Published: July 03, 2009 05:51 pm         

Six Sisters to celebrate 50th anniversary

Six Sisters of Providence of St. Mary-of-the-Woods will celebrate their 50th anniversary June 27. They are Sisters Clelia Cecchetti, Ellen Cunningham, Brigid Mary Hurley, Paula Modaff, Dorothy Rasche and Therese Guerin Sullivan.

• • •

Sister Clelia Cecchetti is a native of Brooklyn, N.Y. She currently ministers as administrative secretary and secretariat for Divine Worship for the U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington, D.C.

Sister Clelia, formerly known as Sister Rosina, entered the Congregation Feb. 2, 1959, from Holy Redeemer Parish in College Park, Md. She professed perpetual vows Aug. 15, 1966.

She graduated from St. Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in music education. She received a master’s degree in music education from Ball State University.

Indiana ministries

Terre Haute: teacher, Sacred Heart and St. Ann Schools (1963-1966); St. Joseph and St. Ann Schools (1966-1967).

Brownsburg: teacher, St. Malachy School (1966-1967).

St. Mary-of-the-Woods: local residential accounts manager, Central Business Office (1989-1993); finance clerk, cashier, Central Business Office (1993-1994).

Sister Clelia also ministered in Maryland and Massachusetts.

• • •

Sister Ellen Cunningham is a native of Chicago. She currently ministers as a professor of mathematics at St. Mary-of-the-Woods College.

Sister Ellen, formerly known as Sister Michael Aquinas, entered the Congregation July 22, 1959, from St. Luke Parish in River Forest, Ill. She professed perpetual vows Aug. 15, 1967.

She graduated from St. Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. She received a master’s degree in mathematics from the Catholic University of America and a master’s degree in computing science education from the University of Evansville. She received a doctorate in mathematics from the University of Maryland.

Indiana ministries

Fort Wayne: teacher, Central Catholic High School (1964-1966).

Loogootee: teacher, St. John School (1966-1967).

St. Mary-of-the-Woods College: assistant professor (1974-1982); associate professor and department chairperson (1983-1990); professor and department chairperson (1990-1992).

Sister Ellen also ministered in Illinois.

• • •

Sister Brigid Mary Hurley is a native of Malden, Mass. She currently ministers as a teacher at St. Rose School in Chelsea, Mass.

Sister Brigid Mary entered the Congregation July 22, 1959, from Sacred Hearts Parish in Malden. She professed perpetual vows Aug. 15, 1967.

She graduated from St. Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in education.

Indiana ministries

Fort Wayne: teacher, Cathedral School (1964).

Sister Brigid Mary also ministered in Maryland, North Carolina and Washington, D.C.

• • •

Sister Paula Modaff is a native of Oak Park, Ill. She currently ministers as spiritual director for the Ministry of Care at St. Mary-of-the-Woods.

Sister Paula, formerly known as Marie Pauline, entered the Congregation July 22, 1959, from St. Mary Parish in Aurora, Ill. She professed perpetual vows Aug. 15, 1967.

She graduated from St. Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in English. She received a master’s degree in Spanish-Latin American Literature from the Universidad Ibero-Americana and she received a master’s degree in religious studies from Gonzaga University. She received a licentiate in canon law from the Pontifical University in Rome.

Indiana ministries

Clarksville: teacher, Our Lady of Providence High School (1964-1966).

St. Mary of the Woods: prayer, English Language Institute, film study (1972-1973 and 1974-1977).

Indianapolis: canon lawyer, Archdiocesan tribunal office, Archdiocese of Indianapolis (2003-2006); teacher, Hispanic Education Center (2003); tribunal judge and spiritual director, Archdiocese of Indianapolis (2008).

Beech Grove: visitor (2005-2008), spiritual director (2006-2008), St. Francis Hospital.

Sister Paula also ministered in Illinois and California.

• • •

Sister Dorothy Rasche is a native of Jasper. She currently ministers as a Catholic spiritual guide at the U.S. Federal Penitentiary at Terre Haute and service coordinator for Connecting Link in West Terre Haute.

Sister Dorothy, formerly known as Sister Rose Martin, entered the Congregation July 22, 1959, from St. Joseph Parish in Jasper. She professed perpetual vows Aug. 15, 1967.

She graduated from St. Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in education. She received a master’s degree in religious studies from Mundelein University.

Indiana ministries

Indianapolis: teacher, St. Joan of Arc School (1964-1965); teacher, St. Andrew School (1968-1969); St. Joseph School (1970); director of religious education, St. Lawrence Parish (1973-1976).

Vincennes: teacher, St. John School (1965-1968).

Brownsburg: teacher, St. Malachy School (1969-1970).

Terre Haute: teacher, Sacred Heart School (1970-1972 and 1981-1982); director of religious education, Sacred Heart Parish (1972-1973); prison minister (1979-1981 and 1981-1982) nursing assistant (1981), prison chaplain (1982-1983), staff chaplain (1990-1993 and 1994-1997), U.S. Federal Penitentiary; director of religious education, St. Joseph University Parish (1982-1983)

Seelyville: pastoral associate, Holy Rosary Parish (1979-1981).

Sister Dorothy also ministered in Oklahoma, Michigan, Texas and West Virginia.

• • •

Sister Therese Guerin Sullivan is a native of Malden, Mass. She currently ministers as chancellor for the Diocese of Cleveland.

Sister Therese Guerin entered the Congregation July 22, 1959, from Sacred Hearts Parish in Malden. She professed perpetual vows Aug. 15, 1967.

She graduated from St. Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in education. She received a master’s degree in personalized learning from DePaul University and a master’s degree in canon law from St. Paul University. She received a doctorate in ministry from St. Mary of the Lake University and a licentiate in canon law from St. Paul University.

Indiana ministries

Merrillville: tribunal judge (1989-2002) and bishop’s liaison to religious, Diocese of Gary (1989-2000).

Sister Therese Guerin also ministered in North Carolina and Illinois.