Sister Rosemary celebrates 50 years

Sister Rosemary Lichnovsky, IWBS, will celebrate her golden jubilee on June 4. After 50 years in consecrated life she still assists—with love and compassion—in the care of the spiritual and physical needs of the sisters in St. Ann’s healthcare section at Incarnate Word Convent in Corpus Christi. 

She was born in the town of West, Texas north of Waco. After having completed elementary and secondary studies in West, she worked at her father’s grocery store and at the McLennan County district clerk’s office in Waco. 

During her freshman year at Incarnate Word College in San Antonio, she discerned a call to religious life. Her family, including two aunts and a cousin who were Sisters of Divine Providence, and a cousin, Sister Martha Ann Snapka, IWBS encouraged and supported her in discerning her vocation. On Aug. 30, 1963, she entered the congregation of the sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament in Corpus Christi. She professed first vows on June 4, 1966 and perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1970.

Sister Rosemary holds a bachelor of music education degree from Incarnate Word College, San Antonio, and a master’s degree in religious education/adult faith formation from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio.  Her teaching experience includes ministry in elementary and secondary schools in the dioceses of Brownsville and Corpus Christi.  She taught adult classes for the Pastoral Institute of Corpus Christi and extension courses for Incarnate Word College and St. Mary’s University. 

In 1980, Sister Rosemary accepted the invitation to ministry as Religious Education Coordinator for the southern area of the Corpus Christi Diocese, and remained in that ministry until 1987.  She initiated rural religious education programs, educating catechists and parents and advocating retreats and Bible studies for children, teens and adults.  During that time, Sister served in approximately 12 parishes and 16 missions of the Corpus Christi diocese, including Alice, Kingsville, Falfurrias, Three Rivers and Freer.

Sister served as Spiritual Coordinator for Casa de Vida Retreat House in Brownsville in 1987 and was a member of the Brownsville diocesan committee which advocated a Diocesan Counseling/Spiritual Direction Center.  She completed clinical pastoral education at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen, and served as a chaplain for the hospital and for Hospice.  In 1990, she was appointed Bereavement Coordinator for the Sandi Jo Funk Hospice Program, and in 1999 was named Bereavement Coordinator of the Year by the Texas and New Mexico Hospice Organization.  Her bereavement ministry with the Hospice team included coordinating support groups for family members, annual memorial services and educating volunteers to assist with bereavement communication.    

In 2005, Sister Rosemary returned to internal ministry at Incarnate Word Convent in Corpus Christi, where she serves on various congregational committees, including Incarnate Word Associates and the On-going Formation Committee, as coordinator of the annual retreats at the motherhouse for the sisters. In 2009, Sister Rosemary became a member of the Initial Formation Team, providing resources for formation directors, novices and temporary professed sisters, in communication with other Incarnate Word congregations and the National Religious Formation Conference.
 
Sister Caroline Fritter, who has known Sister Rosemary for 50 years, says of her, “During those years I have seen and experienced her faithfulness, generosity, gentleness, concern, friendliness, as well as a touch of her humor. Moreover, with her beautiful voice, sister is always a welcomed member of the sisters’ choir.”  

Sister Rosemary is grateful to God for the love and prayerful support of family, friends and her community for the past 50 years of religious commitment in extending the Incarnate Word to God’s people.  

“My hope and prayer is that other women will have the courage to respond to God’s call to consecrated life,” she said.