65th Entrance
Sister Jo Ann Simanella
Education: Elementary School at Blessed Sacrament Parish and Ascension Parish, both in St. Louis
Incarnate Word Academy in St. Louis
Bachelor’s in American studies and minors in elementary education and theology, Marillac College in St. Louis
Master’s in early childhood education, University of Dayton
Service in the archdiocese:
Primary teacher at the following parishes: Mary Queen of the Universe School in St. Louis, Ascension School in Normandy, St. John School in Imperial, and Mount Providence School for Boys in Florissant, 1962-86
Principal, Immaculate Heart of Mary School, St. Louis, 1994-95
Member of the St. Louis Provincial Leadership Team, St. Louis, 1995-2001
Outpatient representative, St. John Mercy Medical Center in St. Louis, 2006-11
Pastoral associate, St. Ferdinand Parish, Florissant, 2011-18
Part-time greeter at Hutchens Funeral Home and volunteer funeral ministry at St. Ferdinand Parish
Service outside the archdiocese: Teacher, St. Mary and St. Mark School in Madison, Illinois, and St. Mary’s School in Brussels, Illinois
Teacher and principal, Divine Providence School, Westchester, Illinois for 17 years
Worked in Kinderheim, Oberursel, Germany, 1991-93
Outpatient representative, St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Granite City, Illinois
Volunteer, Providence Center
Principal, St. Elizabeth School, Granite City, Illinois, 2004-06
About Sister Jo Ann Simanella: When reflecting on the charism of the community and what it means in her daily life, Sister Jo Ann said, “I love our Charism of Providence! I believe in a Provident God who loves me and provides me with opportunities of making God’s Providence visible and also experiencing God’s Providence in/through the people and events of my everyday life.” Self-described as personable, hospitable, having a good sense of humor and compassionate. Sister Jo Ann loves spending time with her family, friends and sisters. She also loves dancing, listening to music, traveling, taking photos, doing puzzles, reading, reflecting and listening to St. Louis Cardinal baseball. She credits the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and the Sisters of Divine Providence, especially her seventh-grade teacher, Sister Anita Green, for influencing her decision to enter religious life. She remembers her time in Germany as a great gift and blessing as it allowed her to get to know the sisters in Germany and to minister in the country where her community was founded. The experience also gave her a greater sense of internationality, her community history and the German culture.
70th Entrance
Sister Gabriella Rogenski
Education: Bachelor’s in history, Marillac College
Bachelor’s in sculpture, Fontbonne University
Master’s in arts, Fontbonne University
Service in the archdiocese: Teacher, St. John Lateran School, Imperial, 1957–60; 67–69
Teacher, Ascension School, Normandy, 1965-67
Teacher, North American Martyrs School, Florissant, 1969-71
Teacher, St. Christopher School, Black Jack, 1972–75
Director, Mount Providence, the Community’s motherhouse, 1986-89
Served on the St. Louis Archdiocesan Commission on Sacred Art and Architecture, 1989-2000
Floral designer, Dierbergs Family Grocery and Floral Shop, St. Louis, 1996-2005
Volunteer and in residence at Providence House in Florissant, while working at art studio at Fontbonne University
Service outside the archdiocese: Teacher, St. Andrew, Tipton, Missouri, 1960-62
Teacher, St. Joseph Parish, Meppen, Illinois, 1962–63
Teacher, St. Mark Parish, Venice, Illinois, 1963–64
Teacher, St. Louis School, Bonnots Mill, Missouri, 1964-65
Designer for Artes del Valle, a Mexican-American Art Center based at St. Francis Jerome Parish in the Diocese of Pueblo, Colorado, 1975–84
About Sister Gabriella Rogenski: Sister Gabriella Rogenski, a native of Granite City, Illinois, entered religious life in 1954 from Our Lady of Czestochowa (St. Mary’s) Parish in Madison, Illinois. She credits the sisters who taught her as influencing her decision to become a sister. She admired how they acted after school and, especially, how they prayed together.
75th Entrance
Sister Zita Telkamp
Service in the archdiocese: Teacher and principal for 49 years, including at several schools in the archdiocese
Provincial council for the St. Louis Province, St. Louis, 1995-2001
Area coordinator of the sisters in St. Louis and minister at Room at the Inn, a shelter for homeless women and families in St. Louis County, 2001-07
Service outside the archdiocese: Teacher and principal at St. Mark in Venice, Illinois; St. Mary in Madison, Illinois; St. Mary in Brussels, Illinois; and St. Francis and Holy Ghost in Jerseyville, Illinois and Jefferson City, Missouri.
Sister Zita was asked to go to Pittsburgh to fill the temporary position of
Director of facilities in Pittsburgh, 2007
Program director, La Posada Providencia, a sponsored ministry of the Sisters of Divine Providence located in the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas, 2008-20
About Sister Zita Telkamp: Sister Zita Telkamp entered religious life from St. Mary in Brussels, Illinois. Her sixth grade teacher, Sister Innocent, CDP — a missionary for many years in one of the poorest areas in Puerto Rico — was one of her influences to become a sister. Sister Zita said, “Her kindness and the many stories she told us of her experience teaching little children about God and my reading the monthly edition of the Maryknoll Mission Magazine influenced my decision to become a religious.” In 2013, Sister Zita was chosen by Bishop Daniel Flores from the Brownsville Diocese as a nominee for the Catholic Extension Lumen Christi Award. This award is presented annually to an individual or group working in one of America’s mission dioceses who have demonstrated how the power of faith can transform lives and communities. We are proud that Sister Zita was a finalist which was accompanied by a $10,000 grant for La Posada’s ministry. Of her work, Sister Zita said, “I am at peace no matter where or in what ministry I am invited by my community to serve.” Self-described as grateful to God for her vocation and to her family and community for their love and support; flexible and open to change; and conscientious in performing tasks related to her ministry, Sister Zita enjoys gardening and culinary arts. In 2017, she created a butterfly garden which was a dream come true and is now attracting hundreds of butterflies, especially monarchs as they migrate to Mexico during the fall. During her time at La Posada, what was most important to her within the charism of the community and how she saw herself living out that charism, she said, “Our community’s religious symbol reminds me daily of our charism: to make God’s Providence visible to all those who enter our doors at La Posada. I am reminded daily to be open and trust in God’s Providence. I am invited by God to be a ‘co-creator’ by generating renewed hope to immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers as they prepare for a ‘rebirth:’ begin a new life in a new country. Also, I am invited to be a ‘co-creator’ by caring for our environment by recycling, renewing and reusing. I am called to offer inclusive hospitality to all those entering La Posada’s door. I am sustained and energized by Jesus’ redemptive love.”
