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Celebrating 535 years of combined service to the Catholic church

Nine Incarnate Word sisters celebrate anniversaries

Celebrating 75, 70 and 60 years of religious service in the Sisters of the Incarnate Word, from left, are Sister George Vasek, 75 years; Sister Pauline Marie Ermis, 70 years; Sister Mary Virginia Sheblak, 60 years; Sister Scholastica Friesenhahn, 70 years; and Sister Sylvia Grahmann, 60 years. Celebrating 75, 70 and 60 years of religious service in the Sisters of the Incarnate Word, from left, are Sister George Vasek, 75 years; Sister Pauline Marie Ermis, 70 years; Sister Mary Virginia Sheblak, 60 years; Sister Scholastica Friesenhahn, 70 years; and Sister Sylvia Grahmann, 60 years.
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  • Originally published July 17, 2009 at midnight, updated July 17, 2009 at 4:40 p.m.

Nine Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament celebrated the anniversaries of their religious professions at Incarnate Word Convent, representing 535 years of combined service to the Catholic church.

Honored on their 50th anniversary on Saturday, July 11, were: Sister M. Stephana Marbach, Sister M. Serena Etzler, Sister Mary Theresa Fritz and Sister M. Odilia Korenek.

Honored on Sunday, July 12, were: Sister M. George Vasek for 75 years; Sister Pauline Marie Ermis and Sister M. Scholastica Friesenhahn, 70 years each; and Sister Mary Virginia Sheblak and Sister M. Sylvia Grahmann, 60 years each.

Their service to the church has been in ministries of education, administration and pastoral services.

On Saturday, the Most Reverend David Fellhauer, Bishop of the Victoria Diocese, officiated at the 2 p.m. Mass. Co-celebrants were the Rev. Connor McGrath of San Antonio, who gave the homily, the Rev. Greg Korenek of Victoria, and other clergy guests. The Rev. Donald Hayden, O.SS.T., convent chaplain, was master of ceremonies.

Sister Stephana Marbach, daughter of the late Udo S. and Erna Schumann Marbach, was born in Converse. She was the eldest of the nine sons and four daughters.

She became a postulant in 1957, entered the novitiate in 1958 and pronounced her first vows on Aug. 6, 1959.

Marbach received a bachelor's degree with a major in history and a minor in philosophy from Incarnate Word College in San Antonio, and received certification in educational administration from Southwest Texas University in San Marcos. She also studied at the Theological Union in Chicago and at Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, from which she received a master's degree in pastoral ministry.

Marbach has served as a teacher and/or principal at Holy Cross School in Bay City, Holy Cross School in East Bernard, Our Lady of Victory School, Nazareth Academy and St. Joseph High School in Victoria, and Blessed Sacrament Parish School and Blessed Sacrament Academy in San Antonio. She also served in the initial formation and vocation ministry for the congregation. In 1988, after serving on the Congregational Administrative Council for six years, Marbach was elected superior general of the congregation, a position she held for 12 years. She has served as pastoral associate in Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Selma for the past seven years.

Sister Serena Etzler, daughter of Theodore and Agnes Christ Etzler, was born in Hallettsville. She was the youngest of three boys and three girls. She entered Nazareth Convent in Victoria where she became a postulant in 1957, was received into the novitiate as a Sister of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament in 1958 and pronounced her first vows on Aug. 6, 1959.

Etzler received a bachelor's degree with a major in education and a minor in history from Incarnate Word College. She also took courses in physical education to be a certified PE teacher in the schools where she taught.

During her 50 years of religious profession, Etzler ministered in the following schools: St. Ludmila Academy in Shiner for 16 years, St. John School in San Antonio for two years and Nazareth Academy for 27 years. Etzler also spent many hours assisting at the schools' athletic events as score keeper.

Etzler retired from the active teaching ministry in December 2007, and now assists in staffing the IWC Gift Shop and making rosaries.

Sister Mary Theresa Fritz, daughter of the late Richard and Mary Rainosek Fritz, was born in Victoria. She is the youngest of four children: three boys and one girl. She entered Nazareth Convent and became a postulant in 1957, was received into the novitiate in 1958, and pronounced her first vows on Aug. 6, 1959.

