2009 Fall Issue - Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the ...

IHM SpotlightSister Florence Marino, IHMSister Florence Marino faithfully lives out the virtue ofself-emptying service. The most rewarding part of beingan IHM Sister, she says, is the unconditional support of thesisters and the bond of community that she shares with themembers of Holy Family Catholic School and Parish in St.Petersburg, Florida.Born and raised in Long Island, Sister Florence waseducated by the IHM Sisters since the beginning of her education,from St. Peters School in Port Washington to St. Mary’sin Manhassett. As Sister Florence recalled the names of allher past teachers, Sister Genevieve McCloskey (formerly M.Hosina), she decided, was most influential in her decision tobecome an IHM. “She was my mentor,” Sister Florence said.“It was all the circumstances that inspired me, theteachers I had, my family and friends.” Remembering hersenior year of high school, she noted, “My closest friends becameIHM Sisters, Barbara Jablonski and Jeanne Drummond.”After making her first vows in 1965, Sister Florencewent to Archbishop Neale School in La Plata, Maryland,to begin her ministry as an elementary teacher. Since then, shehas gained more than 40 years of experience in education, andleadership training. “I loved the people at every place I served,and I learned a lot from the sisters I lived with.”From an elementary teacher in Maryland to a principalin Florida, Sister Florence says that “One of the joys of workingin education is seeing the students grow and mature as theycome back each year and the sense of community and familywithin the school.”As principal of Holy Family Catholic School for nearly15 years and the only IHM Sister serving in the parish, SisterFlorence continues to share the virtue of self-emptying servicethrough a variety of annual events, service projects, and extracurricular activities, all of which radiate the IHM spirit.Each month during school a “vocation angel” is passedaround to a different classroom. While the students have the“vocation angel,” Sister Florence makes a presentation abouther call to be an IHM Sister and how the charism and missionof the IHM Congregation is carried out in the spiritual life ofthe school and parish.When the Tampa Bay Rays were in the 2008 WorldSeries, the school collected canned goods for each home runscored. “The Rays always pride themselves on service in thecommunity, so filling our pantry was our way of showing support,”Sister Florence said. “And the students were on the newsfor this project.”When school is not in session, Sister Florence enjoysplaying tennis, bowling and cooking. On Sundays, she drivesa bus of elderly adults to Mass at Holy Family Parish. “I feellike [getting the elderly to church] is very important, and theministry is different from my every day routine.”As evident in her interactions with school and parishstaff, Sister Florence has earned the respect of many throughher sincere dedication to serving the people of God. bLeft to right: Sister Jamesann McCue, Michele August, JeannineStorer, an IHM Associate, and Sister Florence Marino.Sister Florence (far right, middle) is a member of the FloridaSunshine IHM Mission Group. Front (left to right): Sisters AnnBerendes, Helene Hicks, Mary Schoberg. Back (left to right): SistersFranziska Laudascher, Dora Maria Vizcarra, Maria Goretti Timperio,Beatrice Caulson, and Nancy Elder.Fall 2009 5