Sisters of Providence honor golden jubilarians

Fourteen Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods recently celebrated their golden jubilee. They were honored during a eucharistic liturgy at the Church of the Immaculate Conception at the motherhouse.

The jubilarians are Providence 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.

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

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

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

In the archdiocese, Sister Maureen taught at St. Andrew School in Indian-apolis from 1961-65. She also ministered in Illinois, Texas and California.

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

She entered the congregation on Feb. 2, 1956, from St. Rose Parish in Chelsea, Mass.

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

Sister Agnes Clare ministered in Illinois, Maryland and Massachusetts.

Sister Catherine Buster, a native of Chicago, ministers as a housing consultant for Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Venice in Sarasota, Fla. She is a Housing and Urban Development certified specialist and has a real estate license.

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

In the archdiocese, Sister Catherine served at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods as an Express Hall staff member from 1968-70, on the Saga Food Services staff from 1970-78, and as maintenance coordinator and Saga Food Services liaison from 1978-86. She ministered as a cook at the former Ladywood School in Indianapolis from 1980-87, and also served in Illinois and Missouri.

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

The former Sister Kenneth Ann entered the congregation on Jan. 4, 1956, from St. Patrick Parish in Fort Wayne, Ind., and professed perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1963.

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

In the archdiocese, Sister Ann taught at the former Annunciation School in Brazil from 1960-62 and St. Philip Neri School in Indianapolis from 1962-64. She served as principal at the former St. Agnes Academy in Indianapolis from 1969-70 then as assistant principal and principal at the former Ladywood-St. Agnes School in Indianapolis from 1970-76.

At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Sister Ann served as provincial of the Sacred Heart Province from 1977-84 and general officer and general secretary from 1986-96. In the Office of Congregational Advancement, she served as an editorial associate from 1997-99, associate director from 1999-2001 and executive director from 2001-06.

She also ministered at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College as a Lilly grant project team member in 1997 then served the congregation as director of the gerontology Sabbath renewal program from 1997-99. She also ministered at parishes and schools in Fort Wayne, Ind., and Newburgh, Ind., as well as in North Carolina.

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

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

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

In the archdiocese, Sister Mary Ann taught at St. Malachy School in Brownsburg from 1961-66. She also ministered in Fort Wayne and Illinois.

Sister Joanne Golding, a native of Hammond, Ind., ministers as a professor at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.

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

She graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in education then earned a master’s degree in education and a doctorate in education at Indiana State University. She also earned a master’s degree in business administration at Kensington University.

In the archdiocese, Sister Joanne served as a teacher and assistant principal at Holy Spirit School in Indianapolis from 1968-69 and principal at the former St. Ann School in Terre Haute from 1971-74.

At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, she served as a Science Research Associates consultant from 1974-75 then ministered at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College as director of continuing education from 1975-77, director of data processing from 1982-85, chair of the department of business from 1985-92 and associate professor of computer science from 1992-93. She also ministered in Missouri and Illinois.

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

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

She graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in education then completed nurse’s training and certification in Illinois.

In the archdiocese, Sister Mary Adrian taught at the former St. Catherine School in Indianapolis from 1961-67. She served on the infirmary staff at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods from 1967-70 and 1976-78, and ministered as a foster parent and nurse educator for Providence Self Sufficiency Ministries in New Albany from

1995-96. She also served in Illinois, Connecticut and Washington, D.C.

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

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

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

In the archdiocese, Sister Ellen taught at St. Luke School in Indianapolis from 1964-65 and St. Thomas Aquinas School in Indianapolis from 1973-81. She also ministered in Maryland, Illinois and California.

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

The former Sister Ann Marion entered the congregation on Jan. 4, 1956, from St. Eugene Parish in Chicago and professed perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1963.

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

Sister Mary Frances ministered in other dioceses in Indiana as well as in Oklahoma and Illinois.

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

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

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

In the archdiocese, Sister Joan served the congregation at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods as treasurer and business manager of the Sacred Heart Province from

1974-82. She served as a counselor at Providence Self Sufficiency Ministries in New Albany from 1998-2003, and also ministered in Illinois and California.

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

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

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

In the archdiocese, Sister Irma taught at Our Lady of the Greenwood School in Greenwood from 1961-64. She also ministered in Illinois, Maryland and New Hampshire.

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

The former Sister James Margaret entered the congregation on July 22, 1956, from Holy Name Parish in Fall River and professed perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1964.

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

In the archdiocese, Sister Mary Louise taught at the former St. Leonard School in West Terre Haute and the former Saint Mary-of-the-Woods Village School from

1959-60.

She also served as a mentoring coordinator for the Development Education Program for Religious in Indianapolis from 1990-92.

At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Sister Mary Louise served as business manager from 1993-99, facilities manager from 1997-99, on the Providence Center staff in 1999 and on the Central Business Office staff in 1999. She also ministered in Washington, D.C., and Florida.

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

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

She graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in education then earned a master’s degree in administration at the University of Notre Dame.

In the archdiocese, Sister Louise taught at the former St. Patrick School in Indianapolis from 1961-65. She also ministered in Illinois.

Sister Dorothy Souligny, a native of Hammond, ministers in prayer at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

The former Sister Marie Christopher entered the congregation on July 22, 1956, from All Saints Parish in Hammond, Ind., and professed perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1964.

She graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in French then earned a master’s degree in secondary education at Indiana University.

In the archdiocese, Sister Dorothy taught at the former Sacred Heart School in Terre Haute from 1959-60 and the former Ladywood School in Indianapolis from 1965-69.

At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, she ministered in community service from 1978-79 and as an Archives staff member from 2001-04. She served as an adult education teacher for Providence Self Sufficiency Ministries in New Albany from 1996-2001. She also ministered in Illinois and Taiwan. †