Sisters of Providence celebrate jubilees of 75 and 70 years of religious life

Members of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods celebrating significant milestones in the congregation in 2025. Click the image above for a larger version.

Criterion staff report

Part one of two
 

In 2025, 21 members of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods celebrated significant milestones in the congregation.

This article will honor the life and ministry of jubilarians who marked 75 and 70 years of religious life.

75-year jubilarians

Sister Eileen Rose Bonner was born in Whiting, Ind., in the Gary Diocese.

She entered the congregation on Jan. 8, 1950, and professed final vows on Aug. 15, 1957.

Sister Eileen Rose earned a bachelor’s degree in education at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and a master’s degree in education at Indiana State University in Terre Haute.

In the archdiocese, she served in Indianapolis at Immaculate Heart of Mary School from 1964-69, St. Luke the Evangelist School from 1973-75 and Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ School from 1975-77.

She has also ministered in the Diocese of Evansville and in Kentucky. She currently ministers in prayer at the motherhouse.
 

Sister Ruth Johnson, formerly Sister Joseph Maurice, was born in Cambridge, Mass. She entered the congregation on Feb. 2, 1950, and professed final vows on Aug. 15, 1957.

Sister Ruth earned a bachelor’s degree in education at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and a master’s degree in education at Duke University in Durham, N.C.

In the archdiocese, she ministered at the motherhouse as a driver from 1986-2007 and in church environment from 1987-2004. Sister Ruth currently serves as a volunteer and a fiber artist at the community’s White Violet Center for Eco-Justice, a ministry she began in 2007.
 

Sister Dorothy Ellen Wolsiffer was born in Indianapolis where she grew up as a member of St. Patrick Parish. She entered the congregation on Feb. 2, 1950, and professed final vows on Aug. 15, 1957.

Sister Dorothy Ellen earned a bachelor’s degree in education at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, a master’s degree in elementary education at Indiana State University in Terre Haute and a master’s degree in liturgy at the University of Saint Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Ill.

In the archdiocese, she served at the former Annunciation School in Brazil from 1956-59 and in Indianapolis at St. Thomas Aquinas School in 1959, at St. Luke the Evangelist School from 1968-72, at the former St. James School from 1972-76, at the former South Central Catholic School from 1976-77, at St. Philip Neri School from 1977-79 and as director of the former Simeon House from 1989-81.

At the motherhouse, Sister Dorothy Ellen ministered in various capacities from 2012-21.

She also served in Illinois, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

Beginning in 2021, she dedicated herself entirely to prayer.

70-year jubilarians

Sister Josephine Bryan, formerly Sister Joseph Anthony, was born in Hollywood, Md. She entered the congregation on July 22, 1955, and professed final vows on Aug. 15, 1963.

Sister Josephine earned a bachelor’s degree in education at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, a bachelor’s degree in nursing at St. Xavier College in Chicago and a master’s degree in nursing at the University of Indianapolis in Indianapolis.

She served in the archdiocese in Indianapolis at the former St. Andrew the Apostle School from 1960-61 and at St. Joan of Arc School from 1961-64. At the motherhouse, she ministered in the community’s infirmary from 1964-65, 1967-69 and 1971-73 and from 1976-84 in health care.

Sister Josephine also ministered in the Lafayette Diocese and in California, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Wisconsin and in Vietnam.

She currently serves as a volunteer visitor at Scripps Mercy Hospital in Chula Vista, Calif.
 

Sister Suzanne Dailey, formerly Sister Suzanne Marie, was born in Lincoln, Neb. She entered the congregation on July 22, 1955, and professed final vows on Aug. 15, 1963.

Sister Suzanne earned a bachelor’s degree in social studies at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, a master’s degree in U.S. history at Indiana University in Bloomington, a master’s degree in education at the University of Southern Illinois in Carbondale, Ill., and a doctorate in U.S. history from St. Louis University in St. Louis.

In the archdiocese, Sister Suzanne ministered at Our Lady of Providence High School in Clarksville from 1964-67 and in faculty and administrative positions at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College from 1971-93. She ministered as her community’s general secretary from 2013-18.

Sister Suzanne has also served in California and Illinois.

Since 2018, she has ministered as the coordinator of the Sisters of Providence Resource Center.
 

