December 14, 2007

Sisters of St. Benedict honor four jubilarians

Four Sisters of St. Benedict of Our Lady of Grace Monastery in Beech Grove celebrated their jubilees earlier this year.

Benedictine Sisters Mary Henry Schiff, Mary Cecile Deken, Amelia Banet and Mary Lois Hohl were ­honored by their religious community during prayer services at the monastery chapel.

Sister Mary Henry Schiff, formerly Gertrude Madeline Schiff, reached a milestone achieved by few people. On Aug. 12 at evening prayer with her community, she ­celebrated 75 years of vowed life.

Sister Mary Henry was born in Johnson City, Ill. She entered Monastery Immaculate Conception in Ferdinand, Ind., in 1930 and made her perpetual monastic profession in 1937.

She graduated from Immaculate Conception Academy in Ferdinand then earned a bachelor’s degree in education at the former St. Benedict College and a master’s degree in education at St. Francis College in Fort Wayne, Ind.

Sister Mary Henry taught for 38 years, beginning her ministry in 1934.

In the archdiocese, she taught at St. Anthony of Padua School in Clarksville, St. Bartholomew School in Columbus, St. Pius X School in Indianapolis, St. Ambrose School in Seymour, St. Mary-of-the-Knobs School in Floyds Knobs, Christ the King School in Indianapolis, the former St. John School in Starlight, the former St. Joseph School in St. Joseph Hill and the ­former St. Paul School in Tell City.

She also taught at Catholic schools in Evansville, Ind., and Huntingburg, Ind.

Sister Mary Henry also served as principal at the ­former St. Joseph School in St. Joseph Hill as well as in Huntingburg and Mount Vernon, Ind.

In 1981, she served as a receptionist and secretary at St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Clarksville.

Prior to her retirement in 1994, she ­ministered as the ­receptionist at St. Paul Hermitage in Beech Grove.

Sister Mary Henry lives at Our Lady of Grace Monastery.

Sixty years ago, Sisters Mary Cecile Deken and Amelia Banet promised stability, fidelity and ­obedience to the monastic lifestyle with the Sisters of St. Benedict. On July 1, in the presence of family ­members, friends and their religious community, they renewed the same promises made so many years ago.

Sisters Mary Cecile and Amelia, who entered Monastery Immaculate Conception in Ferdinand in 1945 and made their first monastic profession in 1947, celebrated their 60th jubilee at Our Lady of Grace Monastery, where they are founding members.

Sister Mary Cecile Deken, formerly Dorothy Ann Deken, was born in Evansville, Ind.

She attended Immaculate Conception Academy in Ferdinand and St. Benedict College in Ferdinand, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in music. She earned a master’s degree in English at St. Louis University in Missouri as she continued her teaching career then received her master’s degree in religious education at Saint Meinrad School of Theology in St. Meinrad.

Sister Mary Cecile also took courses at the University of Notre Dame, Cardinal Stritch College, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College as well as Butler University, the University of Indianapolis and the Christian Theological Seminary, all in Indianapolis.

She finished all the required classes for the ­spiritual direction course at the Benedict Inn Retreat and Conference Center in Beech Grove in 2005.

In the archdiocese, Sister Mary Cecile taught music at Christ the King School in Indianapolis, St. Mary-of-the-Knobs School in Floyds Knobs and Bishop Chatard High School in Indianapolis.

In 1967, Sister Mary Cecile served her religious community as sub-prioress while continuing to teach religion at the former Our Lady of Grace Academy in Beech Grove.

After 10 years as ­sub-prioress, she ministered as the pastoral associate and director of religious ­education at St. Maurice Parish in Napoleon then served as director of ­religious education at Immaculate Conception Parish in Milhousen.

Since 1989, Sister Mary Cecile has served the people of St. Lawrence Parish in Lawrenceburg as their ­pastoral associate and ­director of faith formation. She also ministered as ­director of religious ­education at St. Maurice Parish in Decatur County.

Sister Amelia Banet, ­formerly Mary Jane Banet, was born in Floyds Knobs.

She attended Immaculate Conception Academy in Ferdinand and earned a bachelor’s degree in ­education at the former St. Benedict College in Ferdinand and a master’s degree in education at St. Francis College in Fort Wayne.

Sister Amelia taught for 50 years.

In the archdiocese, she taught at the former St. Paul School in Tell City, the ­former St. Michael School in Cannelton, St. Pius X School in Indianapolis, and St. Anthony of Padua School in Clarksville.

Upon her retirement to the monastery in 1999, Sister Amelia has served as assistant to the bookkeeper at St. Paul Hermitage. She also assists her community in a variety of ways.

Sister Amelia is an elected member of the monastic council and ­performs many duties in the monastery chapel as ­sacristan.

A third classmate, Sister Mary Lois Hohl, formerly Arlene Hohl, was unable to participate in the jubilee ceremony due to health reasons. (Her photo was not available.)

Sister Mary Lois was born in St. Henry, Ind.

She entered the Monastery Immaculate Conception in Ferdinand in 1945.

Sister Mary Lois taught for more than 40 years at Catholic schools in the ­archdiocese and Diocese of Evansville.

After leaving the ­classroom, Sister Mary Lois changed her ministry to parish work.

She is currently a ­resident of the healthcare area of St. Paul Hermitage, a retirement ministry of the Sisters of St. Benedict of Our Lady of Grace Monastery. †

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