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 ROSEMARIE BARTNICKI, OSF
70 Years
Originally from Shenandoah, Pa., Sister Rosemarie Bartnicki entered the School Sisters of St. Francis from St. Stephen Church in 1954, and professed first vows at Mount Assisi Convent in Pittsburgh in 1955.
Formerly known as Sister Raymond, she was drawn to the community by the Sisters with whom she interacted at her home parish. “I always wanted to be a Sister because I admired the ministry of all the Sisters in my hometown of Shenandoah,” Sister recalls. “I felt that this was my vocation.”
Over seven decades as an educator, Sister taught and served as principal at parish grade schools in the Pennsylvania towns of Ellsworth, Emmaus, Hellertown, Northampton and Bethlehem, as well as in the New Jersey communities of Jersey City, Clifton, New Milford, Boonton and Guttenberg. She also served as principal of Christ the Teacher School in Fort Lee, N.J., for 22 years.
Today, Sister Rosemarie volunteers at St. Ignatius Loyola School in West Lawn, Pa., where her continued involvement in the school community provides plenty for which to be thankful.
“I treasure all the people who have touched my life with their faith and love and who have allowed me to touch theirs,” Sister says. “There is no better place to be than where I am. With the grace of God, I will continue to do His work.”
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.
Other 2025 Milestones
SISTER JO GOOLISH, OSF
65 Years
SISTER JEANNE MARIE ULICA, OSF
65 Years
SISTER MARIE BERNADETTE KELLEHER, OSF
60 Years
SISTER DENISE OLSHAUSKY, OSF
60 Years
SISTER CAROL ANN PAPP, OSF
55 Years
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.”
SISTER ROSEANN VELAS, OSF
50th Jubilee
Originally from Bethlehem, Pa., Sister Roseann Velas entered the School Sisters of St. Francis from SS. Cyril & Methodius Church in 1973 and professed first vows at Monocacy Manor in Bethlehem in 1975. She celebrates her 50th Jubilee in 2025.
She was drawn to the community by the Sisters who served in her home parish and taught her at the former St. Francis Academy in Bethlehem, Pa., especially Sister Anita Kuchera.
“I enjoyed being around the Sisters and doing things with and for them,” she recalls. “Those were good years.” Ultimately, she was grateful for her mother’s suggestion that she attend college before entering religious life. She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Kutztown State College and a master’s degree in library science from Villanova University.
Over 49 years as an educator, Sister taught and served as principal at parish grade schools in the Pennsylvania towns of Hellertown, Emmaus, Palmerton, Bethlehem, and West Lawn, as well as in the New Jersey communities of Closter, Denville and Guttenburg. In 2013, life came full circle when she returned “home” to SS. Cyril & Methodius to teach at Holy Infancy School.
“I have always loved being with the children and seeing them grow through the years,” Sister says. “Children have a way of keeping you alive. I think I have learned much from them, and they have influenced my growth as a person.”
Her own personal and spiritual growth continues even today, she says, through prayer opportunities, spiritual direction, retreats, and creative experiences with poetry and art. “Through the guidance of wisdom figures who have touched my life, I have grown in my relationship with God and with others.”
Today, Sister Roseann serves as her community’s archivist and ministers at The Catholic Community of St. Matthias in Somerset, N.J., where she is active in both the church and school. “Evangelization is key to my outreach,” Sister Roseann says. “Here at St. Matthias, I have chosen service opportunities which I enjoy. When there is a joy, it becomes contagious and reaches out further than one can imagine.”