Oldenburg Franciscans honor 14 jubiliarians
Fourteen Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis of Oldenburg are celebrating their jubilees this year.
Franciscan Sister Anna Marie Stier is marking 80 years as a Sister of St. Francis.
Franciscan Sisters Karla Barker, Madonna Bishop, Gloria Gallagher, Lorraine Geis and Sharonlu Sheridan are celebrating 60 years as members of the Oldenburg community.
Franciscan Sisters Julia Biehl, Christine Doerger, Donna Eggering, Susanna Helmes, Damien Hinderer, Alice Retzner, Sandra Schweitzer and Olga Wittekind are observing their 50th jubilee year.
A native of Greensburg, Sister Anna Marie Stier, formerly Sister Mary Prudence, ministered at St. Lawrence School in Lawrenceburg, St. Mark the Evangelist School in Indianapolis and St. Michael the Archangel School in Indianapolis.
She also taught at Catholic schools in Ohio and Missouri.
Sister Anna Marie resides at St. Clare Hall, the health care facility at the motherhouse in Oldenburg.
A native of Lawrenceburg, Sister Karla Barker ministered at St. Michael the Archangel School in Indianapolis and St. Mary School in Aurora.
She also taught at Catholic schools in Ohio, Missouri and South Carolina.
From 1988 until 2009, Sister Karla was the manager or on the staff of the Springbank Retreat House in Kingstree, S.C.
Sister Karla retired in February of 2009 and resides at the motherhouse.
A native of Indianapolis, Sister Madonna Bishop taught at Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in New Albany, the former St. Bernadette School in Indianapolis, Cardinal Ritter High School in Indianapolis, Father Thomas Scecina Memorial High School in Indianapolis and the former St. Mary Academy in Indianapolis.
Sister Madonna also taught at Catholic schools in the Evansville Diocese and Ohio.
She also ministered at Martin University in Indianapolis and the Indiana Women’s Prison in Indianapolis.
Sister Madonna currently serves on the nursing staff at St. Clare Hall, the health care facility at the motherhouse.
Sister Gloria Gallagher taught music at Oldenburg Academy of the Immaculate Conception in Oldenburg and Marian University in Indianapolis.
She also ministered at Catholic schools in Ohio.
Sister Gloria currently serves as an associate professor of music at Marian University in Indianapolis.
A native of Connersville, Sister Lorraine Geis taught at Catholic schools in Ohio and Missouri before beginning 40 years of mission work in Papua New Guinea.
From 1961 until 2001, she ministered in Tari and Kagu in Papua New Guinea.
Sister Lorraine returned to the motherhouse in 2001, and serves as the convent sacristan and archivist for the sisters’ ministries in Papua New Guinea.
A native of Indianapolis, Sister Sharonlu Sheridan, formerly Sister Mary Regine, ministered at Marian University in Indianapolis, St. Monica School in Indianapolis and St. Louis School in Batesville.
She also taught at Catholic schools in Ohio, Missouri, Michigan, West Virginia and Minnesota.
Sister Sharonlu currently ministers in special projects at the Franciscan Center in Oldenburg.
Sister Julia Biehle, formerly Sister Anna, ministered at St. Mary School in Aurora, the former Sacred Heart School in Clinton, the former St. Andrew School in Richmond, Seton Catholic School in Richmond, the former St. Rita School in Indianapolis and the former St. John School in Osgood.
From 1983 until 1991, Sister Julia ministered in Papua New Guinea.
She also taught at Catholic schools in the Evansville Diocese as well as in Ohio and Missouri.
Sister Julia currently serves at the Tri Health-Senior Link in Norwood, Ohio.
Sister Christine Doerger ministered as a teacher or principal at the former St. Gabriel the Archangel School in Indianapolis and at Catholic schools in the Evansville Diocese.
She also taught at Catholic schools in Ohio.
Sister Christine currently serves as the wellness assistant at St. Leonard’s, a Franciscan Living Community in Centerville, Ohio.
Sister Donna Eggering ministered at St. Mark the Evangelist School in Indianapolis and St. Lawrence School in Indianapolis.
She also taught at Catholic schools in Ohio and served as a parish minister at parishes in Missouri.
Sister Donna currently ministers as a pastoral administrator at Immaculate Conception Parish in Brookfield, Mo.
Sister Susanna Helmes ministered at Holy Name of Jesus School in Beech Grove.
She also taught at Catholic schools in the Evansville Diocese and Ohio.
Sister Susanna ministered in Papua New Guinea from 1971 until 1998. During 27 years of mission work in Tari and Mendi, she served as a teacher and principal at Catholic schools as well as assistant treasurer for the diocese.
In 1999, Sister Susanna returned to the motherhouse, where she serves as the payroll manager for the Franciscan community.
Sister Damien Hinderer ministered as a teacher or principal at Holy Name of Jesus School in Beech Grove, the former Holy Family School in Richmond, Our Lady of Lourdes School in Indianapolis and the former Holy Family School in Oldenburg.
She also taught at Catholic schools in Missouri and Ohio.
Sister Damien also ministered as a nurse’s aide at the motherhouse.
From 1980 to the present, Sister Damien has served as the manager of data processing and computer technology in addition to assisting in the mail room at the motherhouse.
A native of Sunman, Sister Alice Retzner, formerly Sister Francile, ministered at St. Mary School in Greensburg and the former Holy Trinity School in Indianapolis.
She also taught at Catholic schools in the Evansville Diocese, Missouri, Ohio, Montana and New Mexico.
Sister Alice currently serves as a pastoral associate at Queen of All Saints Parish in Beattyville, Ky.
Sister Sandra Schweitzer, formerly Sister Mary de Paul, taught at St. Louis School in Batesville, the former St. Mary Academy in Indianapolis and at Catholic schools in the Evansville Diocese.
She also served as an art instructor at Marian University in Indianapolis from 1974 until 1986.
From 1986 until 1993, Sister Sandra ministered as the director of liturgical art for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, which included helping with the art and environment at SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Indianapolis.
In 1993, she began her current ministry as a freelance artist and liturgical design consultant.
Sister Olga Wittekind ministered as a faculty member in the psychology department at Marian University in Indianapolis from 1972 until 2000.
She was elected to the leadership team for the Oldenburg Franciscans in 2000 and served in that administrative position until 2006.
Sister Olga also has ministered as a counselor and spiritual director at the motherhouse.
She currently serves as a mentor at the Magnificat Discernment House at Marian University in Indianapolis and as the director of the Oldenburg Franciscan Center in Oldenburg. †