Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration Joan Weisenbeck was born in 1937 and grew up on a farm near Durand, Wisconsin. She had seven siblings, one who eventually became a Salvatorian priest and another, an FSPA. The other five married.
She has been a part of the FSPA community for over 65 years. Sister Joan’s ministries include teaching in Wisconsin, Iowa and Guam, as well as parish ministry, retreat and spiritual direction ministry in Minnesota, Illinois and Wisconsin. She has held FSPA leadership positions and served on several boards over the years. Her degrees include a Bachelor of Arts in biology, a Master of Arts in teaching and a Master of Arts in pastoral studies. During her time working at theFSPA-sponsored Franciscan Spirituality Center in La Crosse, Wisconsin, she launched several long-standing programs and services, including group spiritual direction, icon retreats and at-home retreats, and was involved in the Spiritual Direction Preparation Program.
Former FSC director, Jeff Dols, honors Sister Joan’s work at the center in a letter: “Her programs have helped people to connect with the sacred experientially: through walking labyrinths, contemplating art, writing icons, painting mandalas, and listening to music. Many people do not recognize these experiences as forms of prayer, but Joan always was able to make a connection.” She retired from the Franciscan Spirituality Center in 2012. In her retirement years, she has continued to participate in FSC iconography workshops and writing icons in her own time. Since 1998 she has painted over 50 icons.
We invite you to experience Sister Joan's iconography interview and gallery.
view Sister Joan's art gallery
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