Sister Jean Fuqua, formerly Sister Jean Marian, was born in Owensboro, Ky. She entered the congregation on Feb. 2, 1955, and professed final vows on Aug. 15, 1962.

Sister Jean earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, a master’s degree in mathematics at the University of Notre Dame in northern Indiana and a master’s degree in business administration at Indiana University in Bloomington.

In the archdiocese, she served at Our Lady of Providence High School in Clarksville from 1962-67 and in faculty and administrative positions at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College from 1967-85 and 1987-98 and as a volunteer at the Providence Food Pantry in West Terre Haute from 2013-16.

At the motherhouse, Sister Jean has ministered at the White Violet Center for Eco-Justice and as a driver. She currently serves at the motherhouse as a clerical assistant in the clinical care office.
 

Sister Ann Matilda Holloran was born in Indianapolis, where she grew up as a member of St. Anthony Parish. She entered the congregation on Jan. 5, 1955, and professed final vows on Aug. 15, 1962.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in education at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and a master’s degree in elementary education at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind.

In the archdiocese, Sister Ann Matilda ministered in Indianapolis at St. Jude School from 1966-71, at St. Simon the Apostle School from 1971-77 and as a chaplain at Community East Hospital from 1989-2006. She also did chaplaincy ministry in health care at the motherhouse from 2006-23.

Sister Ann Matilda also served in Illinois.

She currently serves as a driver at the motherhouse.
 

Sister Ann Margaret O’Hara was born in Louisville, Ky., and later was a member of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Clarksville. She entered the congregation on July 22, 1955, and professed final vows on Aug. 15, 1963.

Sister Ann Margaret earned a bachelor’s degree in English at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, a master’s degree in business education at Indiana University in Bloomington and a master’s degree in pastoral theology at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.

In the archdiocese, she served at the former Chartrand High School in Indianapolis from 1963-67 and at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College from 1976-77. In her religious community, she has held a variety of administrative positions, including serving as its general superior from 2001-06

Sister Ann Margaret also ministered in Illinois, Ohio and Washington, D.C.

Since 2022, she has ministered in prayer at the motherhouse.
 

Sister Mary Ann Phelan, formerly Sister Marie Marcella, was born in Baltimore. She entered the congregation on July 23, 1955, and professed final vows on Aug. 15, 1963.

Sister Mary Ann earned a bachelor’s degree in social studies at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.

In the archdiocese, she served at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and at the motherhouse in a variety of ministries, including helping to promote the canonization cause of St. Theodora Guérin and as a sign language instructor.

Sister Mary Ann also ministered in Illinois, Massachusetts and Washington, D.C.

She currently serves as a volunteer receptionist at Providence Hall at the motherhouse.
 

Sister Margaret Quinlan, formerly Sister Ann Jude, was born in Troy, N.Y. She entered the congregation on Jan. 23, 1956, and professed final vows on Aug. 15, 1963.

Sister Margaret earned a bachelor’s degree in social studies at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and a master’s degree in English at Indiana University in Bloomington.

In the archdiocese, she served at Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ School in Indianapolis from 1960-62, at Our Lady of Providence High School in Clarksville from 1972-78 and 1979-81, at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College from 1996-2018, in Providence Self-Sufficiency Ministries in West Terre Haute from 1996-2006 and at the motherhouse in residential services from 2018-21.

Sister Margaret also ministered in the Evansville Diocese, in Illinois and in Texas.

Since 2021, she has dedicated herself to prayer at the motherhouse.
 

Sister Alice Ann Rhinesmith was born in Bellefonte, Pa. She entered the congregation on Feb. 2, 1955, and professed final vows on Aug. 15, 1962.

Sister Alice Ann earned a bachelor’s degree in business education at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, a master’s degree in business education and office administration at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind., and a master’s degree in health services administration at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Ill.

In the archdiocese, she served at Our Lady of Providence High School in Clarksville from 1963-67, at the former Schulte High School in Terre Haute from 1967-68, at Roncalli High School in Indianapolis from 1969-71, at the Providence Retirement Home in New Albany from 1978-79, in administration of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College from 1979-86 and in ministry at the U.S. Penitentiary in Terre Haute from 2016-21.

Sister Alice Ann also served in the administration of her religious community from 1969-73 and at the motherhouse in health care from 2016-21.

She also ministered in Illinois.

Since 2021, Sister Alice Ann has dedicated herself entirely to prayer at the motherhouse. †