An Interview with Sister Doloria Kosiek
Sr. Doloria Kosiek has been a Franciscan Sister of Chicago for 77 years. She entered religious life in 1947 and professed her vows in 1950. Starting in 1947, Sister was assigned the ministry of education and taught at many Catholic schools over the years. Some of the schools where she served include Sacred Heart in Tolleston (Gary), Indiana, Five Holy Martyrs in Chicago, St. Florian in Hegewisch (Chicago), Sacred Heart in LaPorte, Indiana, Blessed Sacrament in Gary, Indiana, and Madonna High School in Chicago.
In 1970, Sister entered the ministry of religious education and was the director of religious education at several parishes including St. Matthias in Crown Point, Indiana, St. Pascal Parish in Chicago, and Our Lady of Ransom Parish in Niles, Illinois, St. Hugh Parish in Lyons, Illinois, and St. Mary of Celle Parish in Berwyn, Illinois. Sr. Doloria then taught English as a Second Language (ESL) at various places such as St. Stanislaus Bishop & Martyr School in Chicago and then later at Oakton Community College and Triton Community College. Recently Sister participated in an interview to talk about her life as a religious and as a teacher.
Sr. Doloria Kosiek
What drew you to the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago?
The Sisters taught me in grade school, and there was something about them that captured my heart. As I got older, I had a different group of Sisters who taught me in high school, but I always had fond memories of the Franciscan Sisters who taught me in my early years. I thought they were wonderful, kind, and caring. I remember spending time with them during recess, walking on the school grounds, and talking and praying with them with other students.
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Group photo of faculty at Sacred Heart School in Tolleston (Gary), Indiana. Sr. Doloria is a postulant in the top left, second row. (1947).
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Why did you choose religious life? It started in first grade. A priest came to the classroom and asked who was interested in joining religious life. The other children raised their hands, so I thought I should raise my hand too, but it wasn’t from my heart, it was just because others did it. When I was in seventh grade, my teacher predicted that I would become a Sister, but I still wasn’t interested. I later went to high school and began thinking differently. One day in high school, pamphlets on entering religious life were distributed. There was only one left, and surprisingly I got that last one, and I thought that meant something. There was a sentence in the pamphlet that read, ‘Lord if you want me to be a Sister, then help me to be one.’ I felt I was smart and already knew for sure that the Lord didn’t want me to be a Sister. Boy, did He fool me! Here I am all these years later, a Franciscan Sister of Chicago for 77 years!
You worked mainly in education but also in religious education. What did you like most?
I loved teaching but I always wanted to be a Director of Religious Education. When the opportunity came, I embraced it and truly loved it. It was nice to work with the catechists, teach religion to the children, meet with their parents, and get to know people and find out who they were. One of my students became a priest and another a teacher, and they have both expressed to me the influence I’ve had in their life. We still keep in touch.
You later taught English as a Second Language (ESL) in various schools; how did you get involved in that?
Sr. Jeanne Marie Toriskie was the principal at St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr in Chicago, and she asked me to start an ESL program. I wasn’t sure at first, but she suggested that I just try it. Once I started teaching that subject, I loved it. Sadly, at the end of the year, the Sisters decided not to minister at that school anymore. Thus, Sr. Jeanne Marie suggested I continue teaching ESL in community colleges. I got hired at both Oakton Community College and Triton Community College where I taught part-time for both schools. One of my favorite lessons was about idioms in the English language. Sometimes immigrants wouldn’t understand our English slang and use of idioms. For an example, I was teaching a phrase like “drive someone up the wall,” and my students would have to illustrate the phrase. They would draw pictures of people driving up a wall! It was nice way to teach them the real meaning beyond the literal meaning, and to have a good laugh together.
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Sr. Doloria with her students in religious education class.
We had lots of fun in that class. I also loved the times where everyone in the class would share where they were from and their ethnicity. We would have a celebration and people would bring in ethnic food from their own cultures. One of my students was from the Ukraine and brought pizza to class. Of course, he actually bought the pizza locally, but we all thought it was funny when he joked that the pizza was a special dish from Ukraine.
What are your thoughts on Mother Mary Theresa Dudzik, foundress of the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago?
I love her and everything she did for people. She was a very wonderful person and cared for so many people. In her days (because of the economic downturn), people were struggling and had a hard time getting food and shelter. The Sisters would go out on the streets of Chicago and beg for food or money to help feed and support the residents of St. Joseph Home for the Aged and Crippled. The Sisters deprived themselves and made sacrifices for others. I was always edified by this because it takes a lot of courage, especially if you’re hungry and deprived yourself. The residents always came first and that was what Mother Mary Theresa’s life was all about, helping other people. That’s what we are here to be. We are here to help other people and to be in service to them, just like Jesus was. He chose all of us to give service, not just priests and religious. Sometimes it is difficult, but you always try.
Sr. Doloria received the Peacemaker Award in 2014.
What are some of the values Associates from Franciscan Ministries should have?
They should have values of joy and dedication. These are some of the values of Franciscanism. St. Francis considered everything we do as a prayer. Everything we do is for the Lord. You love the Lord, and you show and share this love with other people in the ministries and communities that you work in, especially with the residents and the people you care for. Sometimes it takes effort to smile, but you do it anyway. Express that Franciscan joy. Dedication is another value. Dedication is giving yourself for a specific purpose. I feel we all have a special purpose in life and the Lord calls on us to help and serve others with our own unique gifts and talents.
How has God worked in your life?
I have been a Franciscan Sister of Chicago for 77 years and I feel that’s a grace. I quote the Magnificat, “The Lord has done great things for me, Holy is His name.” You must praise God, acknowledge Him, and be grateful. Whenever it was necessary, I felt the Lord helping out. Whether I was teaching, reading the Scriptures, or praying, I was always moved by the Lord and the Holy Spirit.