Oldenburg Franciscan sisters celebrate their jubilees

Criterion staff report

The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis in Oldenburg honored 21 jubilarians of 50 or more years during a July 25 celebration at the community’s motherhouse in Oldenburg.

75-year jubilarians

Sister Noreen McLaughlin is a native of New Albany. In the archdiocese, she served as a teacher in Indianapolis at the former St. Francis de Sales and Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary schools, and in New Albany in family ministry and interfaith efforts.

She also served as a teacher in the Diocese of Evansville, Ind.; in Papua New Guinea as an elementary teacher and principal, a pastoral minister and a formation minister for the Franciscan Sisters of Mary; and pastoral ministry in Kentucky.

She is now retired in St. Clare Health Facility.
 

Sister Marie Camille Schmaltz served as a teacher in the archdiocese at St. Louis School in Batesville, and the former Holy Trinity School and St. Therese of the Infant Jesus (Little Flower) School in Indianapolis and at St. Mary School in North Vernon.

She also taught in Catholic schools in Missouri and Ohio and served in teleministry in Ohio.

Since 2009, she has resided at the motherhouse where she has worked in the spirituality library and the media room.
 

Sister Teresa (formerly Sister Bertha Rose) Trick, formerly Sister Bertha Rose, served as a teacher in the archdiocese at

St. Michael School in Brookville, St. Michael the Archangel and St. Christopher schools in Indianapolis, at the former Catholic Central School in New Albany and at Holy Family School (now St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School) in Richmond.

She also served in Catholic schools in the Diocese of Evansville, Ind., and Ohio.

Sister Teresa has also ministered as a receptionist, library assistant and parish volunteer.

Since 2001, she has lived at the motherhouse and worked in the media center and in various other ministries.

70-year jubilarians

Sister Ruthann (formerly Sister Brendan) Boyle is a native of Indianapolis. She served as a teacher in the archdiocese in Indianapolis at the former Holy Trinity School in Indianapolis.

She also served in Montana, Ohio and in Paupua New Guinea.

At the motherhouse, Sister Ruthann served in leadership and in formation for the Franciscan Sisters of Mary.

Since 2002, Sister Ruthann has been coordinator of the motherhouse sewing room.
 

Sister Ruth Mary (formerly Sister Lydia) Forthofer is a native of Batesville. She served in the archdiocese as a teacher at St. Michael the Archangel and the former St. Francis de Sales schools, both in Indianapolis; as principal at Holy Name of Jesus School in Beech Grove; and as receptionist at the Office of Catholic Education (now the Office of Catholic Schools) at the Archbishop Edward T. O’Meara Catholic Center in Indianapolis.

Sister Ruth Mary served at Marian University in Indianapolis as assistant director of admissions and director of student activities.

At the motherhouse in Oldenburg, she served in ministry to retired Sisters and in the advancement office at Oldenburg Academy.

Sister Ruth Mary also ministered in Illinois, Missouri and Ohio.

Since 1995, she has been involved as a volunteer at the motherhouse.
 

Sister Barbara (formerly Sister Concetta) Hileman served in the archdiocese as a teacher and/or principal at St. Mary in Aurora, St. Louis School in Batesville and at the former

St. Bernadette School in Indianapolis; and in various roles at St. Gabriel Parish in Connersville, St. Christopher Parish in Indianapolis, and the former St. Joseph Parish in St. Leon (now a campus of All Saints Parish in Dearborn County).

She also served in Catholic schools and hospitals in Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, New Mexico and Ohio.

Since 2014, she has resided at the motherhouse where she works in the reading room.
 

Sister Marilynn (formerly Sister Maryl) Hofer served in the archdiocese as a teacher at Holy Name of Jesus School in Beech Grove and at St. Michael School in Brookville, and at St. Joseph Parish in St. Leon as director of religious education and pastoral associate.

She served at Marian University on the faculty of the education department as assistant director of alumni.

Sister Marilynn also taught at Catholic schools in the Diocese of Evansville, Ind., and in Ohio.

In 2011, Sister Marilynn moved to the motherhouse where she continues to serve as health insurance coordinator.
 

Sister Edna (formerly Sister Vera) Martini served as a teacher in the archdiocese at the former Holy Trinity School, the former Holy Rosary School and St. Michael the Archangel School, all in Indianapolis.

She has also taught at Catholic schools in Missouri and Ohio and worked as a preschool director and teacher.

In 2015, Sister Edna moved to the motherhouse to do volunteer ministry. She now resides in St. Clare Health Facility.
 

Sister Rose Marie McCann is a native of Dover. She served as a teacher in the archdiocese at the former Holy Trinity,

St. Bernadette, St. Rita schools and St. Monica School, all in Indianapolis; at St. Lawrence School in Lawrenceburg; at St. Andrew School (now St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School) in Richmond; and at St. Joseph School in Shelbyville.

She also taught in Catholic schools in Ohio.

She also served in Indianapolis in private home care and as a cook.

Sister Rose Marie retired to the Motherhouse in 2011, where she now resides in St. Clare Health Facility.
 

Sister Dolores (formerly Sister Joseph Mary) Meyer served in the archdiocese as a teacher at St. Michael School in Brookville; the former Sacred Heart School in Clinton; Little Flower, St. Mark the Evangelist and the former St. Mary schools, all in Indianapolis; and the former Catholic Central School in New Albany.

She also served in Catholic schools in Montana and Missouri and as a pastoral minister in the Diocese of Evansville, Ind., and in Missouri.

