Sister Frances (Emmanuel) Newton, ASC, celebrated 80 years as a vowed member of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ on July 1, 2025, in the chapel of Benedictine Living Community at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, Belleville, IL. She made her first profession on July 1, 1945, and her final vows on July 1, 1950. She marked her anniversary with the Eucharist and a reception with the ASC community.
Sister Frances was born in Pocahontas, AK, to Richard and Margaret (Muyers) Newton. She was baptized Cornelia (Nellie) Frances. She earned her bachelor’s degree in European History in 1958, and her master’s in the same field in 1959, both from St. Louis University in St. Louis, MO. She did additional post graduate studies at St. Joseph College in Rensselaer, IN, and Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville.
Sister Frances’ ministries included teacher, administrator, director, coordinator and volunteer. Her service at elementary schools included Saints Peter and Paul in Waterloo, St. Joseph in Prairie du Rocher, St. Clare in O’Fallon, Damiansville Public School in Damiansville, Immaculate Conception in Centreville, all in Illinois, and Holy Rosary in Fort Dodge, Iowa. She taught at the following high schools: Saints Peter and Paul in Waterloo, St. Teresa Academy and Assumption, both in East St. Louis, Gibault in Waterloo, all in Illinois, and St. Edmund in Fort Dodge, Iowa.
She served as administrator of Catholic Children’s Home/Alton Orphanage in Alton, IL, and at St. Ann Home for Senior Citizens in Chester, IL. Her community service included being Director of Apostolates for the former Ruma province. She also served for eight years as ASC Health Executive Director. Her service included a seat on the Board of Directors for St. Clement (now Red Bud Regional) Hospital in Red Bud, St. Joseph Memorial Hospital in Murphysboro, and St. Vincent (now Taylorville) Memorial Hospital in Taylorville, IL. Later she became the ASC Volunteer Director. For several years she served as Assistant Director for Casa San Jose, a home for pregnant women, in Grants-Milan, NM. During these years, she also did catechetical work in the local parish and in the women’s prison.
Skilled in organ, piano, guitar, and voice, almost all of her years in active ministry included some form of music ministry. Her last 19 years were devoted entirely to directing the liturgy and prayer at the Ruma Center. When she began Living Mission in Later Life at the Center, she continued as coordinator of environment in the chapel. Sister Frances now resides at Benedictine Living Community.