Sister Rita Ann Mazanec — 60 years

BORN: Colby, Kan.
ENTERED CONGREGATION: March 18, 1950

My 60 years as a Sister of St. Joseph have been blessed with multiple opportunities to know God and his love, and the love we have for each other. All the joys and all the struggles have been honored with help from God and the persons who were put in place to be there to help.

My role in spreading the Gospel was as a primary teacher for 42 years, mainly teaching second-graders, which included preparing the students for First Communion and Reconciliation. This was a real privilege.

As I began to lose my hearing, I made the choice to leave the classroom to work in the library and tutor students in reading and math. Working with an average of four students at a time was a more workable situation for me. I did this for six years.

Progressively my hearing worsened; therefore it was time to retire from teaching. I came to Concordia and worked at the Motherhouse wherever there was a need.

Then Sister Jeanette Wasinger asked if I would take on the job of bookkeeper here at the Motherhouse and help the sisters learn about computers and email. Computers were a new experience for more than 30 sisters. But we all persevered through it, with the help of Doug Herman (currently treasurer and human resources director). Ten years later, some may think I am an expert, but the truth is I am still “bookkeeping- and computering-confused.”