12 Sisters of Providence celebrate 70 years of service

Twelve Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods recently celebrated the 70th anniversary of their entrance into the congregation.

They are Sisters Catherine Ellen Joy, Beth Kelso, Mary Michael Lager, Maureen Clare Lehmann, Agnes Pauline Meinert, Dorothy McLaughlin, Edwardine McNulty, Ann Denise Reger, Joseph Miriam Sheehan, Charles Ellen Turk, Mary Isabelle Welsh and Serena Ziolkowski.

A native of Chicago, Providence Sister Catherine Ellen Joy currently ministers as a member of the residential services staff at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

She entered the congregation on Jan. 11, 1936, from Maternity Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Chicago and professed perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1944.

Sister Catherine Ellen graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in education.

In the archdiocese, Sister Catherine Ellen taught at St. Patrick School in Terre Haute from

1952-55, served as a pastoral care assistant at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods from 1986-91 and ministered on the Resource Center staff there from 1991-99.

She also taught at Catholic schools in Evansville, Ind.; Loogootee, Ind.; Jasper, Ind.; and Illinois.

A native of Chicago, Sister Beth Kelso, formerly Sister Thomas Aquinas, currently ministers as a member of the residential services staff at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

She entered the congregation on Feb. 12, 1936, from St. Ignatius Loyola Parish in Chicago and professed perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1944.

Sister Beth graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in English then earned a master’s degree in Latin at Loyola University and a master’s degree in Spanish at Indiana University.

In the archdiocese, Sister Beth served as an instructor and Women’s External Degree (WED) program adviser at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College from 1969-87. She also ministered in community service at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods from 2002-03.

Sister Beth also taught at the former Ladywood High School in Indianapolis from 1956-58 and the former St. Agnes Academy in Indianapolis from 1959-68 as well as at Catholic high schools in Vincennes, Ind., and Fort Wayne, Ind. She also ministered in Illinois, Massachusetts, California and Washington, D.C.

A native of New Orleans, Sister Mary Michael Lager currently ministers in prayer at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

She entered the congregation on July 16, 1936, from St. Boniface Parish in Germantown, Ill., and professed perpetual vows on Jan. 23, 1945.

Sister Mary Michael graduated from Purdue University with a degree in pharmacy.

In the archdiocese, Sister Mary Michael served as a pharmacist, laboratory technician, radiology technician and nurse’s aide at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods from

1953-90.

She also ministered on the Office of Congregational Advancement staff from 1991-97 and residential services staff from 1997-2004 as well as serving as an instructor at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College from 1953-60 and ministering in Illinois.

A native of Chelsea, Mass., Sister Maureen Clare Lehmann currently ministers in prayer at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

She entered the congregation on Feb. 10, 1936, from St. Rose Parish in Chelsea, and professed perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1944.

Sister Maureen Clare graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in Latin then earned a master’s degree in Latin at Marquette University and a master’s degree in theology at Boston College.

In the archdiocese, Sister Maureen Clare served on the general administration staff at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods from 1993-2002.

She taught at Catholic high schools in Fort Wayne, Ind., and Vincennes, Ind., and also ministered in Maryland, Massachusetts, Illinois and Washington, D.C.

A native of Cicero, Ill., Sister Agnes Pauline Meinert currently ministers as a member of the residential services staff at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

She entered the congregation on Feb. 10, 1936, from St. Mel Parish in Chicago and professed perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1944.

Sister Agnes Pauline graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in education then earned a master’s degree in education at St. Louis University.

In the archdiocese, Sister Agnes Pauline served on the Gift Shop staff at the Providence Center at the motherhouse from 1996-2001.

She taught at the former Ladywood School in Indianapolis from 1938-39 and the former Holy Trinity School in New Albany from 1939-42, and served as principal of St. Joan of Arc School in Indianapolis from 1961-67.

Sister Agnes Pauline also taught at Catholic schools in Vincennes, Ind., and Fort Wayne, Ind., and ministered in Massachusetts, Illinois and Washington, D.C.

A native of Butte, Mont., Sister Dorothy McLaughlin, formerly Sister Dorothy Clare, currently ministers in prayer at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

She entered the congregation on Jan. 11, 1936, from St. Andrew Parish in Chicago and professed perpetual vows on Jan. 23, 1944.

Sister Dorothy graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in education then earned a master’s degree in education at Indiana State University.

