Nine Sisters of Providence celebrate Golden Jubilees

Nine Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods pose on June 24 at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods as they celebrate their 50-year jubilees. The jubilarians are, front row: Providence Sisters Marianne Mader, left, Celeste Tsai, Editha Ben and Danielle Sullivan; second row: Providence Sisters Paula Damiano, left, Mary Montgomery and Jean Kenny; third row: Providence Sisters Barbara McClelland, left, and Delan Ma. They are pictured with General Councilors in the back row: Providence Sisters Mary Beth Klingel, left, Jeanne Hagelskamp, Lisa Stallings, Jenny Howard and Dawn Tomaszewski. (Submitted photo)

Criterion staff report

In 2017, nine Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods celebrated 50 years in the congregation.
 

Sister Editha (formerly Editha Expedita, S.P.C.) Ben, a native of the Philippines, entered the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres on May 10, 1967, and professed final vows on Feb. 1, 1975. Sister Editha transferred her vows to the Sisters of Providence in June 2002.

She graduated from Rosary College in the Philippines with bachelor’s degrees in education, English and mathematics, and earned a master’s degree in theological studies at Ateneo De Manila University in the Philippines.

Sister Editha has served in Illinois and in Taiwan.

Currently, she ministers as the director of vocations for the Sisters of Providence.
 

Sister Paula (formerly Mario) Damiano, a native of New Castle, Pa., entered the congregation on Aug. 30, 1967, from Anaheim, Calif. She professed final vows on Dec. 8, 1974.

She graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in art. She earned a master’s degree in theological spirituality from Fordham University in New York.

In the archdiocese, Sister Paula has ministered as General Councilor (2001-11), as coordinator of programming (2012-13), and as director of retreats and programs for the Providence Spirituality & Conference Center (2013-14).

She also served in California.

Currently, Sister Paula serves as director of retreats and programs and co-director at Providence Spirituality & Conference Center, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.
 

Sister Jean (formerly Keith) Kenny, a native of Chicago, entered the congregation on Aug. 30, 1967, from Queen of Angels in Chicago. She professed perpetual vows on Oct. 4, 1980.

She graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, a master’s degree in religious education and a master’s of divinity degree from Loyola University in Chicago, and a master’s degree in human services counseling from DePaul University in Chicago.

She served in Illinois.

Currently, Sister Jean ministers at St. Matthew the Apostle Parish and School in Indianapolis.
 

Sister Delan Ma, a native of Taiwan, entered the congregation on Oct. 1, 1967, from Kuangfu, Taiwan. She professed final vows on Dec. 4, 1977.

She graduated from Fu Jen Catholic University in Taiwan with a bachelor’s degree in theology, and a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.

Sister Delan served in Taiwan.

Currently, she ministers as the vocation director for Asia for the Sisters of Providence.
 

Sister Marianne (formerly Ann Eugene) Mader, a native of Indianapolis, entered the congregation on Aug. 30, 1967, from St. Philip Neri Parish in Indianapolis. She professed final vows on March 8, 1975.

She graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in education. She also earned a master’s of arts in library science from the Rosary College of Arts and Sciences, Dominican University in River Forest, Ill.

In the archdiocese, Sister Marianne served in Indianapolis as a teacher at the former St. Catherine of Siena School (1971-72) and St. Philip Neri School (1972-77); in various library roles at Community Hospital (1978-93) and Hand Surgery Association of Indiana (1986-88); as medical information assistant at Crossroads Rehabilitation Center (1997-98); as instructional assistant-computers at

Holy Spirit School (1998-2002); and as a librarian at Holy Angels School (2002-06).

At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, she served as Archive Researcher (2006-09).

She also ministered in Ohio and Canada.

Currently, Sister Marianne ministers as the archives coordinator for the Sisters of Providence.
 

Sister Barbara (formerly Mary Barbara) McClelland, a native of Indianapolis, entered the congregation on Aug. 30, 1967, from Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Beech Grove. She professed final vows on Oct. 25, 1980.

She graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, and also earned a master’s degree in education from Indiana University in Bloomington.

In the archdiocese, Sister Barbara served in Indianapolis as a teacher at St. Simon the Apostle School (1971-76), St. Joan of Arc School (1976-80), Holy Cross (now Holy Cross Central) School (1980-81), and as principal at Holy Cross Central School (1981-96).

She also ministered in Kentucky.

Currently, Sister Barbara ministers as the co-director of Miracle Place in Indianapolis.
 

Sister Mary (formerly Aaron) Montgomery, a native of Bramble, Ind., in the Evansville, Ind., Diocese, entered the congregation on Aug. 30, 1967, from St. Joseph Parish in Loogootee, Ind., in the Evansville Diocese. She professed final vows on Oct. 15, 1977.

She graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in education, and also earned a master’s degree in pastoral theology from the Catholic Theological Union/Catholic Graduate School of Theology in Chicago.

In the archdiocese, Sister Mary served in Indianapolis as a student teacher at the former St. Patrick School (1971), and as a teacher at All Saints School (1972-75) (now St. Anthony School); in Sellersburg as a teacher at St. Paul School (1975-78); in Bloomington as provincial councilor/pastoral associate at St. Paul Catholic Center (1991), as pastoral associate at St. Paul Catholic Center (1992-97), and as director of Providence Volunteer Ministry (1997-2000); in Terre Haute as a secretary in Mayor Kevin Burke’s office (2006-07), as director of Terre Haute Deanery Pastoral Center (2008-14), and as director/spiritual director of Terre Haute Deanery Pastoral Center (2014).

At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Sister Mary served as director of Providence Volunteer Ministry (2000-05), and as retreat and spiritual director (2015-16).

She also served in Kentucky.

Currently, Sister Mary ministers as retreat and spiritual director/volunteer at Providence Spirituality & Conference Center and Ministry of Care at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.
 

Sister Danielle (formerly Sister Mary Lou) Sullivan, a native of Melrose, Mass., entered the congregation on Aug. 30, 1967, from St. Joseph Parish in Malden, Mass. She professed final vows on Aug. 15, 1973.

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

Sister Danielle served in Maryland, Massachusetts and in Washington, D.C.

Currently, she ministers as a staff accountant for the Sisters of St. Joseph in Brighton, Mass.
 

Sister Celeste Tsai, a native of Taiwan, entered the Congregation on Aug. 30, 1967, from Taichung City, Taiwan. She professed final vows on Sept. 28, 1980.

She graduated from Providence University in Taiwan with a bachelor’s degree in English, and also earned a master’s degree in Asian Studies from Seton Hall University.

At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Sister Celeste ministered as an English Language Institute instructor (1979-80), and as a translator (2010-11).

Currently, she ministers as translator and affairs consultant at Providence University in Taiwan. †