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Picture above, from left to right, jubilarians Sister Gemma Wilson, Sister Giovanna Campanella and Sister Antoinette Martinez.
Three Sisters of the Presentation celebrated jubilees to mark significant milestones in their lives as women religious at a community celebration on Sunday, April 29, 2018, at the Presentation motherhouse in San Francisco. Sisters Giovanna Campanella, Antoinette Martinez and Gemma Wilson are each celebrating 60 years in the congregation.
Sister Giovanna Campanella and Sister Antoinette Martinez also took part in the Archdiocese of San Francisco annual Consecrated Life Mass on February 4, 2018, at Saint Mary’s Cathedral in San Francisco.
Not partaking in any public celebrations but marking her 70th jubilee is Sister Mary Ruth Patrick.
Sister Giovanna Campanella is celebrating sixty 60 years from her entrance. She earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of San Francisco in 1966 and a master’s from Mount Saint Mary’s College, Los Angeles, in 1987. Sister Giovanna taught for 25 years in Catholic elementary, at Holy Trinity School, San Pedro, (1962-1964, 1967-1977, 1981-1987); Epiphany School, San Francisco, (1964-1967); and Saint Benedict School, Montebello, (1977-1981). She served on the Leadership Council of the Sisters of the Presentation, San Francisco, from 1987 to 1994. Following this, from 1994 to 2004, Sister Giovanna ministered as director of religious education at Saint Columban Parish, Garden Grove. From 2004 to 2015, Sister Giovanna offered her services in religious education at Saint Bonaventure Parish, Huntington Beach while assuming caregiving responsibilities of her mother. Currently, Sister Giovanna again serves on the leadership council of the Sisters of the Presentation, San Francisco.
Sister Antoinette Martinez is celebrating 60 years from her entrance. Sister Antoinette earned a bachelor’s in education from the University of San Francisco. After receiving her vocational nurse license, Sister Antoinette spent five years working in the motherhouse infirmary from 1971 to 1976. Primarily, Sister Antoinette ministered at Presentation Center in Los Gatos during two separate times – from 1964 to 1970 and again from 1976 to 2009. While there, Sister Antoinette contributed in many ways to the hospitality and beauty of the retreat center from gardening to cooking to overseeing housekeeping staff to be a constant welcoming presence to the guests. From 1990 to 1901, Sister Antoinette took a year to minister at our Presentation mission in Mexico. Since 2009, Sister Antionette has served as the director of pastoral care at the Sisters of the Presentation motherhouse.
Sister Gemma Wilson (religious name Sister Patricia) is celebrating 60 years since her first vows. Sister Gemma has a bachelor’s in education from the University of San Francisco. Sister Gemma taught in Catholic schools for 13 years in San Jose, San Francisco, San Lorenzo, Berkeley and San Pedro. From 1959 to 1961, She taught at Saint John the Baptist, San Lorenzo. From 1961 to 1963, she taught at Most Holy Trinity School in San Pedro in Southern California. From 1964 to 1965, she was an instructor at Saint Joseph Elementary, Berkeley. From 1968 to 1971, Sister Gemma taught at Saint Patrick School in San Jose. In 1971, Sister Gemma attended San Jose City College and she received an associate degree in nursing. From 1973 to 1990, Sister Gemma became a staff nurse at San Jose Hospital. In 1990, she left hospital work and became a nurse in a doctor’s office in San Jose for ten years. From 2002 to 2017, she was an instructional aide at Saint John Vianney School, San Jose. For many years, Sister Gemma trained guide and obedience dogs. Presently, Sister Gemma visits nursing homes with her therapy dog Finn.
Sister Mary Ruth Patrick is celebrating 70 years. Sister Ruth earned a bachelor’s from the University of San Francisco and an master’s in special education at San Francisco State University. In 1951, Sister Ruth began over 10 years as an elementary school teacher in Presentation schools in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Montebello, Gilroy and San Jose. In 1963, she became the assistant director of studies and pupil accounting at Presentation High School, San Francisco. In 1980, she entered the clinical pastoral education program at Saint Mary Hospital, San Francisco, and subsequently served as a chaplain at Letterman Army Hospital, San Francisco; Saint Rose Hospital, Hayward; Saint Mary Hospital, San Francisco; and, from 1986 to 1996, at Saint Luke Episcopal Hospital, San Francisco.