Sisters from Cameroon Begin Service in Wisconsin

Four Tertiary Sisters of St. Francis (TSSF) from Cameroon arrived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, last summer to begin a new chapter in their lives, and are offering valuable services to the staff and clients at the Stein Campus of St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care.

Sisters Delphine, Pascaline, Magdalen, and Victorine have nursing and teaching backgrounds that, according to St. Ann Founder and President Sister Edna Lonergan, OSF, will be a great help to the center.

Sister Delphine earned a nursing degree in La Crosse, Wisconsin, a few years ago and then returned to Cameroon. She is back in Milwaukee, ready to share her knowledge and skills with the clients at St. Ann’s.

Sister Pascaline will be an assistant teacher at the center. She was at St. Ann’s several years ago and received training at that time, then returned to Cameroon to teach at an orphanage.

Sisters Magdalen and Victorine will begin their time at St. Ann’s as nursing assistants. They are in the U.S. for the first time. Sister Edna said she wants them to be happy in their work and will see what they like to do, what gives them the most satisfaction and pleasure.

“It is a bit early to know where their interests lie and what will bring them joy,” said Sister Edna. “We will learn as we go along.

When asked how long they will be at St. Ann’s, Sister Edna said a few years, at least. They hope to establish a community in Milwaukee, and currently reside there.

The four join seven other Sisters from Africa who work at St. Ann’s. The others are from Kenya and Tanzania.

Sister Edna has visited Cameroon six times, beginning in 2002 after she attended an international conference on elder care in Madrid, Spain. She was a representative of the Holy See at the conference. That was when she learned of the plight of the elderly in African nations. She wanted to help, and her first visit to Cameroon came as a result. She chose Cameroon because of the connection between her congregation, The Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi, and the TSSFs in that country.

One thing led to another, and the Cameroonian Sisters began their training and service at St. Ann’s.

Sisters Delphine, Pascaline, Victorine, and Magdalen are enjoying their time so far. They have begun to furnish their living quarters and have experienced some of the city. They attended a local festival in Milwaukee with Sister Edna and enjoyed being along the city’s lakefront for the celebration.

“They were like celebrities,” she said. “People asked to have their photos taken with them and they loved it. They exude joy wherever they go. It is inspiring to see their prayerfulness, love of community, and the joy they have with every little thing they get.”