Published: July 14, 2006 09:58 pm            

Fourteen sisters mark 50 years with congregation

Fourteen Sisters of Providence of St. Mary-of-the-Woods celebrated their golden jubilee (50 years as members of the Congregation) during Eucharistic Liturgy on June 24 in the Church of the Immaculate Conception at the motherhouse.

They are Sisters Maureen Abbott, Agnes Clare Buckley, Catherine Buster, Ann Casper, Mary Ann Fox, Joanne Golding, Mary Adrian Jaroch, Ellen Kehoe, Mary Frances Keusal, Joan Kirkpatrick, Irma Meuse, Mary Louise O’Connor, Josephine Paolinelli and Dorothy Souligny.

Eight currently minister or formerly ministered in the Terre Haute area. They are:

n Sister Ann Casper, a native of Huntington. She ministers as executive director of the Office of Congregational Advancement at St. Mary-of-the-Woods.

Sister Casper, the former Sister Kenneth Ann, entered the Congregation Jan. 4, 1956, from St. Patrick Parish in Fort Wayne. She professed perpetual vows Aug. 15, 1963.

She graduated from St. Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in social studies. She received a master’s degree in secondary education administration from Indiana State University. She received a master’s degree in pastoral theology from St. Mary-of-the-Woods College.

Indiana ministries:

Brazil: teacher, Annunciation School (1960-1962).

St. Mary-of-the-Woods: provincial, Sacred Heart Province (1977-1984); general officer and general secretary (1986-1996); editorial associate (1997-1999), associate director (1999-2001), director (2001-2004), Office of Congregational Advancement (1999-2004).

St. Mary-of-the-Woods College: Lilly grant project team member (1997); director of gerontology Sabbath renewal program (1997-1999).

Indianapolis: teacher, St. Philip Neri School (1962-1964); principal, St. Agnes Academy (1969-1970); assistant principal and principal, Ladywood-St. Agnes School (1970-1976).

Fort Wayne: teacher, Central Catholic High School (1967-1968); pastoral associate, St. John the Baptist Parish (1984-1986).

Newburgh: teacher, St. John School (1976-1977).

Sister Casper also ministered in North Carolina.

n Sister Joanne Golding is a native of Hammond. She ministers as a professor at St. Mary-of-the-Woods College.

Sister Golding, the former Sister David Therese, entered the Congregation on July 22, 1956, from St. Ann Parish in Lansing, Ill. She professed perpetual vows July 1, 1978.

She graduated from St. Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in education. She received a master’s degree in education and a doctorate in education from Indiana State University; and she received a master’s degree in business administration from Kensington University.

Indiana ministries:

Terre Haute: principal, St. Ann School (1971-1974).

St. Mary-of-the-Woods: consultant, Science Research Associates (1974-1975).

St. Mary-of-the-Woods College: director of continuing education (1975-1977), director of data processing (1982-1985), chairwoman of the department of business (1985-1992), associate professor computer science (1992-1993).

Indianapolis: teacher and assistant principal, Holy Spirit School (1968-1969).

Sister Golding also ministered in Missouri and Illinois.

n Sister Joan Kirkpatrick is a native of Walsenburg, Colo. She ministers as a member of the Ministry of Care staff at St. Mary-of-the-Woods.

Sister Kirkpatrick, the former Sister Joan Patrice, entered the Congregation on July 22, 1956, from Our Lady of Angels Parish in Hillsborough, Calif. She professed perpetual vows Aug. 15, 1964.

She graduated from St. Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. She received a master’s degree in administration from the University of Notre Dame and a master’s degree in counseling psychology from Santa Clara University.

Indiana ministries:

St. Mary-of-the-Woods: treasurer and business manager, Sacred Heart Province (1974-1982).

New Albany: counselor, Providence Self Sufficiency Ministries (1998-2003).

Sister Kirkpatrick also ministered in Illinois and California.

n Sister Dorothy Souligny is a native of Hammond. She ministers in prayer at St. Mary-of-the-Woods.

