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Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament celebrates Jubilee

  • Photo by Contributed Photo •
Sisters celebrating 50 years of religious profession, from left, are Sister Marian Sturm, Sister Laura Toman, Sister Digna Vela and Sister Mary Juroske.
  • Originally published July 13, 2012 at midnight, updated July 13, 2012 at midnight

On July 8, five Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament celebrated the anniversaries of their professions at Incarnate Word Convent. The Most Rev. David Fellhauer, Bishop of the Victoria Diocese, officiated at the 2 p.m. Mass. Also present and co-celebrating were Bishop Michael Duca, of Shreveport, La., and other clergy guests. The Rev. David Garcia was homilist.

Those honored were Sister M. Michael Kopecky, 75 years; Sister Mary Juroske, Sister M. Laura Toman, Sister Marian Sturm and Sister M. Digna Vela, 50 years.

Together they have contributed 275 years of service to the church in ministries of education, administration and pastoral services.

Sister M. Michael Kopecky, daughter of the late Joseph and Frances (Strauss) Kopecky, was born in Hallettsville. Kopecky received her elementary education at Sacred Heart School in Hallettsville and graduated from Blessed Sacrament Academy in San Antonio.

She entered Blessed Sacrament Convent and received the habit of the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament on Feb. 23, 1936. She made first profession of vows on June 10, 1937. Kopecky received a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in English and a minor in Spanish from Incarnate Word College in San Antonio and a Master of Arts degree with a major in history and a minor in education from the Catholic University of America.

During the 75 years as a professed member of the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament, she taught on the elementary, junior high, high school and college level. She also served as local superior at Incarnate Word Convent in Victoria.

Kopecky served as teacher or principal at Sacred Heart School in Floresville, Nazareth Academy in Victoria, Sacred Heart School in La Grange, Holy Cross School in Bay City, Holy Cross School and St. Patrick Schools in Dallas, Blessed Sacrament Academy in San Antonio and Holy Trinity School in Duquesne, Pa.

Though Kopecky retired from full-time teaching in 1988, she remained active at Incarnate Word Convent where she assisted in chauffeuring and community shopping and served in music ministry. During her spare time, she liked to make flower arrangements and engage in arts and crafts. Because of ill health, she resides in the IWC Infirmary.

Sister Mary Juroske, daughter of the late Eddie and Olga Pratka Juroske, was born in Angleton. Juroske attended Industrial Elementary School and Lolita Junior High School before entering Nazareth Academy for her high school education.

She entered Incarnate Word Convent and received the habit of the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament on July 30, 1961, and made her first profession of vows on Aug. 6, 1962.

Juroske attended Annunciation College where she took sacred scripture classes, as well as dogmatic and moral theology courses. When her aptitude for art was perceived, she attended classes in oil painting, charcoal, water color, ceramics and other classes connected with the arts.

Juroske's culinary abilities and dietary knowledge were put to use at Incarnate Word Convent for a number of years. She was assigned to Nazareth Academy where she developed a clientele for private art lessons and assisted in the N.A. pre-school daycare with religion classes. Juroske assists as a volunteer aide at Nazareth Academy and teaches private art lessons. She is involved in the IWBS Spirituality Center's activities. She also enjoys arts and crafts, which she shares as gifts and contributes to the IWC Gift Shop.

Sister M. Laura Toman, daughter of the late Raymond and Anne Rose (Sablatura) Toman, was born in Houston. After attending Ganado Public School the first four years of elementary school and Assumption School for the upper grades, Toman attended Nazareth Academy.

She entered Nazareth Convent and received the habit of the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament on July 30, 1961. She made her first Profession of Vows on Aug. 6, 1962. She earned her early credits from Annunciation College in Victoria and Incarnate Word College in San Antonio.

Toman attended Our Lady of the Lake College in San Antonio, from which she was awarded a Bachelor of Art degree with a major in English and a minor in history. She attended Southwest Texas State College in San Marcos and earned a Master of Education with a major in administration and a minor in psychology/sociology.

During the 50 years as a professed member of the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament, Toman taught at St. Michael's Catholic School in Cuero. She served as principal at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Selma, St. Michael School in Cuero, Sacred Heart School in Floresville, St. Patrick School in Dallas, St. Michael School in Weimar and Our Lady of Victory School in Victoria.

During Toman's 23-year leadership as principal of St. Michael School in Weimar, the school received numerous academic awards, culminating in its designation as a nationally recognized "Blue Ribbon School, 2006" by the U.S. Department of Education.

Toman also served as Councilor in the Leadership of the Congregation from 1988-2000 along with work in the school. She has been elected as a Councilor for the Congregational Leadership for a six-year term along with being principal at Our Lady of Victory School in Victoria.

Sister Marian Sturm, daughter of the late Arnold and Mary (Kaptiza) Sturm, was born in Falls City. She completed first through eighth grades at Falls City Elementary School and then did her high school studies at Nazareth Academy in Victoria.

She then entered Nazareth Convent and received the habit of the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament on July 30, 1961, and made her first profession of vows on Aug. 6, 1962. She began her college education at Annunciation College in Victoria and then transferred to Incarnate Word College in San Antonio, from which she received a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in biology and a minor in math. Sturm then attended St. Mary's University in San Antonio where she achieved a Master of Arts degree with a major in theology.

During the 50 years as a professed member of the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament, Sturm taught in the elementary grades of St. Leo School in San Antonio, St Michael School in Weimar and Nazareth Academy in Victoria.

She continued with teaching on the high school level at St. Paul High School in Shiner, St. Joseph High School in Victoria and Sacred Heart High School in Hallettsville. She was the religion and CCD coordinator in St. Mary's Parish in Nada, Holy Cross Parish in East Bernard and St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Huntsville.

After the Diocese of Victoria was created, Sturm served as the Director of the Reflection Process of the Diocese for a number of years. She has also served as Director of Religious Education in St. Philip of Jesus Parish in San Antonio, Director of Faith Formation in St. Anthony Claret Parish in San Antonio, and Adult Faith Formation Director in St. Mark the Evangelist Parish in San Antonio. She enjoys playing Scrabble, dancing and reading mystery novels.

Sister M. Digna Vela, daughter of the late Emilio and Bertha (Cantu) Vela, was born in Port Lavaca. Vela's early education was at Jefferson Elementary School and Travis Junior High School in Port Lavaca before she transferred to Nazareth Academy from where she obtained her high school diploma. She received the habit of the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament on July 30, 1971, and pronounced her first vows on Aug. 6, 1962.

She began her college education at Annunciation College in Victoria and then transferred to Incarnate Word College in San Antonio from which she received a Bachelor of Art degree with a major in Spanish and a minor in English. Sister then attended St. Mary's University where she earned a M.A. degree with a major in theology. In August of 2011, Sister Digna completed a program for Spiritual Direction and Directed Retreat at Creighton University in Omaha, Neb.

During her 50 years of service as a professed member of the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament, Vela taught in the elementary and junior high schools at Our Lady of Victory School in Victoria, Immaculate Conception School in Sealy, St. Mary School in Nada, Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in Selma and Holy Cross School in Bay City.

She also ministered in the following high schools: Nazareth Academy in Victoria, Blessed Sacrament Academy in San Antonio and St. Joseph High School in Victoria. In 1990, Vela began ministry for the Diocese of Victoria as Director of Catechetical Ministry, serving in that capacity for 22 years. She is also presently involved in the IWBS Amor Meus Spirituality Center's activities.