Sisters of Providence celebrate jubilees of 60, 50 and 25 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 two 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 60, 50 and 25 years of religious life.
60-year jubilarians
Sister Claire Hanson, formerly Sister Brigid Eileen, was born in Chelsea, Mass. She entered the congregation on Sept. 12, 1965, and professed final vows on Sept. 30, 1973.
Sister Claire earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education at Indiana State University in Terre Haute and a master’s degree in elementary education/early childhood at Lesley University in Cambridge, Mass.
In the archdiocese, she currently serves as a volunteer at the Providence Food Pantry in West Terre Haute, a ministry she began in 2023. Sister Claire has also ministered at the motherhouse since 2017 in health care, as a driver and as a receptionist.
She also served in Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Washington, D.C.
Sister Kathleen Leonard, formerly Sister Dennis Therese, was born in Chelsea, Mass. She entered the congregation on Sept. 12, 1965, and professed final vows on Nov. 23, 1973.
Sister Kathleen earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and a licentiate in clinical psychology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.
In the archdiocese, she served in Indianapolis at the former St. Andrew the Apostle School in 1969 and at St. Joan of Arc School from 1983-86.
Sister Kathleen has also ministered in Maryland, Massachusetts and Washington, D.C.
She currently serves at the motherhouse in residential services, mail distribution and as a sacristan.
Sister Betty Paul, formerly Sister Paulette, was born in Evansville, Ind. She entered the congregation on Sept. 12, 1965, and professed final vows on April 10, 1976.
Sister Betty earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, and a master’s degree in pastoral ministry at Seattle University in Seattle.
In the archdiocese, she served at Roncalli High School in Indianapolis from 1970-73 and at the former Schulte High School in Terre Haute from 1973-76.
Sister Betty also ministered in Connecticut, Massachusetts, North Carolina and Oklahoma.
She currently serves in Greensboro, N.C., as the northern regional coordinator for the Office of Faith Formation of the Diocese of Charlotte, N.C.
Sister Martha Rojo, formerly Sister Maria Cruz, was born in Van Nuys, Calif. She entered the congregation on Sept. 12,
1965, and professed final vows on Dec. 12, 1976.
Sister Martha earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and a master’s degree in religious studies in Hispanic ministries at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio.
She has ministered in California and Texas and currently serves in parish and assisted living ministry in California.
Sister Mary Ann Stewart, formerly Sister Marie Faith, was born in Terre Haute, where she grew up as a member of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish. She entered the congregation on Sept. 12, 1965, and professed final vows on Aug. 15, 1978.
Sister Mary Ann earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary 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 previously served in Indianapolis at St. Philip Neri School from 1970-74 and at the former Middle Central Catholic School from 1974-80.
Since 1980, Sister Mary Ann has ministered at Cathedral High School in Indianapolis.
50-year jubilarians
Sister Mary Ann DeFazio was born in Pittsburgh. She entered the congregation on Aug. 23, 1975, and professed final vows on Oct. 14, 1984.
Sister Mary Ann earned a bachelor’s degree in humanities theology at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.
She ministered in Illinois and New Hampshire before beginning service as a pastoral associate at St. Christopher Parish in Indianapolis in 2009, where she continues in ministry.
Sister Jeanette Hagelskamp was born in Indianapolis, where she grew up as a member of St. Matthew the Apostle Parish. She entered the congregation on Aug. 23, 1975, and professed final vows on Aug. 19, 1984.
Sister Jeanette earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, a master’s degree in mathematics and physics at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind., a certificate of advanced study in educational leadership and administrative supervision from the National College of Education and a doctorate in education at the University of San Francisco in San Francisco.
In the archdiocese, she served at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College from 1979-82 and at Marian University in Indianapolis from 2013-21. Sister Jeanette was also instrumental in founding Providence Cristo Rey High School in Indianapolis, serving there in various capacities from 2005-13.
At the motherhouse, Sister Jeanette ministered in administration as a general councilor from 2016-21.
She also served in California and Illinois.
Sister Jeanette currently ministers in administration at the motherhouse as vicar and general treasurer.
Sister Lisa Stallings was born in Evansville, Ind. She entered the congregation on Aug. 23, 1975, and professed final vows on Aug. 25, 1984.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in English at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, a master’s degree in English at Indiana University in Bloomington, a master’s degree in Church music from the former St. Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Ind., and a master’s degree in theology at Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology in St. Meinrad.
In the archdiocese, Sister Lisa served at Our Lady of Providence High School in Clarksville from 1977-80.
At the motherhouse, she has ministered in various positions of administrative and liturgical leadership.
Sister Lisa also served in Illinois and Kentucky.
She currently ministers as the coordinator of liturgy at the motherhouse.
Sister Dawn Tomaszewski was born in Chicago, She entered the congregation on Aug. 23, 1975, and professed final vows on Aug. 19, 1984.
Sister Dawn earned a bachelor’s degree in communications at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, a master’s degree in journalism at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C., and a master’s degree in theology at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.
In the archdiocese, Sister Dawn served at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College from 1984-87 and in various administrative positions at the motherhouse from 1984-96 and from 2011-present.
She also ministered in Illinois and North Carolina.
Sister Dawn has served as general superior of the Sisters of Providence since 2016.
25-year jubilarian
Sister Janice Smith was born in Baltimore. She entered the congregation on Sept. 14, 2000, and professed final vows on June 28, 2008.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in Greek and Latin at the University of Maryland in College Park, Md., a master’s degree in Greek and Latin at the Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, and a master’s degree in theological studies at the Franciscan School of Theology in Berkeley, Calif.
In the archdiocese, Sister Janice served at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College from 2013-15 and at the motherhouse as director of novices from 2012-21.
She also ministered in California, Illinois and Taiwan.
Sister Janice currently serves as a spiritual guide at the Federal Penitentiary in Terre Haute.
(For more information about the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, visit www.spsmw.org.) †
