Sister Frances (Emmanuel) Newton, ASC, celebrated 81 years as a vowed member of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ on September 22, 2026, in the chapel of Benedictine Living Community at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville, Illinois. 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.
Sister Frances was born in Pocahontas, Arkansas, to Richard and Margaret 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, Missouri. She did additional post graduate studies at St. Joseph College in Rensselaer, Indiana, and Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville.
Sister Frances’ ministries included teacher, administrator, director, coordinator, and volunteer. Her service at elementary schools was given at 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 in Alton, Illinois, and at St. Ann’s Home for Senior Citizens in Chester, Illinois. Her community service included being Director of Apostolates for the former Ruma province. She held the office of ASC Health Executive Director for eight years. This 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, Illinois. Later she became the Director of the ASC Volunteer Program. For several years she served as Assistant Director for Casa San Jose, a home for pregnant women, in Grants-Milan, New Mexico. 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 final assignment of 19 years was devoted to directing the liturgy and prayer at the Ruma Center. When she began Living Mission in Later Life, she continued as coordinator of environment in the Ruma chapel. Sister Frances now resides at Benedictine Living Community where she is Living Mission in Later Life.