(l to r) Associate Director Sister Charlotte Roost, Deputy Grand Knight John Stepanovich, Grand Knight Tony Bloom, Associate Director Sister Sylvia Anne Sheldon, and Administrative Director Sister Joanne Schatzlein pose November 1, 2023, in front of a 1999 original mural highlighting the history of the congregation. The Knights presented the Sisters with Council 1709's check for $10,000.
The South Milwaukee Knights of Columbus Council 1709 continued their generous support of our Sisters with a $10,000 donation on November 1, 2023, for the purchase of several electric lift chairs and other needs of our Sisters living in Clare Circle enhanced care unit. Grand Knight Tony Bloom and Deputy Grand Knight John Stepanovich presented the $10,000 check to the Sisters’ Leadership Team: Sisters Joanne Schatzlein, Charlotte Roost, and Sylvia Ann Sheldon. Following the November 1 check presentation, the Sisters’ Director of Advancement Nancy Ketchman gave a tour of the convent, highlighting some of the areas that have benefited from the Knights’ generosity.
The motorized lift chairs will help our Sisters gently transition from a seated position to a standing position and vice versa. This feature enhances their mobility and independence while also offering a comfortable and relaxing chair to enjoy reading, watching TV, or visiting with other Sisters and family. Remaining funds will be applied to other services and items needed by our Sisters living in Clare Circle. Many Sisters in Clare Circle suffer from dementia, Alzheimer’s, and other neurological and cognitive disorders.
The Council's Long History of Supporting the Sisters
The South Milwaukee Knights of Columbus Council 1709 has been a generous supporter of the Sisters for almost a decade. But the history of individual members go back further. Many Knights members grew up near our St. Francis convent, sent their children to parish schools at which our Sisters taught, or have wives and/or daughters who attended the former St. Mary’s Academy, upon which the footprint of the new convent lies. In 2022, Council 1709 provided funds so we could purchase a new dishwasher and oven for Elizabeth Hall, our assisted living unit. In 2023, they helped fund a motorized retractable awning for an outdoor patio. Funds for the Knights’ charitable donations are derived from their Monday night bingo games. The Knights also host Friday night fish fries in February, including a very special annual KC Ministry Feast in which they invite local clergy and religious organizations like ours to eat for free.
To learn more about the Knights, visit their website at https://kc1709.org.
Supporting the Health and Retirement Needs of Our Sisters
If you wish to support the Sisters, please contact Nancy Ketchman, Director of Advancement, via email or by calling 414-294-7329. Click here for our current Wish List. Or, simply click here to make a recurring or one-time gift.
