Mary Kenneth Zirbes

Background

Zirbes, Mary Kenneth was born on September 4, 1926 in Melrose, Minnesota, United States. Daughter of Joseph Louis and Clara Bernadine (Petermeier) Zirbes.

Education

Bachelor in History and Education, College St. Catherine, 1960. Master of Arts in Applied Theology, School Applied Theology, Berkeley, California, 1976.

Career

Teacher Public Grade School, St. Nicholas, Minnesota, 1947-1952. Principal Holy Spirit Grade School, St. Cloud, 1953-1959, St. Mary's Junior High School, Morris, 1960-1962. Coordinator Franciscan Mission Team, Peru, South America, 1962-1967, Franciscan Missions, Little Falls, Minnesota, 1967-1970.

Director St. Richard's Social Justice Ministry, Richfield, 1971-1980, Parish Community Development, St. Paul, Minneapolis, 1980-1985. Councillor general Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls, 1960-1962, 67-70. Assistant director Renew-Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis, 1986-1989.

Coordinator Parish Social Justice Ministry-Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis, 1990-1993. Minister Franciscan Associates, 1993—2003. Leader of team on evangelical life Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls, 1994-1996.

Retired, 2003

Co-developer Association of Pastoral Ministers, Minneapolis, St. Paul, 1979-1981, Compañeros/Sister Parishes-Minnesota and Nicaragua, 1984-1989, Minnesota Interfaith Ecology Coalition, 1989-1992. Member Benedictine-Franciscan Water Committee, member advisory board World Population Balance, member Twin Cities Public television. Member Corporation Accountability Interna., Earth Justice.

Achievements

• Mary Kenneth Zirbes has been listed as a noteworthy minister by Marquis Who's Who.

Membership

Organizer Twin Cities Organisation, Minneapolis, 1979-1980. Board directors Franciscan Sisters Health Care, Inc., Little Falls, 1990-1993, Rice-Marion Residents Association, St. Paul, 1991-1992. Member Association Pastoral Ministers (chair 1979), Amnesty International, Voicesfor Justice-Legislation Lobby, Audubon Society, Network, Minnesota Interfaith Ecology Coalition, Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls, Control Minnesota Teamon Racism.

Interests

• Avocations: water color painting, birding, golf, reading history and biography.

Connections

Father:

Joseph Louis Zirbes

Mother:

Clara Bernadine (Petermeier) Zirbes