Karen “Evelyn Marie” Pozniak

Raised in a Baptist church in Lynn, Massachusetts, Sister Karen Pozniak, SNDdeN began her journey of faith at Sunday school where she memorized Bible passages and songs. When she was nine, her family moved to California, and several years later, she and her mother were baptized at St. Lucy Catholic Church in Campbell, California.

Sister Karen continued her journey at Notre Dame High School in San Jose. In March of her senior year, the new principal, Sister Mary Emmanuel, mistook Karen for another girl and asked if she had ever considered becoming a Sister. Though the question wasn’t intended for her, Sister Karen began a discernment process. On August 14, 1960, the birthday of her grandfather, “another influence on her faith journey,” she entered the convent.

After the novitiate in Saratoga, Sister Karen continued her studies at College of Notre Dame in Belmont (now Notre Dame de Namur University), where she earned her lifetime teaching certificate. She first taught primary grade children in Watsonville, California, and later, in Portland, Oregon. At Star of the Sea Parish in Hawaii, she became involved in the Charismatic Movement, teaching and healing ministry, and learned new ways to pray. She prepared children for the sacraments and assisted parents in their own faith development. As a result of these experiences, Sister Karen was eager to learn more about how to help adults grow spiritually. So, for the next three summers she studied at Gonzaga University receiving her master’s degree in spirituality.

At this time, she made a 30-day retreat at El Retiro Jesuit Retreat House in Los Altos, Calfornia—a place especially meaningful for Sister Karen because it was where her grandfather had met the Jesuits years before, a time that brought him and her whole family to the faith.

When she became part of the ministry team at St. Julie Parish in San Jose, California, pastor Father Matthew Sullivan recognized her gifts for religious education and for training those who were bringing communion to patients at Santa Teresa Hospital. Father Sullivan encouraged her to share her effective program with other parishes through the Diocesan TV network. After five years in that parish, Sister Karen had found her calling to chaplaincy. She spent the summer completing a unit of Clinical Pastoral Education at St. Mary Hospital in San Francisco. Then her service as a chaplain was needed at St. Mary Hospital in Reno, Nevada, for one year, during which time she worked for and received recognition as a certified chaplain. The community then asked her to be the community coordinator at Notre Dame Villa Infirmary. Recognizing her sensitivity to the sick and dying, one of the Sisters there said, “I hope Karen is here when I die.”

Sister Karen’s next assignment was to the people of St. Joseph of Cupertino, in Cupertino, California, where she worked with the liturgy committee and trained Eucharistic ministers for homebound and nursing home care. A special memory here was being able to support parishioners in offering a very meaningful celebration for the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe each year.

Following the death of her father, Sister Karen wanted to be closer to her mother who was now living alone in Vermont. She applied for a position at Fanny Allen Hospital, the only Catholic hospital in Vermont that later merged with the Medical Center of Vermont to become the University of Vermont Medical Center. Doctoral and nursing candidates received their clinical training at this location and Sister Karen trained and supported the many volunteers who helped the chaplains in the Spiritual Care Department. She also served the hospital’s patients, staff and families. During this time, Sister Karen joined the Colchester Community Chorus and enjoyed being part of this musical community.

Sister Karen Pozniak with her prayer partner in Namur, Belgium

One of Sister Karen’s friends, Jeannie M. Slauson, says: “Her intrinsic sense of joy is contagious and comes from being content with all things. I will be forever grateful to her for introducing me to Healing Touch, a gift that has the effect of exponentially imparting God’s grace. Her keen sense of humor seems effortless and serves as a continual catalyst in mitigating anxiety to those she interacts with. I have seen this with patients at the hospital, as well as with her mother. Sister Karen is truly a remarkable mentor and spiritual guide.”

Sister Karen is now living in California again.