Oldenburg Franciscan sisters celebrate anniversaries in religious life

Criterion staff report

The Sisters of St. Francis in Oldenburg celebrated significant anniversaries of time in religious life in 2024 of 13 of its members.

The anniversaries are marked by the year in which the sisters entered religious life with the Franciscans. Some who entered in February are considered members of the class of those who entered the community the previous fall.
 

75-year jubilarian

Sister Mary Kuhl (formerly Sister Mary Anthony) is a native of Cincinnati. She entered the community

on Sept. 11, 1949, and professed final vows on Aug. 12, 1955. She earned a bachelor’s degree at Marian University in Indianapolis and a master’s degree at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind.

In the archdiocese, she served in Indianapolis at Our Lady of Lourdes School from 1951-58 and at St. Lawrence School from 1964-68, at St. Mary School in Greensburg from 1959-60, at Holy Family School in Richmond (now Seton Catholic School) from 1968-69, at the former Holy Family School in Oldenburg from 1969-71 and at the former St. Mary School in Aurora from 1971-72.

Sister Mary also ministered at schools in Ohio. She retired to the motherhouse in 2009.
 

70-year jubilarians

Sister Kate Holohan (formerly Sister Annata) is a native of Streator, Ill. She entered the community on Sept. 6, 1954, and professed final vows on Aug. 12, 1960. She earned a bachelor’s degree at Marian University and received an honorary doctorate from the East Asian Pastoral Institute in Manilla in the Philippines.

In the archdiocese, Sister Kate served at the motherhouse in its infirmary from 1955-60 and as congregational minister from 1982-94. She was one of the first Oldenburg Franciscans to serve in Papua New Guinea as a missionary, ministering there from 1960-82.

Sister Kate also served in parishes in West Virginia and retired to the motherhouse in 2009.

Sister André Burkhart is a native of Brookville. She entered the community on Sept. 8, 1954, and professed final vows on Aug. 12, 1960. She earned a bachelor’s degree at Marian University and a master’s degree at Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee.

In the archdiocese, Sister André served at the former St. Bernadette School in Indianapolis from 1956-57, at the former St. Mary School in New Albany from 1962-63, at St. Andrew School in Richmond (now Seton Catholic School) from 1963-64 and at St. Michael Parish in Brookville from 2006-07.

She also ministered in schools and parishes in Arizona and Ohio and as a missionary in Kenya.

Sister André retired to the motherhouse in 2011 and now coordinates the Adopt-a-Sis program at the Oldenburg Academy of the Immaculate Conception in Oldenburg.

Sister Cleopha Werner is a native of Oldenburg, where she grew up in Holy Family Parish. She joined the community on Feb. 2, 1955, and professed final vows on Aug. 12, 1960. She earned a bachelor’s degree at Marian University.

In the archdiocese, Sister Cleopha served at St. Mary School in North Vernon from 1956-58, at St. Mary School in Greensburg from 1958-60, as a nanny in Columbus from 1997-2004 and in Indianapolis at St. Mark the Evangelist Parish from 1976-79 and St. Pius X Parish from 1980-81.

Sister Cleopha served in Indianapolis on the domestic staff at the archbishop’s home from 1964-70 and at the former Ritter Faculty House from 1973-76.

She also ministered in the Diocese of Evansville, Ind., in Ohio and in West Virginia.

At the motherhouse, she served as a cook from 1970-73 and retired there in 2005.

Sister Amy Kistner is a native of Cincinnati. She entered the community on Feb. 2, 1955, and professed final vows on Aug. 12, 1960. She earned a bachelor’s degree at Marian University and a master’s degree at Xavier University in Cincinnati.

In the archdiocese, Sister Amy served at St. Louis School in Batesville from 1956-60 and St. Monica School in Indianapolis from 1963-67. At the motherhouse, she ministered as novice director from 1978-84 and as congregational minister from 1994-2000.

She also served in schools and parishes in Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri and Ohio.

Sister Amy retired to the motherhouse in 2014 and currently serves as co-director of the community’s Little Portion missionary fund program.

Sister Mary Fliehman (formerly Sister Lauren) is a native of Cincinnati. She entered the community on Feb. 2, 1955, and professed final vows on Aug. 12, 1960. She earned a bachelor’s degree at Marian University and a master’s degree at Xavier University.

In the archdiocese, Sister Mary served at the former Holy Trinity School in Indianapolis from 1956-57, Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in New Albany from 1957-58 and at Holy Family School in Richmond (now Seton Catholic School) from 1958-64 and 1968-72.

At the motherhouse, she served as an assistant treasurer from 1988-91, in pastoral care from 1991-2006 and as driver from 2007-20.

