Sister Donna Koch grew up in Mishicot where she attended Holy Cross Elementary School and Mishicot High School. After entering St. Francis Convent, she earned a bachelor’s degree in Education from St. Norbert College in De Pere and a master’s degree in Religious Education from Fordham University in New York. She received training in spiritual direction from the Franciscan Spirituality Center in La Crosse and became a supervisor for their Spiritual Direction Preparation Program. She has a certificate in Parochial Diocesan Administration from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and training in Pastoral Counseling Skills from the Albert Cardinal Meyer Institute in Huntington, Ind.
Like many of her contemporaries, Sister Donna’s first ministry was teaching. She served at St. Joan of Arc School in Goodman, and St. Paul Parish religious education program in Combined Locks. She was part of the team that initiated and directed the Religious Education Program for the Near North, namely Lena, Pound, Peshtigo, Coleman, Spruce, Klondike and Suring. For several summers she was the treasurer at Camp Tekakwitha, a Diocesan girls’ camp. Sister Donna worked for the Green Bay Diocese’s Education Department, Worship Department, and ministered as Liturgist at Holy Name Retreat House on Chambers Island.
She served her Sisters as Community President from 2009 to 2017. Prior to that, she was a retreat/spiritual director at the Norbertine Center for Spirituality, De Pere, and St. Anthony Retreat Center, Marathon. Ministering at a healing center near Chicago to persons living with HIV and their families was a memorable summer experience for her.
Sister Donna is grateful for the support of her family and the abundant blessings God has given her and the Community throughout her 60 years as a Sister.
“I have grasped you by your right hand ...” ~ Psalm 73
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