Sister Jacinta Willenborg, ASC, celebrated 70 years as a 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, 1955, and her final vows on July 1, 1960. She marked her anniversary with the Eucharist and a reception with the ASC community.
Sister Jacinta was born in Teutopolis, IL, to George and Louise (Goeckner) Willenborg. She received her bachelor’s degree in Geography from St. Louis University in 1968, and her master’s in education administration from the University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio, in 1992. She held certificates for Religious Education in the dioceses of Springfield/Cape Girardeau, MO.; Jefferson City, MO; and Springfield, IL.
Sister Jacinta’s ministry of almost 40 years as a full-time classroom teacher was spent in Missouri and Illinois. For a dozen of those years, she was both teacher and principal. She ministered several years at Visitation in Vienna, MO, and more than 20 at Guardian Angel in Oran, MO. She served in the Illinois schools of Holy Family in Cahokia, St. Theresa in Salem, Immaculate Conception in Columbia, St. Augustine in Belleville, St. Michael in Sigel and St. Michael the Archangel in Radom. She then spent several years as a volunteer teacher/tutor at St. Anthony of Padua in Effingham, IL.
When she moved to the Ruma Center, Sr. Jacinta became a Mentor for the ASC Associates of the Ruma area for several years. She was an English language tutor for Spanish-speaking students from the public school in Red Bud, IL.
Sister Jacinta is currently Living Mission in Later Life at Benedictine Living Community. She volunteers as the sacristan for Mass in the chapel.
Congratulations Sister Jacinta! Our family sends our love and prayers to you!
John and Lisa Wortman and families