Sister Souligny, the former Sister Marie Christopher, entered the Congregation on July 22, 1956, from All Saints Parish in Hammond. She professed perpetual vows Aug. 15, 1964.

She graduated from St. Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in French. She received a master’s degree in secondary education from Indiana University.

Indiana ministries:

Terre Haute: teacher, Sacred Heart School (1959-1960).

St. Mary-of-the-Woods: community service (1978-1979), Archives staff member (2001-2004).

Vincennes: teacher, St. Rose High School (1961-1965).

Indianapolis: teacher, Ladywood School (1965-1969).

New Albany: adult education teacher, Providence Self Sufficiency Ministries (1996-2001).

Sister Souligny also ministered in Illinois and Taiwan.

n Sister Mary Louise O’Connor is a native of Fall River, Mass. She ministers as a volunteer in the Office of Congregational Advancement at St. Mary-of-the-Woods.

Sister O’Connor, the former Sister James Margaret, entered the Congregation on July 22, 1956, from Holy Name Parish in Fall River. She professed perpetual vows Aug. 15, 1964.

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

Indiana ministries:

West Terre Haute: teacher, St. Leonard School and St. Mary-of-the-Woods Village School (1959-1960).

St. Mary-of-the-Woods: business manager (1993-1999), facilities manager (1997-1999), Providence Center; Central Business Office staff (1999).

Loogootee: teacher, St. John High School (1961-1963).

Indianapolis: mentoring coordinator, Development Education Program for Religious (1990-1992).

Sister O’Connor also ministered in Washington, D.C., and Florida.

Also celebrating their golden jubilee this year are:

n Sister Catherine Buster is a native of Chicago. She ministers as a housing consultant for Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Venice at Sarasota, Fla.

Sister Catherine, the former Sister Joseph Norine, entered the Congregation on Feb. 2, 1956, from St. Francis Xavier Parish in Wilmette, Ill. She professed perpetual vows Aug. 15, 1963.

She is a Housing and Urban Development certified specialist, and has a real estate license.

Indiana ministries:

St. Mary-of-the-Woods: Express Hall staff (1968-1970); Saga Food Services staff (1970-1978); maintenance coordinator and Saga Food Services liaison (1978-1986).

Indianapolis: cook, Ladywood School (1980-1987).

Noblesville: food services director, Riverview Hospital (1986-1988).

Sister Buster also ministered in Illinois and Missouri.

n Sister Mary Adrian Jaroch is a native of Chicago. She ministers as a member of the Ministry of Care staff and in volunteer services in Chicago.

Sister Jaroch entered the Congregation on July 1, 1956, from St. Andrew Parish in Chicago. She professed perpetual vows Aug. 15, 1963.

She graduated from St. Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in education. She received her nurse’s training and certification in Illinois.

Indiana ministries:

St. Mary-of-the-Woods: Infirmary staff (1967-1970 and 1976-1978).

Evansville: teacher, Good Shepherd School (1960-1961).

Indianapolis: teacher, St. Catherine School (1961-1967).

New Albany: foster parent and nurse educator, Providence Self Sufficiency Ministries (1995-1996).

Sister Jaroch also ministered in Illinois, Washington, D.C., and Connecticut.

Also celebrating their golden jubilee are:

n Sister Maureen Abbott, a native of Buffalo, N.Y. She is updating the Congregation’s history and ministers as defender of the bond, case instructor and assistant director of ministry formation for the Archdiocese of Portland.

Sister Abbott, the former Sister Maureen Francis, entered the Congregation on July 22, 1956, from St. John Parish in Robstown, Texas. She professed perpetual vows Aug. 15, 1964.

She graduated from St. Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in education. She received a master’s degree in education administration from the University of Washington and a master’s degree in theology from the University of Notre Dame.

Indiana ministry:

Indianapolis: teacher, St. Andrew School (1961-1965).

Sister Abbott also ministered in Illinois, Texas and California.

n Sister Agnes Clare Buckley is a native of Malden, Mass. She ministers in school and convent services in Boston.

