Special Visitors

American Sisters host General Administrators for traditional visitation

Our Sisters throughout the U.S. Province enjoyed spending time with Sisters Kveta Vinklárková, Lívia Gardianová and Pacifika Jusková when they came for General Visitation in November and December. Sister Kveta is our international congregation’s general minister, while Sisters Lívia and Pacifika are general councilors.

Over the course of more than four weeks, the general administrators made extended stops in Bethlehem, Pittsburgh and Texas, sharing individual and group time with each Sister in the U.S. Province and taking in a few landmarks along the way. Among the highlights:

• A heart-filled Texas welcome in San Antonio by St. Francis Academy Alumnae Association, as graduates hosted the Sisters for dinner at Mi Tierra Restaurant

• A tour of New York City by boat, bus and on foot

• Sharing time with immigrants and hearing their migration stories during a gathering at the Franciscan Resource Center in San Angelo, Texas

• A tour of Pennsylvania’s Amish country

• A trip to see Olgebay’s Festival of Lights with the Pittsburgh sisters

• Taking in a performance of The Miracle of Christmas at Sights & Sound Theatre in Lancaster, Pa., while enroute from Pittsburgh to Bethlehem

• Tours of historical sites in Pittsburgh and Bethlehem

It is congregational tradition that during her five-year term in office, each general minister visit privately with each Sister around the world. This visit to the United States marked Sister Kveta’s time of visitation for the 2016-2021 term. Sisters Lívia and Pacifika accompanied her to visit and to help with translations among the English, Italian and Czech languages. It was also Sister Pacifika’s first visit to the U.S.