Fritz received a bachelor's degree with a major in English and a minor in history from Incarnate Word College in San Antonio. She continued her education and became certified in business administration through courses at Victoria College and the University of Houston-Victoria. She also holds a certificate to teach computer literacy.

Fritz has served as teacher and/or principal at Sacred Heart School in La Grange, Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Selma, Sacred Heart School in Crosby, St. Mary School in Nada, Immaculate Conception School in Sealy, Sealy public school, Sacred Heart School in Hallettsville, St. Leo School in San Antonio, St. Joseph High School, Nazareth Academy in Victoria, Mary Immaculate School in Dallas and St. Paul High School in Shiner. She also assisted in the business office at Incarnate Word Convent.

She also served as director of religious education at St. Anthony parish in Danbury, and Out Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in Houston. She received her CPE training and became a resident chaplain at Memorial Hospital in Houston. For the past 15 years, Fritz has served as chaplain and bereavement counselor with Nurses in Touch Hospice Care in San Antonio and Floresville.

Sister Odilia Korenek, daughter of the late Adolph and Justina Janish Korenek, was born in Nada. She came from a family of four boys and eight girls.

Korenek entered Nazareth Convent and became a postulant in 1957, received the habit of the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament in 1958 and pronounced her first vows on Aug. 6, 1959.

Korenek received a bachelor's degree, with a major in history and a minor in Spanish, from Incarnate Word College in San Antonio. She earned a master's degree from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash., and spiritual direction certification from St. Edward's University in Austin.

Korenek has served as teacher and/or principal at Sacred Heart School in Floresville, Sacred Heart School in Crosby, Sacred Heart School in La Grange, Our Lady of Victory School and St. Joseph High School in Victoria, and St. Agnes School, St. John School, St. Leo School and Blessed Sacrament Academy in San Antonio. She served in the Diocese of Victoria as director of the Farm Aid Outreach and the Gulf Coast Organizational Effort. In 1990, she was assigned to develop new programs needed by San Antonio's south side which developed into the Mutilevel Learning Center at Blessed Sacrament Academy. At present, she is development director, executive director and supervisor of the Child Care Development Center, Parents' Academy, and Charter Schools in San Antonio and Corpus Christi.

Korenek has also served as a councilor on the Congregational Leadership Team for the last nine years.

On Sunday, Fellhauer officiated at the 2 p.m. Mass and gave the homily. Co-celebrants were Bishop Charles Grahmann, the Rev. Celestino Say of Victoria, the Rev. Charles Sonnier of Sweet Home, the Rev. Joseph Kariuki of Plum, the Rev. Michael Lyons of Ganado, and other clergy guests. Hayden again served as master of ceremonies.

Sister M. George Vasek, celebrating 75 years of profession, is the daughter of the late August and Mary Srubar Vasek. She was born in East Bernard.

Vasek entered St. Ludmila as a postulant on Oct. 5, 1923, and received the habit of the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament on July 24, 1933. She made first profession of vows on Sept. 5, 1934. She was awarded a bachelor's degree, with a major in English and a minor in Spanish, from Incarnate Word College in San Antonio. She did post-graduate work in the area of library science and held certifications as elementary teacher, high school and librarian certification.

Vasek ministered as a teacher, librarian and/or administrator at St. Ludmila Academy and St. Paul High School in Shiner, Marak Public School, Hostyn Public School and Radhost Public School, both near La Grange, St. Jerome School in Plum, Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Selma, Sacred Heart School in Crosby, and St. Mary School in Nada. She also served as treasurer at Burns Hospital in Cuero from 1942-46.

Vasek retired from the active education ministry in the fall 1993, and lives at Incarnate Word Convent. She has assisted in various household duties when able, and is very much involved in the Apostolate of Prayer. Her sense of humor and kindness has reaped her a host of lasting friends.

Sister Pauline Marie Ermis, one of nine children, is the daughter of the late Ignac and Annie Vaclavik Ermis of Plum. She is celebrating 70 years in the profession.

She entered St. Ludmila Convent on Sept. 15, 1937, and pronounced first vows on June 5, 1939. She received her bachelor's degree from Incarnate Word College in San Antonio, with a major in history and a minor in social science, and held a teacher's permanent elementary certificate.