In 2010, sister Dolores retired to Oldenburg, where she now resides in St. Clare Health Facility.
 

Sister Francesca Thompson was born in California, but grew up in Indianapolis. In the archdiocese, she served as a teacher at the Oldenburg Academy of the Immaculate Conception in Oldenburg and as associate professor of theater at Marian University in Indianapolis.

Sister Francesca also served in New York and Ohio.

Since 2005, she has been at the motherhouse, where she now resides in St. Clare Health Facility.
 

Sister Mary Louise Werner is a native of Brookville. She served in the archdiocese as a teacher at the former St. Michael School in Charlestown, the former St. Gabriel School in Indianapolis and the former St. Joseph School in St. Leon, and in food services food services in Indianapolis.

She also served in food service at the motherhouse, as well as done family ministry, worked in the craft room, sewing room and the gardens there.

Sister Mary Louise is now a resident of St. Clare Health Facility.
 

Sister Carmela Whitton served in the archdiocese as a teacher at the former St. Bernadette School and St. Lawrence School in Indianapolis and the former Sacred Heart School in Clinton, and as a principal at St. Mark the Evangelist School in Indianapolis.

She also served in Michigan and Ohio.

Sister Carmela has also served the Oldenburg Franciscan community as a member of the leadership council.

She now resides in St. Clare Health Facility.

60-year jubilarians

Sister Christine (formerly Mary Austin) Ernstes is a native of Greensburg. She served in the archdiocese as a teacher at the former Holy Trinity School in Indianapolis; as director of religious education at St. Gabriel Parish in Connersville; as pastoral associate at St. Philip Neri Parish in Indianapolis; as pastoral associate/director of religious education at St. Mary Parish in Aurora; and as parish life coordinator at Immaculate Conception Parish in Milhousen and the former St. Denis Parish in Jennings County. She served at Marian University in Indianapolis as secretary and assistant to the treasurer.

Sister Christine also served at Catholic schools in Michigan, Missouri, Montana and Ohio.

In 2016, Sister Christine retired to the motherhouse, where she does volunteer ministry.
 

Sister Shirley (formerly Sister Brenda) Gerth is a native of North Vernon. She has served in the archdiocese as a teacher at St. Louis School in Batesville and the former St. Rita School in Indianapolis; as a pastoral associate at St. Mary Parish in North Vernon, St. Mary Parish in Greensburg, the former St. John the Evangelist Parish in Enochsburg and the former St. Anne Parish in Hamburg; parish life coordinator at the former St. John Parish in Enochsburg, the former St. Anne Parish in Hamburg, St. Anne Parish in New Castle and the former St. Rose Parish in Knightstown.

She also served as a teacher at Catholic schools in the Diocese of Evansville, Ind., and Missouri.

Sister Shirley currently serves as parish life coordinator at St. Maurice Parish in Napoleon.
 

Sister Barbara (formerly Sister Kieran) James is a native of Indianapolis. She served in the archdiocese as a teacher at St. Andrew School (now St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School) in Richmond; St. Mary School in Rushville, St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception School in Aurora, and our Lady of Perpetual Help School in New Albany, and as religious education and/or in pastoral ministry at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Indianapolis, St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Clarksville and St. Mary Parish in Lanesville.

She also served in parishes and schools in the dioceses of Evansville, Ind., and Lafayette, Ind., and in Arizona, Montana and Ohio.

Sister Barbara is now a resident of St. Clare Health Facility.
 

Sister Ellen (formerly Sister Natalie) Michl is a native of Indianapolis. She served as a teacher in the archdiocese and taught at St. Mary School in North Vernon and St. Lawrence School in Indianapolis.

Sister also taught at Catholic schools in the Diocese of Evansville, Ind., and Ohio.

She currently works as a chemist in Indianapolis.
 

Sister Ellen (formerly Sister Rosamund) Miller is a native of Indianapolis. She served in the archdiocese as a teacher at the former Holy Family School in Oldenburg, and at St. Michael the Archangel, the former St. Gabriel and the former St. Rita schools in Indianapolis; in archdiocesan youth ministry, the Catholic Youth Organization and leadership training; and as a pastoral associate at St. Mary Parish in Greensburg and St. Andrew the Apostle Parish in Indianapolis.

Sister Ellen has also served in the Diocese of Evansville, Ind., and in Illinois, Missouri, Ohio and Tennessee. She currently works in domestic abuse prevention and treatment in Illinois.
 

Sister Joan (formerly Sister Josita) Miller taught at Our Lady of Lourdes School in the archdiocese.

She also served in the Diocese of Evansville, Ind.

Sister Joan she served as vocation director for her religious community and currently is parish life coordinator at St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Shelby County.
 

Sister Laure Poeling has served in the archdiocese as a teacher at St. Andrew School (now St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School) in Richmond and St. Christopher School in Indianapolis, and as a registered nurse at Franciscan Health Hospital in Indianapolis.

She also served in Missouri and Ohio.

At the motherhouse, Sister Laure has served as a massage therapist and is currently involved in volunteer ministry there.
 

Sister Judith (formerly Sister Bonaventure) Werner is a native of Batesville. She served in the archdiocese as a teacher at St. Vincent de Paul School in Bedford, and as a GED instructor in Batesville.

She also served in Catholic schools in Ohio.

Sister Judith has ministered in communications/public relations and in development for her religious community.

She is now a resident of St. Clare Health Facility .†