Sister Buckley entered the Congregation on Feb. 2, 1956, from St. Rose Parish in Chelsea, Mass.

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

Sister Buckley has ministered in Illinois, Maryland and Massachusetts.

n Sister Mary Ann Fox is a native of Fort Wayne. She ministers as a learning-center tutor for Ivy Tech Community College Northeast in Fort Wayne.

Sister Fox entered the Congregation on July 22, 1956, from St. Jude Parish in Fort Wayne. She professed perpetual vows Aug. 15, 1964.

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

Indiana ministries:

Brownsburg: teacher, St. Malachy School (1961-1966).

Fort Wayne: teacher (1966-1969) and principal (1969-1981), St. John the Baptist School; teacher (1982-1990), administrative assistant (1982-1984) and assistant principal (1990-1992), Bishop Luers High School; surgical waiting room receptionist, Lutheran Hospital (1993-1997).

Sister Fox also ministered in Illinois.

n Sister Ellen Kehoe is a native of Dallas. She ministers as a pastoral associate for the Catholic Newman Center at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Ky.

Sister Kehoe, the former Sister Theresa Mary, entered the Congregation on July 22, 1956, from Immaculate Conception Parish in Tulsa, Okla. She professed perpetual vows Aug. 15, 1964.

She graduated from St. Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in education. She received a master’s degree in educational psychology and counseling from the University of Illinois and a master’s degree in theology from the Jesuit School of Theology.

Indiana ministries:

Indianapolis: teacher, St. Luke School (1964-1965); St. Thomas Aquinas School (1973-1981).

Sister Kehoe also ministered in Maryland, Illinois and California.

n Sister Mary Frances Keusal is a native of Chicago. She ministers as director of religious education for St. James Parish in Sauk Village, Ill.

Sister Keusal, the former Sister Ann Marion, entered the Congregation on Jan. 4, 1956, St. Eugene Parish in Chicago. She professed perpetual vows Aug. 15, 1963.

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

Indiana ministries:

Linton: teacher, St. Peter School (1960-1961).

Evansville: teacher, Good Shepherd School (1961-1966).

Sister Keusal also ministered in Oklahoma and Illinois.

n Sister Irma Meuse is a native of Malden, Mass. She ministers as a case management supervisor for North Shore Elder Services Inc., in Danvers, Mass.

Sister Meuse, the former Sister Ann Peter, entered the Congregation on July 21, 1956, from Sacred Hearts Parish in Malden. She professed perpetual vows Aug. 15, 1964.

She graduated from St. Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in education. She received a master’s degree in education from Indiana State University and a master’s degree in social work from Boston University.

Indiana ministry:

Greenwood: teacher, Our Lady of the Greenwood School (1961-1964).

Sister Meuse also ministered in Illinois, Maryland and New Hampshire.

n Sister Josephine Paolinelli is a native of Chicago. She ministers as director of finances for Notre Dame High School for Girls in Chicago.

Sister Paolinelli, the former Sister Louise Joseph, entered the Congregation on Feb. 2, 1956, from St. Ferdinand Parish in Chicago. She professed perpetual vows Aug. 15, 1963.

She graduated from St. Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in education. She received a master’s degree in administration from the University of Notre Dame.

Indiana ministries:

Jasper: teacher, St. Joseph School (1960-1961).

Indianapolis: teacher, St. Patrick School (1961-1965).

Sister Paolinelli also ministered in Illinois.

The Sisters of Providence, a Congregation of more than 450 women religious, have their motherhouse at St. Mary-of-the-Woods, northwest of Terre Haute. Blessed Mother Theodore Guerin founded the Sisters of Providence at St. Mary-of-the-Woods in 1840. Today, Sisters of Providence minister in 20 states, the District of Columbia, Taiwan and China.

For more information about any of the ministries of the Sisters of Providence of St. Mary-of-the-Woods, visit the Congregation’s Web site at www.sistersofprovidence.org.

        

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