August 10, 2012

16 Oldenburg Franciscan sisters celebrate jubilees

Criterion staff report

Sixteen Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis of Oldenburg are celebrating jubilees this year.

Sister Dorothy Steckler is marking her 80th year with the community, and Sister Adele Zahn is celebrating 75 years.

Six sisters are celebrating their 60th anniversary as Franciscans, and eight sisters are marking a half century with the women’s religious order.

Sixty-year jubilarians are Sisters Mary Laurel Hautman, Doris Holohan, Mary Paul Larson, Myra Peine, Janice Scheidler and Marietta Sharkey.

Fifty-year jubilarians are Sisters Patricia Bietsch, Marya Grathwohl, Diane Jamison, Marlene Kochert, Margaret Maher, Carol Ann Mause, Daria Mitchell and Barbara Riemensperger.

Sister Dorothy Steckler, formerly Sister Bernarda, is a native of Nesbit, Ind.

In the archdiocese, she taught at St. Gabriel School in Connersville, St. Joseph School in Shelbyville, St. Mary School in Lanesville and Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in New Albany.

Sister Dorothy also ministered at St. Lawrence School, St. Mark the Evangelist School and St. Michael the Archangel School, all in Indianapolis.

She also taught at Catholic schools in Ohio, Kentucky and Missouri.

In later years, Sister Dorothy served in parish ministry.

She resides at St. Clare Hall, the health care facility at the motherhouse.

Sister Adele Zahn, formerly Sister Mary Karen, earned a masters degree and doctorate in French at Fordham University in New York.

She ministered at Marian University, the former Marian College, for 55 years as a humanities, French and honors professor, dean of students in Clare Hall, dean of the college, organizer of the honors program and professor emeritus.

In 2009, Sister Adele retired to the motherhouse. She resides at St. Clare Hall.

Sister Mary Laurel Hautman, formerly Sister Louan, taught in the archdiocese at Holy Family School in Richmond as well as at Catholic schools in Ohio and Illinois.

From 1996 until 2002, Sister Mary Laurel ministered as co-director of communications and public relations for the congregation.

She is retired and resides in Batesville.

Sister Doris Holohan taught in the archdiocese at St. Mary School in New Albany, St. Mary School in Aurora and St. Louis School in Batesville as well as at Catholic schools in Cincinnati.

From 1966 until 2011, Sister Doris served at the Oldenburg Franciscans’ mission in Papua New Guinea.

During 45 years of ministry there, she served as a teacher for primary and intermediate students, co-coordinator of in-service courses, religious educator, regional coordinator and adviser for the Franciscan Sisters of Mary.

In 2011, Sister Doris retired and returned to the motherhouse. She resides at St. Clare Hall.

Sister Mary Paul Larson, a native of Vincennes, Ind., taught in the archdiocese at the former Holy Family School in Oldenburg, the former St. Joseph School in St. Leon and Holy Family School in Richmond.

She also taught at St. Michael the Archangel School, the former Holy Trinity School, Our Lady of Lourdes School and Marian University, all in Indianapolis.

She also taught at Catholic schools in Ohio, Michigan and Montana.

Sister Mary Paul is retired and resides at the motherhouse.

Sister Myra Peine, a native of Brookville, taught in the archdiocese at the former St. Rita School in Indianapolis.

She also taught and served as principal at a Catholic school in Missouri.

From 1983 until 2009, Sister Myra ministered at the motherhouse in the occupational therapy department and later as activity coordinator and a member of the coordinating team.

She resides at the motherhouse and assists with ministries.

Sister Janice Scheidler, a native of Millhousen, Ind., taught in the archdiocese at Our Lady of Lourdes School in Indianapolis and St. Joseph School in Shelbyville.

She also taught at Catholic schools in Ohio and Missouri.

After serving as assistant treasurer at the motherhouse, Sister Janice ministered as assistant treasurer at Marian University in Indianapolis from 1985 until 1998.

