When she was still a teenager at Marian Catholic High School, Anne Valentini hadn’t a thought in her mind about entering the convent.

A typical energetic student, she was involved in many phases of school life in Hometown, including the band, chess club, dance committee, prom committee, Mariannews and, most importantly, the Marian Youth Corps.

In her participation in the youth corps, she said, she realized God was telling her to give of herself to serve the marginalized and the poor, both in the U.S. and beyond.

“My plan was to get married, and, if I could, have 20 kids,” she said.

Then, one day, Sr. Daniel Regina, I.H.M., who at the time was known at Marian as the “band nun,” dropped the question, “Did you ever think of going in the convent?”

For the days that followed, “I couldn’t get that (question) out of my head,” she said, continuing, “And, eventually, two thoughts kept coming back to me, 1) I didn’t want to let God down, and 2) If this is what God wants, I bet it’s going to be cool.”

Fifty years after entering the convent, the Tamaqua native said, her career and missionary work “is not just telling the story of Jesus dying on the cross for mankind, but living it.”

A daughter of the late Russell and Anne (Murphy) Valentini of Tamaqua, she said the things she learned in high school, especially in the Youth Corps, helped shape her life. Having spent decades doing missionary work, she said, “I loved it, and I still love it.”

She is currently a teacher of religion and music at Notre Dame of Bethlehem School, but continues her messages on missionary work around the country.

She speaks at parishes across the country, giving presentations as well as retreats. She was the keynote speaker at youth rallies in the dioceses of Austin, Texas, and Portland, Maine.

During the last four summers, she worked at “Casa Alitas,” an outreach of Catholic Charities USA in Tucson, Arizona, and at The Humanitarian Respite Center in McCallen, Texas, in support of those who are legally crossing the border into the United States.

Sister is one of seven siblings, and when she professed her vows and was able to take a name in the convent, she close “Sr. Lisa,” named after her late sister Lisa who died in infancy. “You get to pick a name, of someone who inspires you, and so when I became a Sister, I chose Lisa, knowing she (her sister) will take care of me,” she explained.

Her other siblings, all Marian graduates, are Russell, Class of 73, of Slatington, Marybeth Leitzel, ‘78, of New Ringgold, Jane Buger, ‘80, of Drums, Sharon Hoban, ‘83, of New Jersey, and Christine, ’85, of Coopersburg.

“To think it all started in Tamaqua,” Sister proudly boasts of from where she came. “I sometimes wonder what if Sr. Daniel never had asked me if I thought about entering the convent, or what if I was never given the opportunity to do a five-year missionary task in Peru.”

Thankful that those opportunities were presented to her, she closed, “I really believe if we who believe would live like we are supposed to, the world would be a better place. We are the hearts and hands of Christ and so we should do whatever we can to live like He did, even the simplest things that help others.”