Greetings and Peace! My name is Sister Marianna Ableidinger. I am a Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration (FSPA), whose Motherhouse in located in LaCrosse, Wl, where we have had Perpetual Adoration for 127 years. My parents are Lee and Annabell Ableidinger, deceased, who had a big family of five girls and ten boys. Four boys are now deceased. Most of my family live in and around Mondovi, Durand, and Rock Falls, WI, with some living in Minnesota.

I've been a teacher, principal, a missionary, director of religious education and pastoral associate. I received my bachelor's degree from Viterbo University, LaCrosse, Wl, and a Master's in Education from Notre Dame University, IN. Recently, in 2002, I received a Master's Degree in Pastoral Ministries from St. Mary's University, Winona, MN. I have received Leadership Certification from the Diocese of Superior. In October of 2002, I received the Thomas P. Toohey Award for Outstanding Leadership in Catechetical Ministry from the Diocese of Superior (SUMMIT), and in November of 2002, I was awarded the Stephen C. Gilmour Award for Outstanding Leadership in Catechetical Ministry from the State of Wisconsin Directors of Religious Education (WDREF).

After teaching for twenty years in the Catholic Schools of Wausau, Colby, Loyal, Superior, Menomonie, Eau Claire and Boyd, I went to study Spanish in Cochabamba, Bolivia, before going to El Salvador for four years. I loved being in El Salvador, but it was a turbulent time from 1977-1981, so when Archbishop Romero was assassinated (March, 1981) and the three Sisters and Jean Donovan were martyred (Dec. 1981), we were asked to leave by our community. I then went to minister in Santa Fe, and Chimayo, NM, as director of religious education. Three priests from the religious community of the Sons of the Holy Family from Spain, administered the Shrine of El Santuario in Chimayo and twelve rural churches of mostly Hispanic congregations. I first worked in five of the mountain missions and then was asked to direct the program in the mother parish of Holy Family, Chimayo. I was director of religious education for 14 years from elementary grades, high school, confirmation and RCIA adults.

In 1997, I went on a spiritual sabbatical in Glens Fall, NY, and Winona, MN for a year. From the fall of 1998-2004, I was director of religious education and pastoral assistant in St. Anthony Parish on the Ojibwe Lac du Flambeau Reservation in Northern Wisconsin.. I came to the Cluster Parishes of Gilman, Lublin, Jump River and Sheldon in 2004, as director of religious education and pastoral associate. I live in Sheldon, and have an office in both Gilman and Sheldon. I visit all four parishes and conduct a Gilman/Lublin religious education program in Gilman and a Sheldon/Jump River program in Sheldon for participants from Pre-Kindergarten through Adult.

I have loved to travel in God's beautiful world to countries in Europe, among them to Italy, Germany, Austria, Spain, Portugal, Yugoslavia and I taught English in the Czech Republic one summer.

"How can I repay the Lord for all the good done for me? I will raise the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all people." Psalm 116