A Mass of Resurrection was celebrated for Sister Consilia Buka, OSF, on June 13 at Mother of Perpetual Help Residence in Shrewsbury. Sister Consilia was 95 years old at the time of her death and ministered as a Franciscan Sister of Our Lady of Perpetual Help for 74 years.
Florence Theresa Buka was born in Sioux City, Iowa, to Sophia and Boleslaw Buka in 1928. Prior to entering religious life, she a worked for an optometrist, where she realized how thoroughly she enjoyed being of service to others. The rich faith life of her mother influenced her to realize she was gifted with a religious vocation. She entered the Franciscan Sisters in 1948, professed her first vows in 1950 and professed final vows in 1953.
Sister Consilia’s initial ministry was in Catholic education, teaching in the St. Louis area at Holy Ghost School and St. Stanislaus School. She also taught in the community’s high school for young girls aspiring to enter religious life in St. Louis for two years.
Sister Consilia earned a bachelor’s of science in medical records administration from Saint Louis University. She furthered her education in that field and earned a master’s degree in health sciences education and evaluation. Upon completion of her master’s, Sister Consilia was appointed the head of the Medical Records Department at Oak Ridge Sanatorium in Green Springs, Ohio, and served as a consultant in medical records to the three nursing homes owned and operated by her Congregation from 1964-77.
Sister Consilia’s hospital ministry was put on hiatus in 1967 when she was elected secretary general of her congregation for a six-year term. She also served as postulant directress. In 1971, Sister Consilia began teaching part time at Saint Louis University in the Medical Administration Program. In 1973, she assumed the role of vicar general for her community and accepted a full-time teaching position at Saint Louis University in the Medical Administration Program. In 1979, Sister Consilia was elected minister general by her sisters. During her 18 years in leadership positions for her community, she said, “There were many opportunities to provide counseling, spiritual direction, bring comfort to our sisters and their family members, to our employees and many others.”
At the end of Sister Consilia’s term as minister general, she became a certified chaplain by the National Association of Catholic Chaplains and served in that capacity at St. Francis Hospital in Green Springs, Ohio, for six years. She continued her active ministry, which included serving as: assistant director of retirement and administrative assistant at St. Vincent Home, in the St. Louis area; parish secretary at St. Francis of Assisi LaFern Center in Omaha, Nebraska; and receptionist at Ronald McDonald House in Omaha.
Sister Consilia retired to Mother of Perpetual Help Residence in 2003 but continued to follow her desire to serve by volunteering.
Burial was in Resurrection Cemetery.
