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JOLIET, Ill. (AP) — Back in 1969, Sister MaryAnn Jerkofsky graduated from Baylor Medical School in Texas with a doctorate in virology.
She was fascinated with viruses, the way they reproduce and how they function in a body. That fascination led her to seek her degree, but the road back then was not an easy one.
In 1969, not many women sought a doctorate degree, and even fewer entered a male-dominated field of medicine and graduated from Baylor Medical School.
"Most of my career, I have been the only woman," Jerkofsky said.
But Jerkofsky said as the years wore on, she noticed something that made her happy.
"When I started, it was very difficult to be a woman in a male-dominated profession," Jerkofsky said. "It isn't like that anymore."
Throughout her life, Jerkofsky has followed her calling, even when one calling was completely different from the last. That message of "following your calling" was part of a commencement address she gave to those graduating in May with a master's degree from University of St. Francis.
In that address, Jerkofsky used a quote that St. Francis reputedly said as he was dying.
"I have done what was mine to do, may Christ teach you what is yours," Jerkofsky said.
Jerkofsky said she combined that with the Sisters of St. Francis Immaculate's foundress's approach to service - to look for the greatest need, the one in front of you.
Both Jerkofsky and Sister Dolores Zemont, president of the congregation of the Sisters of St. Francis, gave the commencement addresses at USF this year, to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Sisters of St. Francis Immaculate.
In a USF news release, USF President Arvid Johnson, who presented the sisters with the President's Medal in honor of the congregation's 150th anniversary, said the Joliet Franciscans' contributions to service and leadership are immeasurable.
"As a big part of our Joliet Franciscans legacy, the USF community's gratitude fill our heart with love for our sisters," Johnson said in the news release. "We are privileged to recognize them and be part of their family and ministry during this 150th anniversary year ... and every year."
Moved by spirit of St. Francis
The inspiration of St. Francis is a theme in Jerkofsky's life because, 20 years ago, when she was 52, she entered the convent.
"When I was young, I didn't even think of becoming a nun. I was very, very interested in science and research," Jerkofsky said. "I always thought there was that one side, that spiritual side, that I wasn't using."
Initially, Jerkofsky said she even considered the Peace Corps.
"I wanted to work on more interaction with people, and I have a basic science background. I was actually thinking of becoming a physician's assistant," Jerkofsky said. "That's actually one of the reasons I decided, later on, to become a chaplain."
She spent time serving in Haiti in 1988 and 1990 and in Tokyo in 1992. It was her experience in Haiti that led her to hear the calling to become a nun.
"The culture is very different, and it does something to you," Jerkofsky said. "Haiti is the most poverty-stricken country in the Western Hemisphere."
She said Haiti is home to 7 million people in a land area about half the size of Maine. She was struck that, despite severe poverty, the people had a zeal for learning.
"Many of them had no light - no electricity - and they would sit under street lamps and study," Jerkofsky said.
Jerkofsky was so struck by her experience in 1988 that she returned in 1990.
"The second time, the country was about to undergo a revolution," she said. "They gave me gifts when I left. They had nothing, and they gave me something. The juxtaposition of that - blinding poverty, but happy people. It just hits you in your psyche."
To Joliet - and ministry
Eventually, Jerkofsky felt called to come to Joliet, where she entered the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate. In 1998, she took her first vows. For three years, she taught in the biology department.
As time went on, Jerkofsky became a novice in the congregation and then an apostolic, the period when a nun learns her ministry. Jerkofsky became a chaplain and did a residency at a Level 1 trauma center and then worked at a nursing and rehabilitation center.
"I kind of wanted to stay in a hospital setting, but there just wasn't any jobs," Jerkofsky said
From 2005 to 2009, Jerkofsky served as Our Lady of Angels' first director of pastoral care. For the past two years, she has worked in the admissions department at OLA. She gave up teaching last year because she could not do both jobs, she said.
But Jerkofsky plans to continue her work at OLA until it becomes too much for her, she said.
"I am only doing four days a week," Jerkofsky said, "so I have shut down a little bit."
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Source: The (Joliet) Herald-News, http://bit.ly/1CeTJqL
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Information from: The Herald-News, http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/heraldnews
This is an AP-Exchange story offered by The (Joliet) Herald-News.
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