Providence sisters celebrate 60-year jubilees

(Editor’s note: Eighteen Sisters of Providence celebrated their 60th jubilees at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. Eleven of the sisters are featured in this week’s issue of The Criterion. The remaining sisters’ biographical information will be published next week.)

Eighteen Sisters of Providence recently celebrated their 60th jubilees at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

They include Sisters Barbara Ann Bluntzer, Marian Brady, Suzanne Buthod, Jean Ann Daniel, Rosemary Eyler, Loretta Maureen Gansemer, Marilyn Rose Ginder, Jeanne Knoerle, Marie Denis Lucey, Catherine Mayer and Regina Marie McIntyre.

A native of Corpus Christi, Texas, Sister Barbara Ann Bluntzer ministers as a volunteer at St. Pius X Parish in Corpus Christi.

Sister Barbara Ann, formerly known as Sister Mary Martha, entered the congregation on June 7, 1949, from St. John Nepomucene Parish in Robstown, Texas, and professed her perpetual vows on Jan. 23, 1957.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in education at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and master’s degree in elementary education at Indiana University in Bloomington.

In the archdiocese, Sister Barbara Ann taught at St. Joan of Arc School in Indianapolis from 1952-54 and the former Sacred Heart School in Terre Haute from 1954-56.

She also ministered at Catholic schools in Oklahoma, Illinois, Missouri and Kentucky.

A native of Washington, D.C., Sister Marian Brady ministers as an adjunct assistant professor and director of the core program in philosophy at The Catholic University of America in Washington.

Sister Marian entered the congregation on Feb. 11, 1949, from St. Ann Parish in Washington, and professed her perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1956.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in English at Trinity University in Washington, and master’s degree and doctorate in philosophy at The Catholic University of America.

In the archdiocese, Sister Marian taught at the former Ladywood Academy in Indianapolis from 1951-55, Our Lady of Providence High School in Clarksville from 1955-56, and the former Schulte High School in Terre Haute from 1956-57.

At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, she served as an assistant professor and associate professor of philosophy from 1962-66 and as dean of students from 1966-67.

She has served in numerous ministries in Washington.

A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Sister Suzanne Buthod ministers as a volunteer for several ministries in West Terre Haute and St. Mary-of-the-Woods.

Sister Suzanne, formerly known as Sister Mary Judith, entered the congregation on Feb. 2, 1949, from St. Benedict Parish in Evansville, Ind., and professed her perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1956.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in English at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and master’s degree in religion at Manhattanville College in Purchase, N.Y.

In the archdiocese, Sister Suzanne taught at St. Michael School in Greenfield from 1956-62, the former St. Catherine School in Indianapolis from

1962-68, and the former Schulte High School in Terre Haute from 1969-74.

From 1969-72, she served the congregation as director of novices at the motherhouse.

Sister Suzanne ministered as a pastoral associate at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish in Indianapolis and St. Patrick Parish in Indianapolis from 1985-88, and as a volunteer for several ministries in Indianapolis from 2000-04.

She also taught at Reitz Memorial High School in Evansville from 1974-75 then served the Evansville Diocese as an auditor and advocate for the diocesan Tribunal from 1978-84 as well as a special religious educator from 1978-80 and assistant director of special religious education from 1980-81.

She also ministered at Catholic schools in Illinois and Alabama.

A native of New Albany, Sister Jean Ann Daniel ministers as an extraordinary minister of holy Communion for hospital patients, residents of nursing homes and homebound senior citizens in the New Albany area.

Sister Jean Ann entered the congregation from the former Holy Trinity Parish in New Albany on Jan. 6, 1949, and professed her perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1956.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in education at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and master’s degree in education at Indiana State University in Terre Haute.

In the archdiocese, Sister Jean Ann taught at the former St. Joseph School in Terre Haute from 1956-57 and Holy Family School in New Albany from 1969-93.

She also ministered at Catholic schools in the Diocese of Evansville and in Illinois.

A native of Crawfordsville, Ind., Sister Rosemary Eyler ministers with senior citizens at St. Bernard Parish in Crawfordsville.

Sister Rosemary, formerly known as Sister Mary Luke, entered the congregation on Feb. 2, 1949, from St. Bernard Parish in Crawfordsville, and professed her perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1956.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in education at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, and master’s degrees in education and education administration supervision at Indiana State University.

In the archdiocese, Sister Rosemary taught at St. Michael School in Greenfield from 1959-66, served as a teacher and principal at the former St. Bridget School in Indianapolis from 1966-70, and ministered as a principal at St. Matthew School in Indianapolis from 1979-93.

She also ministered at Catholic schools in Illinois, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

A native of Missouri Valley, Iowa, Sister Loretta Maureen Gansemer ministers as the director of the Senior Center at Guérin Woods in Georgetown.

