Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration celebrates golden jubilee

A Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration with ties to Superior is celebrating her Golden Jubilee, marking 50 years of vowed religious life.

A native of Superior, Sister Theresa Mae Connolly (Kay) graduated from St. Francis Xavier Grade School in 1955 and Cathedral High School in 1959.

She professed her first vows to the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in 1962. She completed a bachelor’s degree from Viterbo College, now known as Viterbo University, in La Crosse, Wis. Sister Theresa taught primary grades for 20 years in Iowa and one year in Wisconsin.

She went on to earn two Master of Arts degrees — the first in education from Dubuque, Iowa’s Clarke University in 1982, and the second in pastoral ministry in 1990 from St. Thomas University in St. Paul, Minn. Thomas University in 1990.

As director of religious education, she served families in several parishes in Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin for 25 years.

Since 2006, Sister Theresa has been serving as a volunteer at Villa St. Joseph, an FSPA skilled-care retirement home in La Crosse.

Two jubilee celebrations were held for Sister Theresa, one at Villa St. Joseph on May 15 and the other at St. Rose Convent on June 16.

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