By Emily Dillon
Our Association of the Holy Family nurtures the spirituality of lay individuals who have dedicated themselves to living Nazareth spirituality in their families, in their workplace, and in the world. These women and men help advance the mission and ministry of our Congregation through faithful listening, loving relationships, and recognizing God’s presence in their daily encounters. After a period of orientation and discernment, they make a commitment to daily prayer and living the values of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth (CSFN) within their families and parish communities. While each member brings a unique perspective to the association, all associates are committed to advancing the mission and ministry of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth.
Meet Lisa Schiro, an associate of 13 years, who first found herself face to face with one of our sisters at the beginning of her career in a most unexpected way.
“I came to Ascension Holy Family Hospital to interview for a public relations position. I was a year out of college and had interviewed all the way up the line when I found myself in front of Sister Patricia Ann Koschalke, who was starting to look at me funny. I thought I must have said something wrong, but when I asked about it, she said, ‘No, I just have a position open in the development office and I’ve interviewed a lot of people for it, and I think you might be a good candidate. Would you be interested in interviewing for that job instead?’” Lisa eventually acquired the development position, but was a little worried about her lack of skills needed for the role. Sister Patricia Ann only said, “I will teach you how I want it done.”
Sister Patricia Ann became Lisa’s mentor after that. Over the next 12 years, they would do everything together, from praying before every meeting to attending wakes, funerals, special occasions, and lunches with donors. “I learned the way Sister wanted the office run in her hospital,” Lisa explained. It was a wonderfully fulfilling career. We made many friends and held fun and very successful special events like gala dinners and golf outings.”
While working at the hospital and raising her young family, Lisa’s first husband passed away.
“The sisters really circled around me with emotional support,” Lisa said. When her daughter, Samantha, started struggling with separation anxiety in school as a new kindergartner, her good friend Tom, an electrical contractor at the hospital and a good donor to the sisters, said, “Call the sisters.”
The next day, Lisa brought Samantha to meet Sister Julie Kozielska, the principal at St. Emily Catholic School in Mt. Prospect, IL. Sister Julie assured Lisa and Samantha that St. Emily’s was a good fit and there was nothing to be worried about. “You’re going to start coming to school here,” Sister Julie said. “You are going to be safe here. You know the sisters. Everything’s going to be OK.” Samantha never cried again and she was successful in kindergarten because of the sisters, said Lisa.
During that same time, Sister Sandra Marie Sosnowski asked Lisa how she was doing.
“I’m really having a hard time,” Lisa said. “I’m still in this ‘angry’ phase and I can’t get things back to normal.” Sister Sandra Marie looked her in the eyes and said, “Oh Lisa, things are never going to go back to normal. You have to create a new normal.”
“It was like a light bulb went on,” Lisa remembered. “It helped so much.”
After the hospital merged with Resurrection and Sister Patricia Ann moved on to fulfill a new role, Lisa left the hospital and accepted a development position with The Little Sisters of the Poor in Palatine, IL, for the next five years. It was during this time in her life that she began her discernment to become an associate.
“When I was approached about becoming an associate, it was an easy YES. I was already deeply connected and was familiar with their charism. And I missed working with the Sisters of the Holy Family. It was like the calling had always been there. It was a mere formality and a way I could make it more permanent.”
After working with Sisters Lauren Sosnowski and Dolores Kazmierczak discerning her membership, Lisa became an associate in 2011. “It was really meaningful for me because it was a much deeper dive into my feelings about it. And I was discerning without even realizing they were discerning me as well. You can’t just declare to everyone in the room that you want to be an associate. You need to make sure they’re going to honor your relationship with the sisters and treat it with respect. I truly embraced my discernment with Sisters Lauren and Dolores.”
The sisters’ impact on Lisa’s life had gone way beyond her membership in the Association, however. “My adult children know the sisters and my husband has a relationship with the sisters as well.”
Sister Michael Marie Franzak in particular was one of the sisters working at St. Emily’s when Samantha went to school there. When Lisa got remarried there in 2002, it was to Tom Schiro, the very electrical contractor who told her years before to call the sisters in her time of need. The entire church had been filled with sisters, including Sister Michael Marie and a few others who sang and played beautiful music at the wedding ceremony.
Lisa and Tom had become friends while working at Ascension Holy Family, though Sister Rosemarie Machalski in particular credits herself as their matchmaker. One day, Lisa was walking out of daycare after dropping Samantha off when she stopped Lisa and said, “I think you should date Tom Schiro. We collectively think that he would be a
good husband.” Lisa and Tom were married two years later and each year get a handful of sisters who remember their role in pairing the couple up!
“We always get an anniversary card now. During the pandemic, we finally realized after all these years, Tom and Sister Rosemarie share the same birthday. We never knew it!”
Today, Lisa works as the Senior Director of Development for Presbyterian Homes, a Life Plan Community organization in the Chicago area. Though her whole career has centered around fundraising, she has been able to work with residents and their families every day. “I not only get to apply what I’m doing here for my own family, but for those families as well. Being able to transmit what I glean from the sisters and using that as a leg extension for the congregation and for the ministry keeps me engaged. If I can be a calming person in my family, more understanding and less judgmental when family tension occurs, then I’m supporting the family and by extension doing the sisters’ work to enhance families as well.”
The Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth are called to extend the Kingdom of God’s love among themselves and others by living the spirit of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, whose lives were centered in the love of God and one another. Their witness to this love through dedicated service to the Church, especially in ministry to the family, is what guides their mission and service daily. “I have always appreciated the way the sisters approach their ministries,” Lisa continued. “They really are invested and involved in a very subtle way. Even Sister Michael Marie, who uses a lot of her ministry through music, the extension of that to her own sisters, to her own path, and to others, is beautiful to witness. They all bring their individual talents to the table and nothing is ever diminished. Sister Patricia Ann in particular knitted my son’s baptismal jacket and has always had a green thumb. Whether it’s sewing, gardening, or baking, the sisters find a way to use that part of themselves and deliver it to others through their ministry. Sister M. Lucille Madura and Sister Sandra Marie Sosnowski used to deliver a small bag of cookies and bread every Christmas Eve, and my kids would use the bread for French toast every Christmas morning. Even today, they still make French toast every Christmas morning as a tradition. It was neat to have the sisters be a part of our Christmas like that. It’s very much to honor them.”
For Lisa, being an associate means taking her role as an extension of their ministries. Even when life gets busy and her attention taken up by the busier seasons of work, the challenge to remain connected through the role of an associate guides her daily. “Staying involved and aligned with the sisters fuels my work.” From the witness of sharing their own talents and skills to maintaining relationships through investment of time and deep connection, there is no greater strength that keeps Lisa’s heart within the sisters’ mission.