Ermis taught in the primary, elementary and junior high grades at Immaculate Conception School in Sealy, Holy Trinity School in Duquesne, Pa., Sacred Heart School in Hallettsville, Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Selma, St. Mary School in Nada, Holy Cross School in East Bernard, St. John School in San Marcos, Nazareth Academy in Victoria, St. Michael School in Weimar, Holy Cross School in Bay City, Holy Trinity School in Corn Hill, St. Ludmila Academy in Shiner and Blessed Sacrament Parish School in San Antonio.

Ermis retired from full-time active classroom duties in 1995 to live at Incarnate Word Convent, where she assisted in various household duties. She now lives in the infirmary where her cheerful presence is an inspiration to all as she engages in the apostolate of prayer and suffering.

Sister Scholastica Friesenhahn is the daughter of the late Gregor and Marie Fey Friesenhahn of New Braunfels, and is the youngest of seven children.

Friesenhahn entered Blessed Sacrament Convent as a postulant on Jan. 6, 1938,

She became a novice on July 20, 1938, and made first profession of vows on July 26, 1939. She received a bachelor's degree, with a major in English and a minor in history, from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio and a master's degree, with a major in education and a minor in math, from Incarnate Word College in San Antonio.

During her 70 years of religious profession, she taught on the elementary, junior high and high school levels at Sacred Heart School in Hallettsville, St. Agnes School and St. Leo School in San Antonio, St. Ludmila Academy in Shiner, Sts. Peter and Paul School in Frelsburg, St. Boniface School in Hobson, Immaculate Conception School in Sealy, Blessed Sacrament Academy and St. Gerard High School in San Antonio. She retired from teaching in 2001 after 63 years in the classroom.

During her years at Blessed Sacrament Academy as a math teacher, she was very involved in the math club, Mu Alpha Theta, on the state and national levels with her high school students. Both she and her students were elected to offices and received awards at the state and national conventions.

She has lived at Incarnate Word since 2006.

Sister Mary Virginia Sheblak is the daughter of the late Elmer and Annie Hollas Sheblak of Edna. She was the eldest of five children: one girl and four boys. She completed grammar school at Haynes School near Edna and graduated from Nazareth Academy in Victoria.

She became a postulant in 1947, was received into the novitiate in 1948, and pronounced her first vows on June 7, 1949.

Sheblak received a Bachelor of Music degree, with a major in music and a minor in education, from Incarnate Word College in San Antonio and a Master of Education in Music from Southwest Texas State University. She also received certification in liturgy from the University of Notre Dame.

For the past 60 years, Sheblak has taught at various schools on the elementary, junior high and high school levels at St. Michael School in Weimar, Sacred Heart School in Floresville, Immaculate Conception School in Sealy, St. Agnes School in San Antonio, St. Ludmila Academy in Shiner, Sacred Heart School in Hallettsville, Blessed Sacrament Academy in San Antonio, Blessed Sacrament Parish School in San Antonio, and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School in Houston. She also served at St. Joseph High School in Victoria as a teacher in the 1970's and served as registrar during the 1990's.

Sister Mary Virginia presently serves as secretary general of the congregation.

Sister Sylvia Grahmann is the daughter of the late Nicholas and Annie Grafe Grahmann of Hallettsville. She is one of 11 children: six boys and five girls.

She became a postulant in 1947, entered the novitiate in 1948, and pronounced her first vows on June 7, 1949.

Grahmann received her bachelor's degree, with a major in English and a minor in philosophy and Latin, from Incarnate Word College in San Antonio. She also earned a master's degree, with a major in English and a minor in education, from Incarnate Word College. She then attended St. Mary's University from which she received a master's degree in theology.

During the 60 years of religions profession, she has taught on the elementary, junior high and high school levels at St. Leo School in San Antonio, Holy Trinity School in Corn Hill, Holy Cross School in Bay City, Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in Selma, St. Ludmila Academy in Shiner, Immaculate Conception School in Sealy, Sacred Heart School in Crosby, Sacred Heart School in Hallettsville, St. Paul High School in Shiner, and Blessed Sacrament Academy in San Antonio.

Grahmann retired from the active teaching in 2004, and lives at Incarnate Word Convent where she assists in various household duties.



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