Milestones in Mount Angel

Sister Joan Pokorny, born in Eugene on June 23, 1940 and raised in Oakridge, is the oldest of six children of George and Olga (Palanuk) Pokorny.

Sister Joan was baptized on June 27, 1940, at St. Mary Church, Eugene. Her brothers are Daniel, William, Louis and Francis and her sister is Rachel (Pokorny) McKay. Her sister died on July 13, 2013.

Sister Joan attended St. Michael Church in Oakridge as a child and attended schools in Oakridge. She entered the Benedictine community at Queen of Angels Monastery in September of 1962. She made her profession on July 11, 1964, taking the name of Sister Frances. At her perpetual profession in 1969, she returned to her baptismal name, Joan.

In 1962, Sister Joan graduated from Mount Angel College, Mount Angel, with a bachelor's degree in education. She then embarked on a 30-year teaching career in parochial schools: St. Mary, Mount Angel; St. Mary, Albany; Sacred Heart, Portland; St. Paul, Silverton; St. Luke, Woodburn; and Sacred Heart Academy, Salem, as well as public schools Buena Crest, Eldriedge and Brooks Elementary in the Willamette Valley. She also taught Math classes at Mount Angel College. She earned a master's degree in education from Western Oregon University, Monmouth (then known as Oregon College of Education). Among the highlights of her long teaching career were organizing math and speech tournaments, coaching softball and basketball, and leading outdoor school trips.

Besides teaching, Sister Joan ministered on the Formation Team for new members at the monastery for six years.

Following her retirement from teaching in 1996, Sister Joan was a substitute teacher in both parochial and public schools. She also began working at Shalom Prayer Center, one of the Benedictine Sisters’ major ministries, as a spiritual director and retreat presenter. She became director of Shalom in 1999 and served in that capacity until May 2008.

Sister Joan continues an active ministry as a spiritual director and supervisor of spiritual directors, extending her 26-year tenure at Shalom Prayer Center.

Sister Joan, who earned a master's degree in theology from Seattle University in 1988 as well as attended Mount Angel Seminary, is active and informed in the role of spirituality in the lives of people.,

Sister Joan served on the Providence Benedictine Nursing Center’s Foundation Board for a three-year term.

Sister Joan enjoys music, art, sports, nature, and people. Growing up in the beautiful mountains of Oakridge, she enjoyed exploring and experiencing its beauty and wilderness. She participated in a cultural immersion experience in Mexico with other Benedictine Sisters and teaching catechism in Alaska. She enjoyed a month-long Monastic Formation Experience in Rome, Italy, and trips to historic sites in California and on the east coast of the United States.

Sister Joan says that she has "valued her life as a monastic Benedictine sister for these 60 years and looks forward to continued blessings in the future.”

Sister Joan now lives in Orchard House, the PBNC’s assisted living facility, next door to the monastery.

Sister Judith Bloxham was born August 26, 1944, in Los Angeles to Hugh Starling (who died in World War II) and Imelda Firestone. She was adopted by Harry Wayland Bloxham after he married Imelda following World War II. She was baptized on November 22, 1952, at Mission San Carlos, Monterey, Calif.

Sister Judith has a brother, Christopher, who lives in Portland, and a sister, Imelda Marie McKercher, living in Masontown, PA.

Sister Judith attended St. Francis de Sales Church in Sherman Oaks, CA, as a child and attended schools in Monterey, Sherman Oaks, and San Diego. Following high school in San Diego, she entered the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary Community on September 8, 1962, and made her First Profession on August 22, 1964, taking the name of Sister Imelda Marie and made perpetual profession on August 22, 1969. She continued her education at Marymount College, Calif., Cal State Northridge (Master’s degree), and Mount Angel Seminary (Master’s degree).

While attending Mount Angel Seminary summer school, Sister Judith became aware of the Benedictine Sisters. Sister Judith asked to enter the monastic community and transferred her vows on August 22, 1979, taking the name of Sister Judith.

Sister Judith has served in a variety of ministries during her community life. She taught first, second and eighth graders at Marymount Junior School, Brentwood, Calif. She was a pastoral catechist in California and later in Silverton (1977-1979) and Mount Angel, Oregon, from 1980 – 1992. From 1984-1986, Sister Judith was Formation Director at Queen of Angels Monastery’s new members. From 1993- 2007, she ministered as an administrative assistant on the Mt. Angel Seminary Formation Team.

Sister Judith also served as Associate Director of Formation at the Seminary from 2008-2020. She also assisted in a revision of the Queen of Angels Monastery’s Liturgy of the Hours from 1985-1986. In 2015, she was the sub-prioress for her Benedictine community. She retired in June 2020 from her seminary work. From 2020 to 2022, she represented the community on the Providence Benedictine Nursing Center Foundation Board.

Sister Judith remains active in the monastery with hospitality, prayer and service.

Sister Judith enjoyed photography and made beautiful photo cards. She has been part of the Benedictine Sisters’ scholars for many years.

Sister Judith’s writing from July 29, 1976:

“Let us hand this moment over to the Lord

Whom we recognize in the Breaking of the Bread and Prayer.

And, in the breaking of our lives,

Faithful in wonder, reverence, and in thanksgiving….”

Sister Judith now lives in Orchard House, the PBNC’s assisted living facility, next door to the monastery.