Bringing Quality Life to Vulnerable People

S. Fran Hoffman has been a Racine Dominican sister for 46 years. Her ministries have been varied but continue to involve her in pursuing fullness of life for vulnerable populations. As a girl at St. Bernard’s in Madison, WI, she saw the spirit and joy of the Racine Dominican sisters and wanted to be a part of the community. “I wanted to become a sister as a response to God’s love,” she said. Indeed, she shares this love with many people in her work.

The two populations she works with the most are the elderly and persons with intellectual and developmental challenges. She takes care of her 47 year old brother who was born with Down’s syndrome. As his legal guardian, she is responsible for his medical needs, scheduling his doctor appointments as well as family visits and other activities. She continued to assist people born with developmental disabilities as part of the Community Bridges Program of Care Wisconsin. In this position, she helped persons with disabilities access and thrive in their local communities.

In her current work at Catholic Charities, S. Fran continues to help vulnerable populations feel more connected to their community through her work in the CompanionCare program of Aging Services. This program, which started in 1999, promotes self-reliance and encourages continued engagement in community life. S. Fran has been a companion for more than three years and visits three elderly women, providing needed in-home support such as cleaning, laundry, and occasional light meal preparation. She also accompanies her clients to shopping trips, medical appointments, and other outings. One of the things she likes about working with the elderly is the satisfaction she gets by helping them maintain their independence. “I find much fulfillment in this personal interaction on a one-on-one basis,” she remarked. “The elderly often experience loss – loss of physical health, loss of their peers and friends, and loss of independence. It is a pleasure to interact with each of these wise women, helping them to maintain their independence.”

But S. Fran’s attention is not focused only on these two populations; she also maintains a commitment to social, economic, and ecological justice through political activism. For example, growing up on her family’s farm she developed a closeness with the Earth that she continues by being involved with the Racine Dominican Justice and Rights Earth Focus Group. One project she and other sisters undertook was to “adopt” a Ford dealership, urging the dealer and CEO of the company to manufacture more fuel efficient cars. S. Fran’s enthusiasm for her ministries enables her to act as an advocate for anyone that needs defending; whether that be the planet itself, the cognitively disabled, or the elderly.

 To read about other Racine Dominican Sisters, click here.