HR1033 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1033 LRB097 21388 KXB 69338 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives is pleased to congratulate Sister M. Wencesla Rieger, F.S.G.M., of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George, on her Diamond Jubilee; and

WHEREAS, In honor of Sister Wencesla, St. Francis Convent in Alton will hold a Jubilee Mass on May 12, 2012; and

WHEREAS, Sister Wencesla was born March 29, 1925, in Weigelsdorf, Kreis Reichenbach, Germany; in 1952, during her novitiate training, she was helping at St. Mary's in Papenburg, Germany; on March 19, 1953, Sister Wencesla professed her first vows at the Motherhouse in Thuine, Germany; after her first profession, she was assigned to help the convent in Schwazdorf, Germany; and

WHEREAS, She also worked at St. Joseph's nursing home in Thuine, Germany; on March 30, 1954, she came to United States and worked in the dietary department of Saint Anthony's Hospital in Alton until July 1, 1991; on July 21, 1991, she was transferred and worked in the St. Francis Convent dining room; and

WHEREAS, On August 12, 1993, Sister Wencesla transferred to St. Sixtus Convent in Hastings, Nebraska, where she cooked and did housekeeping for 4 sisters teaching at a nearby grade school; the children there called her the "cookie sister"; Sister Wencesla worked there until 2006; and

WHEREAS, Since 2006, Sister Wencesla has been in the infirmary at St. Francis Convent of Alton and is the oldest sister in their American Province; as an Adoration Sister, Sister Wencesla spends up to 3 hours in the Adoration Chapel praying for sisters, the church, and the world; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Sister Rieger and thank her for her years of service and dedication to helping others; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Sister M. Wencesla Rieger as a symbol of our respect and esteem.