Sr. Agnes Kozak, fmm
Sr. Agnes Kozak, entered the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary in North Providence, December 13, 1949. After pronouncing first vows, she was placed in charge of the Novices’ linen room for 2 years; then her ministry was operator of linotype machine in the FMM Printing Press. During that time, she was sent in mission to Camp St. Helene in the Catskills to serve for a summer in charge of a unit for children.
She pronounced her final vows, June 13, 1956. She was sent in mission to St. Francis Convent in Roslyn, NY to serve as sacristan and receptionist at the hospital and other tasks.
Her various ministries have been as Sacristan, Religious Education, Activities Director, Eucharistic Minister, community treasurer, and local coordinator.
Sr. Agnes remained in St. Francis Community Roslyn for 16 years. During that time she took several courses at Nassau Community College and in 1970 began a correspondence course with the Washington School of Art which was completed in 1975. She also taught CCD at St. Peters in Port Washington .ln November 1971, Agnes was sent in mission to the Hotel Alverne for Elderly and the Eucharistic Shrine in St. Louis to serve as sacristan and receptionist.
Called to serve in the Fruit Hill Day Program for Elderly when it first opened in 1973, Agnes taught crafts, assisted with other activities and was Eucharistic Minister.
September 1978 to July 1979 was a special year of grace for her. She went to Gonzaga University in Spokane, to take part in the Credo Renewal Program which included a 30-day retreat.
Sr. Agnes reamined on the west coast in San Francisco to help look for a second house in the area. There she served as local treasurer and local coordinator. Her ministry was homemaker service to the elderly for a year and later she worked for the Catholic Committee for the Aging besides being Eucharistic Minister in the parish.
Sent to Holy Family Community, North Providence in 1983, Agnes was thrilled in July 1983 to make the Institute pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Rome and Assisi.
From 1983 to 1985, Sr. Agnes served as the treasurer and a staff member of Bethany Retreat Center in North Providence. From 1985 to 1987, she served as the Administrative Assistant in The Hotel Alverne in St Louis to help with the closing of The Alverne. After that she became local coordinator of Pius V convent as well as Eucharistic Minister in the parish.
1989 saw her in mission to Natchez in St. Louis in Natchez, Mississippi where she worked with the Black Senior Citizens in the rural centers teaching crafts. She enjoyed this very much and continued her Eucharistic Ministry.
Again on the move, Agnes came to Holy Family community, RI in 1993 to work with volunteers on fund raising activities. Then, in January of 1998 she returned St. Louis, at Our Lady of Wisdom Convent where she served as treasurer of the community..\ Sr. Agnes volunteered 3 days a week at St. Elizabeth’s Adult Day Center. She also knitted sweaters for poor children using her skills in all kinds of hand crafts. Throughout her life she has used her gifts doing craft and artwork, writing poetry, and being creative.
In 2003, she returned to Holy Family Community where for several years she served as sacristan until her vision no longer permitted her to continue in this ministry.
