Six Sisters of Providence celebrate golden jubilees

Criterion staff report

Six Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods celebrated the 50th anniversary of their entrance into the congregation on June 27 at the order’s motherhouse.

Sisters Clelia Cecchetti, Ellen Cunningham, Brigid Mary Hurley, Paula Modaff, Dorothy Rasche and Therese Guérin Sullivan currently serve, formerly ministered or studied in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.

A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., Sister Clelia Cecchetti ministers as an administrative secretary in the Secretariat for Divine Worship for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington, D.C.

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

Sister Clelia graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in music education. She earned a master’s degree in music education at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind.

In the archdiocese, Sister Clelia taught music at the former Sacred Heart and St. Ann schools in Terre Haute from 1963-66 then at the former St. Joseph and St. Ann schools in Indianapolis and St. Malachy School in Brownsburg from 1966-67.

At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Sister Clelia ministered in the congregation’s central business office as the local residential accounts manager from 1989-93 then as a finance clerk and cashier from 1993-94.

She also ministered at Catholic schools in Maryland and Massachusetts.

A native of Chicago, Sister Ellen Cunningham ministers as a professor of mathematics at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.

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

Sister Ellen graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. She earned a master’s degree in mathematics at the Catholic University of America in Washington, a master’s degree in computing science education at the University of Evansville and a doctorate in mathematics at the University of Maryland.

At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, Sister Ellen served as an assistant professor from 1974-82, associate professor and department chairperson from 1983-90, and professor and department chairperson from 1990-92.

She also ministered in Fort Wayne, Ind.; Loogootee, Ind.; and Illinois.

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

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

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

She ministered as a Catholic school teacher in Fort Wayne, Ind., as well as in Maryland, North Carolina and Washington, D.C.

A native of Oak Park, Ill., Sister Paula Modaff ministers as spiritual director for the Ministry of Care at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

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

Sister Paula graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in English. She earned a master’s degree in Spanish and Latin American literature at the Universidad

Ibero-Americana, a master’s degree in religious studies at Gonzaga University and a licentiate in canon law at a pontifical university in Rome.

In the archdiocese, Sister Paula taught at Our Lady of Providence High School in Clarksville from 1964-66.

At Saint Mary of the Woods, she ministered in prayer, served at the English Language Institute and participated in film study from 1972-73 and 1974-77.

Sister Paula also served as a canon lawyer for the archdiocesan Metropolitan Tribunal at the Archbishop O’Meara Catholic Center from 2003-06, a teacher at the Hispanic Education Center in 2003, a tribunal judge for the archdiocese in 2008 and a spiritual director at St. Francis Hospital from 2006-08.

She also ministered in Illinois and California.

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

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

Sister Dorothy graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in education. She earned a master’s degree in religious studies at Mundelein University.

In the archdiocese, Sister Dorothy taught in Indianapolis at St. Joan of Arc School from 1964-65, St. Andrew School from 1968-69 and the former St. Joseph School in 1970.

She served as director of religious education at St. Lawrence Parish in Indianapolis from 1973-76.

Sister Dorothy also taught at St. Malachy School in Brownsburg from 1969-70, and at the former Sacred Heart School in Terre Haute from 1970-72 and 1981-82. She ministered as director of religious education at Sacred Heart Parish in Terre Haute from 1972-73.

At the U.S. Penitentiary, she served as a prison minister from 1979-81 and 1981-82, a nursing assistant in 1981, a prison chaplain from 1982-83, and a staff chaplain from 1990-93 and 1994-97.

Sister Dorothy also ministered as director of religious education at St. Joseph University Parish in Terre Haute from 1982-83 and pastoral associate at Holy Rosary Parish in Seelyville from 1979-81.

She also taught in Vincennes, Ind., and ministered in Oklahoma, Michigan, Texas and West Virginia.

A native of Malden, Mass., Sister Therese Guérin Sullivan ministers as chancellor for the Diocese of Cleveland.

Sister Therese Guérin entered the congregation on July 22, 1959, from Sacred Hearts Parish in Malden. She professed her perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1967.

She graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in education then earned a master’s degree in person-

alized learning at De Paul University and master’s degree in canon law at St. Paul University. She also earned a doctorate in ministry at St. Mary of the Lake University and licentiate in canon law at St. Paul University.

Sister Therese Guérin served as a judge at the diocesan Tribunal in the Diocese of Gary in Merrillville, Ind., from 1989-2002 and as the bishop’s liaison to religious in the Diocese of Gary from 1989-2000.

She also ministered in North Carolina and Illinois. †