August 29, 2008

13 Sisters of Providence celebrate diamond jubilee

Thirteen Sisters of Providence were honored on Dec. 8, 2007, for their 60th anniversary of religious profession at the Church of the Immaculate Conception at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

Sisters Agnes Maureen Badura, Joyce Brophy, Rosemary Eggerman, Joan Frame, Ann Francis Hammersley, Margaret Heese, Mary Ann Lechner, Joan Matthews, Maureen Ann McCarthy, Lucille Nolan, Ruth Sampson, Anne Scott and David Ellen Van Dyke currently minister or formerly ministered in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.

A native of Chicago, Sister Agnes Maureen Badura ministers in volunteer service with SPRED (Special Religious Education Development) in Chicago.

She entered the congregation on July 22, 1947, and professed her perpetual vows on Jan. 23, 1955.

Sister Agnes Maureen graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics then earned a master’s degree in mathematics at Marquette University.

In the archdiocese, she taught at St. Philip Neri School in Indianapolis from 1958-61.

At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Sister Maureen served in the congregation’s central business office as a special projects assistant from 1995-96 and as a staff member from 1996-2001.

She also ministered in California, Oklahoma, Florida and Washington, D.C.

A native of Joliet, Ill., Sister Joyce Brophy ministers as a volunteer for Connecting Link at West Terre Haute and the Providence Center at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

She entered the congregation on July 22, 1947, and professed her perpetual vows on Jan. 23, 1955.

Sister Joyce 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 in Terre Haute.

In the archdiocese, she taught at the former Sacred Heart School in Terre Haute from 1995-99.

At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Sister Joyce served as mistress of postulants from 1965-68, director of scholastics from 1968-69 and provincial of the congregation’s Sacred Heart Province from 1984-91.

At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, she served as assistant vice president for development from 1980-82.

Sister Joyce also ministered in Illinois and California.

A native of Chicago, Sister Rosemary Eggerman ministers in prayer at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

She entered the congregation on Feb. 2, 1947, and professed her perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1954.

Sister Rosemary graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in education then earned a degree in addictions counseling at Triton College.

In the archdiocese, she taught at St. Thomas Aquinas School in Indianapolis from 1950-53.

At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Sister Rosemary served as a nurse’s aide at the infirmary in 1954.

Sister Rosemary also taught at Catholic grade schools staffed by the sisters in Evansville, Ind.; Whiting, Ind.; Fort Wayne, Ind.; California; Illinois; and Washington, D.C.

A native of Richmond, Sister Joan Frame ministers as a member of the Providence Pantry staff in West Terre Haute.

She entered the congregation on Jan. 8, 1947, and professed her perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1954.

Sister Joan 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 the archdiocese, she taught at the former Holy Trinity School in New Albany from 1949-50, the former Annunciation School in Brazil from 1953-54, St. Andrew School in Indianapolis from 1954-57, Holy Spirit School in Indianapolis from 1968-75 and the former All Saints School in Indianapolis from 1975-87.

Sister Joan ministered as a teacher and principal at the former St. Anne School in New Castle from 1961-67.

In Indianapolis, Sister Joan served as pastoral associate at St. Simon the Apostle Parish from 1987-89, pastoral minister at SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral Parish from 1989-96 and 2004-05, and pastoral associate at SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral Parish from 1996-98.

Sister Joan also ministered at the Hispanic Education Center in Indianapolis as a general education degree instructor from 1999-2001 and an English language instructor from 2001-02.

She volunteered at the former All Saints School and Cathedral Kitchen, both in Indianapolis, from 2002-04 as well as at SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral Parish and St. Anthony Parish from 2004-06.

Sister Joan also ministered at Catholic grade schools staffed by the sisters in Jasper, Ind.; Maryland; and Illinois.

A native of Malden, Mass., Sister Ann Francis Hammersley ministers in prayer at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

She entered the congregation on July 22, 1947, and professed her perpetual vows on Jan. 23, 1955.

Sister Ann Francis graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in education then earned a master’s degree in reading at the University of New Hampshire.

In the archdiocese, she taught at the former St. James School in Indianapolis from 1955-56.

At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Sister Ann Francis ministered at the Woods Day Care/Pre-School from 1997-2006.

She also taught at Catholic grade schools staffed by the sisters in Fort Wayne, Ind.; Massachusetts; Maryland; New Hampshire; and Washington, D.C.

A native of Robstown, Texas, Sister Margaret Heese ministers as a member of the residential services staff at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

She entered the congregation on June 17, 1947, and professed her perpetual vows on Jan. 23, 1955.

Sister Margaret graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in education then earned a master’s degree in art education at Northern Arizona University.

In the archdiocese, she taught at St. Thomas Aquinas School in Indianapolis from 1958-60.

At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Sister Margaret served as a staff member for the congregation’s archives from 2001-02.

She also ministered in Illinois, Oklahoma, California, Texas and Arizona.

A native of Jasper, Ind., Sister Mary Ann Lechner ministers as a volunteer financial assistant for La Plaza in Indianapolis.

Sister Mary Ann, the former Sister Robert Ann, entered the congregation on Jan. 8, 1947, and professed her perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1954.

