.

Sister Yolanda Escamilla, OSF
50th Jubilee

Originally from San Antonio, Texas, Sister Yolanda entered the School Sisters of St. Francis from St. Joseph Parish there in 1974 and professed first vows in 1975 at Mount Assisi Convent in Pittsburgh. She celebrates her 50th Jubilee in 2025.

It was as a seventh-grader at South San Public School that she first felt called to religious life and the same community of Catholic Sisters who taught and directed the CCD program at her home parish.

Over these five decades, Sister has lived in dedication to the service of God’s people — whether serving meals at Mount Assisi Convent, through missionary work in Chile, caring for the elderly, teaching CCD, doing social work, or ministering as a teacher’s aide.

But she has not walked alone. “My family and community have always prayed and praised and the Father, Son and Holy Spirit with me on the journey,” she says.

Her compassion, perhaps, has been most evident over the more than 20 years she spent as a caretaker and assistant activities director with Living Day’s Adult Daycare Center in San Antonio.

A soft-spoken soul, Sister Yolanda brought her experience and kind heart to Pittsburgh in 2024, where she serves her community and continues her life’s work in service as a volunteer at Mt. Assisi Place personal care home.

“God has always been present, loving and forgiving,” Sister says. “I look back gratefully and forward with hope.”

Other 2025 Milestones

Click on the photos of the Sisters below to read more about them on their community website.