June 26, 2012 // Local

Our Lady of Guadalupe celebrates fathers, ministry of Sister Joan Hastreiter

Todays Catholic

Sister Joan Hastreiter, a Sister of St. Joseph, shares a farewell message to the people of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church and Diocesan Shrine in Warsaw on Sunday, June 17. Sister Joan will be ministering in Kalamazoo, Mich., with her community.

WARSAW — Parishioners at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Warsaw had two reasons to celebrate on June 17 — Father’s Day and to say farewell to Sister Joan Hastreiter, a Sister of St. Joseph.

Sister Joan, who served the Hispanic communities of Milford and Warsaw for many years, is taking a new assignment in Kalamazoo, Mich., to minister with her community.

She asked Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish to continue to care for their shrine to Our Lady so future generations may continue growth in the faith.

With the celebration falling on Father’s Day, Sister Joan thanked all of the fathers present at the Mass for sharing their day to be with family.

Enid Roman from the Office for Hispanic Ministry spoke of Sister Joan’s arduous years of ministry for the Our Lady of Guadalupe community.

Father Paul Bueter, a retired priest who worked alongside Sister Joan throughout the years, spoke of how grateful he is for her contribution and service to the people.

Father Constantino Rocha, pastor, also thanked Sister Joan for her labor of love.

Although Sister Joan is of German ancestry, she learned Spanish in Peru as she worked with Peruvian communities. Upon her return to the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, she dedicated herself to love of God and neighbor.

Also at the celebration, Father Constantino Rocha blessed all fathers to which the men responded with a renewal in their fatherly vocation.