Sister Loretta Maureen entered the congregation on Jan. 21, 1949, from St. Joseph Parish in Hawthorne, Calif., and professed her perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1958.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in education at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and master’s degree in theology at Dominican University in San Rafael, Calif.

In the archdiocese, Sister Loretta Maureen taught at St. Patrick School in Terre Haute from

1957-58, and the former St. Catherine School in Indianapolis from 1958-60.

Sister Loretta Maureen also ministered on the infirmary staff at the motherhouse from 1974-75.

She also ministered at Catholic schools in Texas, Illinois and California.

A native of Montgomery, Ind., Sister Marilyn Rose Ginder ministers in prayer at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

Sister Marilyn Rose entered the congregation on Feb. 2, 1949, from St. Roch Parish in Indianapolis, and professed her perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1956.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in Latin and master’s degree in pastoral theology at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College as well as a master’s degree in education administration and doctorate in counseling psychology at the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Ind.

In the archdiocese, Sister Marilyn Rose taught at Nativity School in Indianapolis from 1956-58 and the former Ladywood Academy in Indianapolis from 1962-65.

She completed a post-doctoral internship at the Midtown Comprehensive Mental Health Center in Indianapolis from 1972-73 then served as the director and an assistant professor of clinical psychology at the Midtown Comprehensive Mental Health Center from 1973-82.

Sister Marilyn Rose also ministered in private practice and as the provincial administrator for the congregation’s St. Gabriel Province from 1982-86, as an assistant professor of clinical psychology and in private practice from 1986-2002, and as a spiritual director from 2003-04.

At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, she served as a ministry of care volunteer from 2004-06.

She also ministered in Illinois.

A native of Lakewood, Ohio, Sister Jeanne Knoerle ministers as a volunteer at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and the congregation’s White Violet Center for Eco-Justice at the motherhouse.

Sister Jeanne, formerly known as Sister Mary Gregory, entered the congregation on July 22, 1949, from St. Angela Parish in Fairview Village, Ohio, and professed her perpetual vows on Jan. 23, 1957.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in drama at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College as well as master’s degrees in journalism and business followed by a doctorate in composition and literary Chinese at Indiana University.

At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, Sister Jeanne served as a faculty member from 1954-56 and 1957-63, assistant president from 1967-68, president from 1968-83, chancellor from 1984-98, director of endowment funding from 1984-85, and president of the Woods Association from 1985-88.

Also at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, she ministered as the acting executive director and executive director of residential life and services from 2003-08.

In Indianapolis, Sister Jeanne served as the program director for the religion division of Lilly Endowment from 1988-98, and consultant to the religion division of Lilly Endowment from 1998-2003.

She also ministered in Illinois, Washington, D.C., and Taiwan.

A native of Brighton, Mass., Sister Marie Denis Lucey ministers as a volunteer at the Woods Day Care/Preschool at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

Sister Marie Denis entered the congregation on July 22, 1949, from Most Blessed Sacrament Parish in Greenwood, Mass., and professed her perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1957.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in education at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.

In the archdiocese, Sister Marie Denis taught at the former St. Ann School in Indianapolis in 1952 and 1958, St. Philip Neri School in Indianapolis from 1955-57, and St. Joan of Arc School in Indianapolis from 1958-61.

She also ministered at Catholic schools in Illinois, Massachusetts, Washington, D.C., and Maryland.

A native of Evanston, Ill., Sister Catherine Mayer ministers as an assistant in the transportation office at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

Sister Catherine, formerly known as Sister Catherine Alma, entered the congregation on Jan. 16, 1949, from St. Athanasius Parish in Evanston, and professed her perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1956.

In the archdiocese, Sister Catherine taught at the former St. Joseph School in Terre Haute from 1956-57, and served as a receptionist at the Woods Day Care/Preschool at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods from 2005-08.

She also ministered at Catholic schools in Illinois and Massachusetts.

A native of Eaton, Ohio, Sister Regina Marie McIntyre ministers as an organist at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods and Saint Meinrad Archabbey in St. Meinrad.

Sister Regina Marie entered the congregation on Jan. 6, 1949, from St. Mary Parish in Richmond, and professed her perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1956.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in music at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and master’s degree in music at Indiana University.

In the archdiocese, Sister Regina Marie taught at the former St. Margaret Mary School in Terre Haute in 1951, St. Philip Neri School in

Indianapolis from 1955-56, and St. Charles Borromeo School in Bloomington from 1956-83. She also served as a liturgist at St. Charles Borromeo Parish from 1979-83.

At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, she ministered as the director of liturgy, organist, schola director and pianist for the congregation’s Sacred Heart Province from 1985-91, director of liturgy from 1992-96, coordinator of liturgy from 1996-2001, and organist, schola director and pianist from 1992-2001.

She also ministered in Maryland, Illinois, Oklahoma and Washington, D.C. †