Sisters of Providence celebrate jubilee anniversaries
Criterion staff report
Twenty-eight Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods in St. Mary-of-the-Woods will celebrate jubilee anniversaries as members of the congregation this year.
This week, we highlight 10 sisters celebrating their 70th anniversary.
70th anniversaries
Sister Kathleen Mary Gay, a native of Woburn, Mass., entered the congregation on July 22, 1944, from St. Patrick Parish in Stoneham, Mass. She professed perpetual vows on Jan. 23, 1952.
She graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in education. She earned a master’s degree in education at Rivier University in Nashua, N.H.
In the archdiocese, Sister Kathleen Mary taught at Holy Spirit School (1960-62) and St. Joan of Arc School (1962-65), both in Indianapolis, and ministered in music at the former Holy Trinity Parish in New Albany (1947).
Sister Kathleen Mary has also ministered in the Evansville Diocese, and in Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, North Carolina and Washington, D.C.
She currently ministers in prayer at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.
Sister Rita Clare Gerardot, a native of New Haven, Ind., in the Fort Wayne-South Bend Diocese, entered the congregation on July 21, 1944, from St. Louis Besancon Parish in New Haven. She professed perpetual vows on Jan. 23, 1952.
She graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in English. She earned a master’s degree in education at Indiana State University in Terre Haute.
In the archdiocese, Sister Rita Clare taught in Indianapolis at the former St. Catherine School (1947-51) and St. Simon the Apostle School (1973-77), and served as principal at St. Luke the Evangelist School (1967-73).
At the motherhouse at St. Mary-of-the-Woods, she served as a local community health care representative (1992-96) and as director of the wellness center at Providence Hall (1996-2008).
Sister Rita Clare also served in the Evansville Diocese, Fort Wayne-South Bend Diocese and Gary Diocese, as well as in Illinois.
She currently ministers in outreach ministry at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.
Sister Mildred Giesler (formerly Sister Alma Joseph), a native of Jasper, Ind., in the Evansville Diocese, entered the congregation on Jan. 10, 1944, from St. Joseph Parish in Jasper. She professed perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1951.
She graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in education. She earned a master’s degree in education at Indiana State University in Terre Haute, and a master’s degree in religious studies at the University of Seattle in Seattle, Wash.
In the archdiocese, Sister Mildred taught in Indianapolis at the former St. Andrew School (1959-65) and St. Simon the Apostle School (1981-88), and in New Castle at the former St. Anne School (1955-58).
At the motherhouse at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, she served as a volunteer at the Providence Center Gift Shop (2003-04), mission advancement (2004-05), and with residential services (2003-11).
Sister Mildred has also ministered in the Evansville Diocese, Lafayette Diocese, and in Illinois, Massachusetts and North Carolina.
She currently ministers in prayer at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.
Sister Ann Jeanette Gootee, a native of Indianapolis, entered the congregation on Jan. 10, 1944, from St. Philip Neri Parish in Indianapolis. She professed perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1951.
She graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in music. She earned a master’s degree in music history literature at Butler University in Indianapolis and a master’s degree in social work at St. Louis University in St. Louis, Mo.
In the archdiocese, Sister Ann Jeanette served in Indianapolis in music ministry at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish (1970-71) and at Indiana University Medical Center Hospital as a social worker (1976-79) and social work coordinator (1979-80).
At the motherhouse at St. Mary-of-the-Woods, she served as provincial councilor of Sacred Heart Province (1980-88), co-coordinator for health care (2000-02), minister of care for Health Care Services (2002-07) and ministry of care volunteer (2007-08).
Sister Ann Jeanette has also served in the Evansville Diocese, Gary Diocese and Lafayette Diocese, as well as in California, Illinois, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas and Washington, D.C.
She currently ministers in prayer at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.
Sister Dorothy Hucksoll (formerly Sister Francis Ellen), a native of Chicago, entered the congregation on July 22, 1944, from the former St. Angela Parish in Chicago. She professed perpetual vows on Jan. 23, 1952.
She graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in education. She earned a master’s degree in reading and her educational specialist certification at Indiana University in Bloomington.
In the archdiocese, Sister Dorothy served in Bloomington at St. Charles Borromeo School first as a teacher (1969-70) then as principal (1971-72); in Indianapolis as a teacher at the former St. Catherine School (1950-56); in New Albany as a teacher at Holy Family School (1956-58); and in Terre Haute as a sister companion and in peace and justice (1994-2001).