She resides at Marian University and serves as the mailroom manager.

Sister Marietta Sharkey, a native of Indianapolis, taught in the archdiocese at Holy Family School in Richmond and St. Monica School in Indianapolis.

She also taught at Catholic schools in the Evansville Diocese and in Cincinnati, where she also ministered as director of religious education.

She resides at the motherhouse and assists with ministries.

Sister Patricia Bietsch, formerly Sister Mary Martha, taught in the archdiocese at St. Christopher School in Indianapolis, St. Lawrence School in Indianapolis, Holy Family School in Oldenburg and Oldenburg Academy of the Immaculate Conception.

She also taught at Catholic schools in the Evansville Diocese, and in Illinois, Missouri, Montana, Ohio and New Mexico.

She resides in Tohatchi, N.M., where she serves in Native American ministry.

Sister Marya Grathwohl taught at Catholic schools in the Evansville Diocese, and in Missouri and Montana.

In 1986, she was elected to a six-year term as a member of the congregation’s leadership team.

In later years, Sister Marya ministered as an intern in global studies in New York and at the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco.

From 1998 until 2006, she ministered as Earth Hope director and environment consultant at the Prayer Lodge in Busby, Mont.

Also an author, Sister Marya resides in Dayton, Wyo., where she serves as Earth Hope director and an educator at San Benito Monastery.

Sister Diane Jamison, formerly Sister Gabrielle, taught in the archdiocese at Holy Name School in Beech Grove and Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in New Albany.

She also taught at Catholic schools in Michigan and Ohio.

In later years, Sister Diane served in retreat ministry and spiritual direction.

From 1989 until 1993, she ministered as coordinator of spiritual development at Our Lady of Fatima Retreat House in Indianapolis.

Sister Diane also served in pastoral ministry in the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend and in Minnesota.

She resides at the motherhouse and ministers as director of formation and ongoing formation.

Sister Marlene Kochert, formerly Sister Alicia, is a native of Lanesville.

She taught in the archdiocese at the former St. Bernadette School in Indianapolis, Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in New Albany and St. Louis School in Batesville.

Sister Marlene also ministered as director of religious education at St. Gabriel Parish in Connersville as well as in Cincinnati and New Mexico.

She resides in Tohatchi, N.M., where she serves as parish minister at St. Mary Mission.

Sister Margaret Maher, formerly Sister Catherine Siena, taught in the archdiocese at St. Christopher School in Indianapolis.

She also taught at Catholic schools in Ohio.

In 1986, Sister Margaret was elected to a six-year term as a member of the congregation’s leadership team.

She resides at the motherhouse, where she completed her leadership term in July.

Sister Carol Ann Mause, formerly Sister Rosarita, served as a teacher, principal and pastoral minister.

In the archdiocese, she ministered as principal of Oldenburg Academy of the Immaculate Conception.

Sister Carol Ann also served in the Evansville Diocese, and in Cincinnati and Missouri.

She resides in Ripley, Ohio, where she ministers as a Catholic school principal.

Sister Daria Mitchell, formerly Sister Alisa, taught in the archdiocese at St. Joseph School in Shelbyville.

She also ministered as a teacher and principal at Catholic schools in Cincinnati.

She resides in St. Bonaventure, N.Y., where she serves as managing editor of Franciscan Institute Publications at the Franciscan Institute of St. Bonaventure University.

Sister Barbara Riemensperger, formerly Sister Cabrini, taught in the archdiocese at St. Louis School in Batesville and St. Lawrence School in Lawrenceburg.

She also taught at Catholic schools in Ohio.

In later years, Sister Barbara earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing at Miami University in Hamilton, Ohio.

Her next ministry assignment was as clinical nurse coordinator of the motherhouse infirmary at St. Francis Hall.

Sister Barbara also served as a member of the motherhouse coordinating team from 1984 until 2009.

She resides at the motherhouse, where she serves the sisters with memory loss at St. Clare Hall. †

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