2020 jubilee spotlight
Sister Anita Kuchera
Summer is when our community traditionally celebrates its jubilarians — those Sisters among us marking milestones in religious life. But this is not like any other year. Our jubilee celebrations have been postponed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Our 2020 jubilarians may not get to celebrate during a special Mass with family and friends, yet their many years of service to the Lord remain worthy of celebration here. Please join us in acknowledging this milestone moment for Sister Anita Kuchera, who this year celebrates 70 years in religious life.
Born as Agnes Kuchera in Egypt, Pa., Sister Anita entered our community in 1948, made first vows in 1950 and professed final vows in 1955. In her early ministry days, Sister taught in the Pennsylvania towns of Pittsburgh, New Castle and Bethlehem, as well as in Boonton, N.J. Sister holds a bachelor’s degrees in education and guidance and counseling and a master’s degree in religious studies. A teacher at our former St. Francis Academy in Bethlehem in the 1960s and 1970s, Sister also served as a pastoral associate for six years at St. Matthias Catholic Community in Somerset, N.J.
But Sister Anita’s main focus over the years has been on retreat ministry at our St. Francis Center for Renewal (SFCR), where she served as director from 1970 to 2003, many of those years while also teaching. She returned to SFCR from 2009 until her retirement at the close of 2019.
For her many years of service, Sister received St. Francis Center for Renewal’s Woman of Strength award in 2012. Today, she remains active with our lay Associates program and in occasional offerings at SFCR.
Sister Anita upon making her final vows in 1955.
Being honored at the 2012 Star Struck Gala.
Enjoying a treat on National Ice Cream Day
Sister Anita greets Most Rev. Alfred Schlert, bishop of the Diocese of Allentown.
Sister Anita (left) is shown here in 1988 with Sisters Therese Sedlock, Ricarda Husava and Margaret Elaine Rovnak — who all entered together.
Sister Anita attends a dinner for the parent-teacher group at the former St. Francis Academy in Bethlehem, Pa., in the 1960s.
Sister Anita (left) joyously takes part in an International Day of Peace service with Sister Barbara DeStefano and Mother Laura Howell.
Reuniting with classmate Martha Dolinich (former Sister Jude) at her 60th Jubilee in 2010.
Sister shares a smile with Kathy Stolz and Deb Neely, friends of St. Francis Center for Renewal.
Collaborating on retreat programming with Sister Barbara DeStefano.