At the motherhouse at St. Mary-of-the-Woods, she served as a nursing assistant in health care (1988-90), with transportation, as resident’s treasurer and in health care (1990-92), as a companion to the sick (1993-94), on the residential services staff (2003-07) and in prison ministry (2007-13).
Sister Dorothy has also ministered in Illinois and North Carolina.
She currently ministers in prayer at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.
Sister Kathryn Koressel (formerly Sister Alfreda Marie), a native of Evansville, Ind., in the Evansville Diocese, entered the congregation on July 20, 1944, from Sacred Heart Parish in Evansville. She professed perpetual vows on Jan. 23, 1952.
She graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in education. She earned a master’s degree in education at Indiana State University in Terre Haute.
In the archdiocese, Sister Kathryn served in Brazil as a teacher at the former Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary School (1976-86); in Indianapolis as a teacher at Holy Cross Central School (1951-52); in New Albany as a receptionist at Providence Retirement Home (1987-99); and in Sellersburg at St. Paul School (1959-65).
At the motherhouse at St. Mary-of-the-Woods, she served as coordinator of the wellness center (2007-12) and in residential services and as a sacristan (2012-13).
Sister Kathryn has also served in the Evansville Diocese, and Lafayette Diocese, and in Illinois, North Carolina and Oklahoma.
She currently ministers as coordinator of the Wellness Center at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.
Sister Anne Krause (formerly Sister Marie Robert), a native of Chicago, entered the congregation on July 22, 1944, from St. Matthew Parish in Chicago. She professed perpetual vows on Jan. 23, 1952.
She graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in commerce. She earned a master’s degree in business at the University of Notre Dame.
In the archdiocese, Sister Anne served in Indianapolis as principal of the former St. Catherine School (1956-62) and in Terre Haute as a teacher at the former St. Joseph School (1949-53).
At the motherhouse at St. Mary-of-the-Woods, she served as general treasurer (1981-91), planned giving manager and in the office of Congregational Advancement (now Mission Advancement from 1991-99); as a volunteer (1999-2005), and as a driver and in residential services (2005-08).
Sister Anne has also served in the Evansville Diocese and Lafayette Diocese, and in Illinois and Massachusetts.
Sister Florence Norton (formerly Sister Thomas Ann), a native of Chicago, entered the congregation on Jan. 10, 1944, from St. Sylvester Parish in Chicago. She professed perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1951.
She graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in education. She earned a master’s degree in education at St. Louis University in St. Louis, Mo.
In the archdiocese, Sister Florence taught in Indianapolis at St. Thomas Aquinas School (1946-50) and the former St. Catherine School (1951-52).
Sister Florence also served in Illinois, Missouri, New Hampshire and in Peru in South America.
She currently ministers in residential services, outreach and in the congregational department at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.
Sister Marie Victoria Podesta, a native of Chicago, entered the congregation on July 22, 1944, from the former St. Mel Parish in Chicago. She professed perpetual vows on Jan. 23, 1952.
She graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in education. She earned a master’s degree in education at St. Louis University in St. Louis, Mo.
Sister Marie Victoria served in the archdiocese in Indianapolis as a teacher at St. Philip Neri School (1947) and St. Joan of Arc School (1947-50), and in Sellersburg as a teacher and principal at St. Paul School (1963-69).
At the motherhouse at St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Sister Marie Victoria served as a volunteer (2011-12).
She also ministered in Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts and Texas.
She currently ministers in health care and prayer at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.
Sister Miriam Clare Stoll, a native of Clyde, Mo., entered the Congregation on Aug. 12, 1944, from Immaculate Conception Parish in Springfield, Mo. She professed perpetual vows on Jan. 23, 1952.
She graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in education.
In the archdiocese, she served in Indianapolis as a teacher at Holy Spirit School (1954-62) and St. Philip Neri School (1966-71), coordinator of home activities at St. Elizabeth Home (1971), in parish ministry at St. Matthew the Apostle Parish (1971-72), and providing hospital visits at St. Vincent Hospital (1972-74), and in Terre Haute providing ministry to aging shut-ins and the sick at St. Patrick Parish (1986-94).
At the motherhouse at St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Sister Miriam Clare served in community service (1994-96), as a driver (1994-2004), and in the sewing room and in prayer ministry (2004-09).
She has also ministered in Illinois, Missouri and Oklahoma.
She currently ministers in prayer at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. †