LINCOLN (SNR) – Lincoln native Sister M. Emily Kenkel was named provincial superior of the North American province of the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary Nov. 16.
The Sisters’ general government appointed new provincial governments for many provinces of the international sisters’ community, including the North American province which encompasses the United States, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico.
Prior to this appointment, Sister M. Emily served for the past two years on the provincial council and for the past eight years as director of vocations and formation. She now replaces Sister M. Virginia Riedl, who served on the provincial council for the past 23 years, including as provincial superior from 1998-2009 and 2019-2021.
“We are grateful to Sister M. Virginia for her many years of dedicated service and we pray that God and our Blessed Mother reward her with many graces,” the Sisters said in a statement.
In addition to this appointment, four provincial council sisters were named: Sister M. Gloriana Rivera (serving on the provincial council since 2012), Sister M. Isabel Bracero (newly appointed to the provincial council), Sister M. Frances Pizarro (serving on the provincial council since 2015), and Sister M. Lorena Segura (serving on this provincial council since 2015).
“Trusting in God’s grace, and in the care of our Blessed Mother in the covenant of love, we wish our new provincial government a blessed new beginning and the constant guidance of the Holy Spirit,” the Sisters said.
Father Joseph Kentenich founded the Secular Institute of the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary in Germany in 1926. In 1949, German members of the Secular Institute of the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary arrived in Madison, Wisc. The Sisters have staffed a Catholic grade school, built and staffed six retreat centers, and staffed a hospital/nursing home complex.