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.

In the archdiocese, Sister Mary Ann taught at the former St. Joseph School in Terre Haute from 1954-56 then served as a teacher and principal at St. Susanna School in Plainfield from 1959-65.

In Indianapolis, Sister Mary Ann taught at the former St. Ann School from 1972-76, St. Joan of Arc School from 1976-81 and St. Simon School from 1981-97.

She ministered as general education degree coordinator at the Hispanic Education Center in Indianapolis from 1998-2003.

Sister Mary Ann also taught or served as the principal at Catholic grade schools staffed by the sisters in Vincennes, Ind.; Lafayette, Ind.; and Illinois.

A native of Columbus, Ohio, Sister Joan Matthews ministers as a sacristan, environmentalist and musician at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

Sister Joan, the former Sister Ignatius, entered the congregation on July 22, 1947, and professed her perpetual vows on Jan. 23, 1955.

She graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in music then earned a master’s degree in voice at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

In the archdiocese, Sister Joan taught at the former Holy Trinity School in New Albany in 1950 and the former St. Margaret Mary School, the former St. Joseph School and the former Sacred Heart School, all in Terre Haute, from 1952-53.

At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, she served on the corporate renewal team from 1972-75 and the Providence Center staff in 1998.

Sister Joan also taught at Catholic grade schools staffed by the sisters in Hammond, Ind.; Vincennes, Ind.; Jasper, Ind.; Maryland; Illinois; California; Washington, D.C.; and Taiwan.

A native of Chicago, Sister Maureen Ann McCarthy ministers as a driver and member of the residential services staff at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

She entered the congregation on Feb. 2, 1947, and professed her perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1954.

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

In the archdiocese, she taught at St. Paul School in Sellersburg from 1950-51, St. Anthony School in Indianapolis from 1951-54 and St. Philip Neri School in Indianapolis from 1957-58.

At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Sister Maureen Ann ministered for the House of Prayer, and as a driver and pharmacy staff member from 1972-73. She served the congregation on the general business office staff from 1975-76 then as a driver and coordinator of transportation from 1982-85.

She also ministered in Maryland, North Carolina, Illinois and Texas.

A native of Galesburg, Ill., Sister Lucille Nolan ministers as assistant religion education instructor and children’s music instructor at St. James Parish in Sauk Village, Ill.

She entered the congregation on July 22, 1947, and professed her perpetual vows on Jan. 23, 1955.

Sister Lucille 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 the University of Illinois.

In the archdiocese, she taught at the former St. Ann School in Terre Haute from 1955-56, the former St. Bridget School in Indianapolis in 1950, and Holy Cross School and the former Cathedral Grade School, both in Indianapolis, from 1968-69.

Sister Lucille also ministered in Texas, North Carolina, Illinois and Oklahoma.

A native of Malden, Mass., Sister Ruth Sampson ministers as an assistant and tutor at the St. Theresa Opportunity Center in Taiwan.

She entered the congregation on Feb. 11, 1947, and professed her perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1954.

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

In the archdiocese, she ministered as a tutor at Providence Self Sufficiency Ministries in West Terre Haute from 2000-2001.

Sister Ruth also ministered in Illinois, California, Massachusetts, Maryland, Mississippi, North Dakota, South Dakota, Maine, Florida and Washington, D.C.

A native of Newport News, Va., Sister Anne Scott ministers in prayer at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

She entered the congregation on July 22, 1947, and professed perpetual vows on Jan. 23, 1955.

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

In the archdiocese, she taught at the former St. Catherine School in Indianapolis from 1953-54 and Holy Cross School in Indianapolis from 1959-63.

At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Sister Anne served as a nurse’s aide from 1977-82, director of volunteers and treasurer for health care residents from 1984-91, manager of the Goodwin Guest House from 1991-94 and on the central business office staff from 1994-2006.

She also ministered in Illinois, Maryland, North Carolina and California.

A native of Chicago, Sister David Ellen Van Dyke ministers in prayer at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

She entered the congregation on July 22, 1947, and professed her perpetual vows on Jan. 23, 1955.

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

In the archdiocese, she served at Catholic grade schools staffed by the sisters in Terre Haute as a teacher and principal from 1962-68 and as a principal from 1972-79 and 1992-2002.

Sister David Ellen taught at St. Paul School in Sellersburg in 1950, St. Andrew School in Indianapolis from 1951-52, St. Matthew School in Indianapolis from 1968-72, the former Holy Trinity School in New Albany from 1953-54, and as a teacher and principal at the former Annunciation School in Brazil from 1979-83.

At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, she served the congregation on the Providence Press print staff from 1983-85, as manager of Providence Press from 1985-88, as a clerk in central services from 1985-86 and on the sewing department staff from 1986-88.

Sister David Ellen also ministered at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods as provincial councilor of the congregation’s Sacred Heart Province from 1988-91, administrator of Providence Hall from 1990-92 and on the residential services staff from 2002-04.

She also taught at Catholic grade schools staffed by the sisters in Vincennes, Ind.; Evansville, Ind.; and North Carolina. †

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