August 29, 2008

Nine Sisters of Providence celebrate their golden jubilee

Nine Sisters of Providence recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of their religious profession during a liturgy at the Church of the Immaculate Conception at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

(See also: Eight Sisters of Providence celebrate golden jubilee | 13 Sisters of Providence celebrate diamond jubilee)

Sisters Brigid Ann Bonner, Donna Butler, William Eyke, Patricia Fillenwarth, Linda Kaliker, Katherine Manley, Gloria Memering, Rosemary Schmalz and Rosemary Ward currently minister or formerly ministered in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.

A native of Whiting, Ind., Sister Brigid Ann Bonner currently ministers as a social worker at Britthaven in Louisville, Ky.

She entered the congregation on Jan. 6, 1958, from Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Whiting and professed her perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1965.

Sister Brigid Ann graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in education then earned a master’s degree in education at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind., and a master’s degree in social work at the University of Louisville.

She taught at Our Lady of the Greenwood School in Greenwood from 1967-69, the former St. James School in Indianapolis from 1970-71, St. Michael School in Greenfield from 1971-74 and St. Philip Neri School in Indianapolis from 1977-79.

Sister Brigid Ann ministered as a social worker and chaplain at the Providence Retirement Home in New Albany from 1982-91.

She also taught at Catholic grade schools staffed by the sisters in Whiting; Lafayette, Ind.; Loogootee, Ind.; Illinois and Kansas.

A native of Fort Wayne, Ind., Sister Donna Butler most recently ministered as an administrative assistant for the Office of Liturgy at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

Sister Donna, the former Sister Donna Rose, entered the congregation on Jan. 6, 1958, from St. Jude Parish in Fort Wayne. She professed her perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1965.

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 University in Bloomington.

Sister Donna taught at the former St. Ann School in Terre Haute from 1961-62 and 1975-79 then served as a parish assistant at St. Ann Parish from 1978-79. She also taught at the former Holy Trinity School in New Albany from 1964-68.

At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Sister Donna ministered as the director of Providence Volunteer Ministry from 1992-97 and as an archives assistant from 2002-03. She also served as executive director of Cooperative Action for Community Development Inc. in St. Meinrad from 1998-99.

Sister Donna also taught at Catholic grade schools staffed by the sisters in Hammond, Ind.; Washington, Ind.; Evansville, Ind.; Michigan and Wisconsin.

She also served as director of Providence Volunteer Ministry in Peru, Ind., and ministered as a pastoral assistant and pastoral associate at St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Peru.

A native of Muskegon, Mich., Sister William Eyke currently ministers in convent services at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

She entered the congregation on July 22, 1958, from Holy Ghost Parish in Milwaukee and professed her perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1966.

Sister William graduated from the University of Michigan with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry then earned a master’s degree and doctorate in chemistry from the University of Michigan.

She ministered at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College as a chemistry professor from 1961-68 and 1976-91 then served as vice president for academic affairs from 1968-75. From 1975-76, she worked in chemistry and research then taught science and mathematics as a professor from 1991-98 and an adjunct professor from 1998-2005.

A native of Indianapolis, Sister Patricia Fillenwarth currently ministers as a guidance counselor for Providence Family Services in Chicago.

Sister Patricia, the former Sister Joseph Monica, entered the congregation on Jan. 6, 1958, from Holy Cross Parish in Indianapolis. She professed her perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1965.

She graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in education then earned a master’s degree in elementary education at Indiana State University in Terre Haute and a master’s degree in community and family counseling at Northeastern Illinois University.

Sister Patricia taught at Holy Family School in New Albany in 1976 and at a Catholic grade school staffed by the sisters in Linton, Ind.

She also ministered in Illinois, Washington, D.C., and Arequipa, Peru.

A native of Fort Wayne, Ind., Sister Linda Kaliker currently ministers as a volunteer in health care services at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

Sister Linda, the former Sister Marie Theodore, entered the congregation on Jan. 6, 1958, from St. Patrick Parish in Fort Wayne. She professed her perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1965.

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

Sister Linda taught at the former St. Ann School in Indianapolis from 1962-64 and Holy Spirit School in Indianapolis from 1974-81.

At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, she served at The Gift Shop at Providence Center as the manager from 1995-98, a staff member from 1998-2005 and assistant manager from 2005-07.

Sister Linda also taught at St. Joseph School in Jasper, Ind., from 1967-74 and in Illinois.

She served as residential supervisor of the Riverview Care Center in Fort Wayne, Ind., from 1987-89, worked as a consultant for Sears Telecatalog Services from 1989-93 and ministered as an adult literacy consultant at the Idea Center in Huntington, Ind., from 1993-94.

A native of Indianapolis, Sister Katherine Manley currently ministers as a teacher at Guérin College Preparatory High School in River Grove, Ill.

Sister Katherine, the former Sister Catherine Therese, entered the congregation on Jan. 6, 1958, from St. Philip Neri Parish in Indianapolis. She professed her perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1965.

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 at Indiana University and a master’s degree in pastoral theology at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.

Sister Katherine taught at the former St. Margaret Mary School in Terre Haute from

1961-62 and at a Catholic grade school staffed by the sisters in Lafayette, Ind., from 1965-67.

She served as administrator of Owens Hall at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods from 1989-93 and also ministered in California.

A native of Vincennes, Ind., Sister Gloria Memering currently ministers as a member of the pastoral staff for music at Precious Blood Parish in Jasper, Ind.

She entered the congregation on Jan. 6, 1958, from St. John Parish in Vincennes and professed her perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1965.

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

She taught at St. Paul School in Sellersburg from 1962-66, St. Benedict School in Terre Haute from 1967-70, the former St. Margaret Mary School in Terre Haute from 1967-76, and at Catholic grade schools staffed by the sisters in Vincennes and Jasper.

At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Sister Gloria served as the provincial councilor of the congregation’s Sacred Heart Province from 1984-87.

She also ministered at several parishes as the music coordinator, liturgist and music director from 1983-97.

Sister Gloria served in clinical pastoral education at Deaconness Hospital in Evansville from 1983-84 and also ministered in North Carolina.

A native of Evansville, Sister Rosemary Schmalz currently ministers as the congregation’s general secretary at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

Sister Rosemary, the former Sister Mary Ida, entered the congregation on July 22, 1958, from St. Benedict Parish in Evansville. She professed her perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1966.

She graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics then earned a master’s degree in mathematics at the University of Illinois, a master’s degree in culture and creation spirituality at Holy Names University in Oakland, Calif., and a master’s degree in pastoral theology at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. She also earned a doctorate in mathematics education at Florida State University.

Sister Rosemary taught at St. Philip Neri School in Indianapolis from 1963-64 and at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College from 1972-78 and 1979-81.

She served as a research assistant for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in Indianapolis from 2002-06, and also ministered in Texas, Illinois and Pennsylvania.

A native of Chicago, Sister Rosemary Ward currently ministers as director of systems and services for Christian Brothers Services in Romeoville, Ill.

Sister Rosemary, the former Sister Sebastian, entered the congregation on July 22, 1958. She professed her perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1966.

She graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in biology then earned a master’s degree in biology at the University of North Dakota.

Sister Rosemary ministered at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College as registrar from 1961-66.

She taught at a Catholic high school staffed by the sisters in Vincennes from 1968-70 and also ministered in Illinois.

(To read biographies of the Sisters of Providence who celebrated their jubilees of religious profession during 2007, log on to the link with this story on www.criteriononline.com.)

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