 After 29 years as principal of Annunciation Grade School, Sr. Jean Panisko has been called to work for the Sisters of Charity as their treasurer. She will begin her new duties in Leavenworth, Kansas at the end of May 2010.
Annunciation is one of six Schools of Urban Neighborhoods (SUN). The SUN schools united together to ensure students receive a quality education in the inner city of Denver. These schools serve predominately single-parent households, and more than 90 percent of the students are minorities. Since 1981, Sister Jean has been principal of this small inner city Catholic school located in Denver, Colorado, which currently educates and fosters children in grades K-8.
Through Sister Jean’s leadership, this school has not only educated children, it has fostered moral development, promoted peace, and provided the tools children need to lead healthy, productive, and responsible lives. Sister Jean and her staff have arranged, developed and/or coordinated many programs, both educational and developmental, for not just students, but parents, grandparents and guardians as well.
Through Sister Jean’s creativity and resourcefulness, she operated this school successfully on a budget that no public school could function. She oversees every aspect involved with running the school. She has an unparalleled energy and a knack for getting things done.
Annunciation and Sister Jean are part of the greater community. Many of the parents and grandparents and countless family members of current students attended Annunciation at one time or another, some during Sister Jean’s tenure. Over the years, Sister Jean has worked with this community. She has developed a network of caring individuals and organizations that are willing to help provide for the needs of the children, even when these needs are not purely educational.
We are holding a farewell event on May 22, 2010, to honor her dedicated service. Please plan to attend this Mass at 12:00 noon, Annunciation Church, 3621 Humboldt St., and a reception to be held at the Annunciation Grade School gym, 3536 Lafayette St. immediately following mass from 1:00-4:00 p.m.
All who knew her and those she helped will sorely miss her. We wish her the best of luck in her new endeavor.
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 Peace and Good! May our most excellent God be with you and fill you with faith, hope and love. One of my favorite things is celebrating mass with the students. I love talking with them about God. They are so eager to respond to questions, I feel so proud of them because their faith is so sincere and unassuming. I thank God for them every day and pray for their well-being and happiness. I thank Him for this grace to be their priest. I love their free and easy smiles and when they wave to me from afar. I'm especially fond of their group hugs. They are already great bearers of the Good News and a treasure beyond compare. What a "job," I love it!
I am thankful to God for this grace to be in your midst.
May Peace, Love and Happiness be Yours,
Fr. Francisco |