Sister Mary also ministered in schools, parishes and hospitals in Ohio.

She retired at the motherhouse in 2020.
 

60-year jubilarians

Sister Miriam Kaeser (formerly Sister Mary Willard) is a native of Cincinnati. She entered the community on Sept. 8, 1964, and professed final vows on Aug. 12, 1972. Sister Miriam earned a bachelor’s degree at Marian University, a master’s degree at Ball State University and a doctorate at the University of San Diego in San Diego, Calif.

In the archdiocese, she served as president of the Oldenburg Academy from 1987-1990 and on the faculty of Marian University from 2012-14.

Sister Miriam also ministered in schools, diocesan leadership and health care in California, Kentucky, Missouri and Ohio. Since 2021, she has served in pastoral ministry among the Navajo people in New Mexico.

Sister Alacoque Burger is a native of Indianapolis, where she grew up as a member of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish. She entered the community on Sept. 8, 1964, and professed final vows on Aug. 12, 1972. Sister Alacoque earned a bachelor’s degree at Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati.

In the archdiocese, she served at the motherhouse in its infirmary from 1970-72 and from 1973-83, on the formation team from 1998-2000 and on the leadership team from 2000-06.

Sister Alacoque also ministered in parishes and in charity agencies in the Diocese of Gary, Ind., and in Illinois, Michigan and Ohio. While living in retirement at the motherhouse since 2022, she has continued to serve as a volunteer chaplain at Margaret Mary Hospital in Batesville.

Sister Donna Graham (formerly Sister Irene Mary) is a native of Cincinnati. She entered the community on Sept. 8, 1964, and professed final vows on Aug. 12, 1972. Sister Donna earned a bachelor’s degree at Marian University and master’s degrees at the University of Notre Dame in northern Indiana and the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Ky.

In the archdiocese, she served in Indianapolis at St. Michael the Archangel School (now St. Michael-St. Gabriel Archangels School) from 1966-67, at St. Monica School from 1968-71 and the former Holy Trinity School from 1972-73. Sister Donna ministered as a therapist at Reid Memorial Hospital in Richmond from 1988-90 and at Community Mental Health Services in Batesville from 1998-2000. At the motherhouse, she served as interim director of Michaela Farm from 1997-99.

Sister Donna also ministered in Ohio at schools, at a hospital in campus ministry and in the provincial office of the Order of Friars Minor.

She currently lives in retirement at the motherhouse.

Sister Bridget Arnold is a native of Evansville, Ind. She entered the community on Feb. 2, 1965, and professed final vows on Aug. 12, 1972. Sister Bridget earned a bachelor’s degree at Marian University and a master’s degree at Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa.

In the archdiocese, she served at St. Michael School in Brookville from 1967-68. Sister Bridget also ministered in schools in the Evansville Diocese, Missouri and Ohio.

She continues to serve at St. Joseph School in Evansville, where she has ministered since 1987.

Sister Noella Poinsette is a native of Indianapolis where she was baptized at St. Anthony Parish and was a student at St. Michael the Archangel School (now St. Michael-St. Gabriel Archangels School).

She entered the community on Feb. 2, 1965, and professed final vows on Sept. 12, 1972. Sister Noella earned a bachelor’s degree at Marian University and master’s degrees at Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C., and at Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights, Ky.

In the archdiocese, she served at the former Holy Trinity School in Indianapolis from 1968-69, at the Oldenburg Academy from 1972-79 and 1986-88, and at the motherhouse from 1985-86.

Sister Noella has also ministered in schools, parishes, at a university and in social justice and campus music ministry in Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, New York, Ohio and South Dakota.

Since 2019, she has served as director of justice and peace at the motherhouse.

Sister Maggie Rahe (formerly Sister M. Richard) is a native of Batesville, where she grew up as a member of St. Louis Parish.

She entered the community on Feb. 2, 1965, and professed final vows on Aug. 12, 1972. Sister Maggie earned a bachelor’s degree at Marian University and a master’s degree at the University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio.

In the archdiocese, she served at St. Andrew School in Richmond (now Seton Catholic School) from 1967-68.

Sister Maggie has also ministered in schools, in health care and in elder care in Illinois and Ohio. She currently serves on the leadership team at the motherhouse.

Sister Julann Butz is a native of Cincinnati. She entered the community on Feb. 2, 1965, and professed final vows on Sept. 12, 1972. Sister Julann earned a bachelor’s degree at Marian University and a master’s degree at the University of Notre Dame.

In the archdiocese, she served in Indianapolis at St. Mark the Evangelist School from 1966-67 and at Cardinal Ritter Jr./Sr. High School from 1969-2001.

Sister Julann currently ministers in human resources at the motherhouse, a ministry which she began in 2001. †