In the archdiocese, Sister Dorothy taught at the former St. Anthony School in Indianapolis from 1938-43 and ministered at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods as assistant provincial staff secretary from 1988-89, on the Development Office staff from 1989-92, on the Office of Congregational Advancement staff from 1992-95, on the community service staff from 1995-96 and on the residential services staff from 1996-2003.

She also ministered as a teacher or principal at Catholic schools in Whiting, Ind., and Evansville, Ind., as well as in Illinois, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Maryland, Massachusetts and Washington, D.C.

A native of Chicago, Sister Edwardine McNulty currently ministers as a member of the residential services staff at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

She entered the congregation on July 16, 1936, from St. Francis of Rome Parish in Cicero, Ill., and professed perpetual vows on Jan. 23, 1945.

Sister Edwardine graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in English then received a master’s degree in education at Indiana State University.

In the archdiocese, Sister Edwardine ministered as a teacher or principal at Holy Cross School in Indianapolis from 1939-44 and St. Anthony School in Indianapolis from 1950-56 then taught at Our Lady of Providence High School in Clarksville from 1963-64.

At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, she served as director of apostolic works from 1972-76 and on the Development Office staff from 1984-89.

She also taught at Catholic schools in Fort Wayne, Ind., and Linton, Ind., as well as in Illinois and California.

A native of Chicago, Sister Ann Denise Reger currently ministers as a member of the residential services staff at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

She entered the congregation on July 16, 1936, from St. Genevieve Parish in Chicago and professed perpetual vows on Jan. 23, 1945.

Sister Ann Denise graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in education then earned a master’s degree in educational counseling and guidance at Marquette University.

In the archdiocese, Sister Ann Denise taught at the former St. Margaret Mary School in Terre Haute in 1964 and at Immaculate Heart of Mary School in Indianapolis from 1956-57.

At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, she served on the residential services staff from 1998-2002 and was a Wellness Ministry assistant from 2002-04.

Sister Ann Denise also taught at Catholic schools in Washington, Ind.; Loogootee, Ind.; Jasper, Ind.; and Fort Wayne, Ind., as well as in California, Illinois and Washington, D.C.

A native of Brighton, Mass., Sister Joseph Miriam Sheehan currently ministers in prayer at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

She entered the congregation on Aug. 10, 1936, from St. Rose Parish in Chelsea, Mass, and professed perpetual vows on Jan. 23, 1945.

Sister Joseph Miriam graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in education then earned a master’s degree in education at Rivier College.

In the archdiocese, Sister Joseph Miriam taught at St. Joan of Arc School in Indianapolis from 1946-48 and St. Charles Borromeo School in Bloomington from 1948-50.

At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Sister Joseph Miriam served on the Infirmary staff from 1975-76, as an aide from 1976-77, as a convent aide from 1978-80, as a nursing assistant from 1980-82, as local treasurer in the mission stamp department from 1982-83, as local treasurer from 1983-84, on the payroll accounts and plant business office staff from 1984-88, on the mailroom staff from 1988-91 and on the health care services staff from 1988-99.

She also taught at Catholic schools in Lafayette, Ind., and ministered in Maryland, Illinois, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Hampshire and Washington, D.C.

A native of Washington, Ind., Sister Charles Ellen Turk currently ministers as a member of the residential services staff at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

She entered the congregation on Jan. 11, 1936, from St. Mary Parish in Washington and professed perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1944.

Sister Charles Ellen graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in education then earned a master’s degree in mathematics education at Indiana State University.

In the archdiocese, Sister Charles Ellen served as a teacher or principal at the former St. Ann School in Indianapolis from 1950-55 and St. Matthew School in Indianapolis from 1958-61 and 1973-75.

She ministered as guidance director at the former Ladywood-St. Agnes School in Indianapolis from 1975-76, guidance director at Roncalli High School in Indianapolis from 1976-85 and assistant principal at Roncalli High School from 1978-85.

Sister Charles Ellen served as treasurer of the congregation’s St. Gabriel Province from 1985-89, convent administrator and Providence Health assistant at St. Jude Convent in Indianapolis from 1989-92 and on the congregation’s holistic health care staff at the motherhouse from 1992-97. She also ministered in Illinois and Missouri.

A native of Johnstone Renfrewshire, Scotland, Sister Mary Isabelle Welsh currently ministers as a member of the Providence Printery staff and in prayer at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

She entered the congregation on Jan. 11, 1936, from St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Peru, Ind., and professed perpetual vows on Jan. 23, 1944.

Sister Mary Isabelle graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in education then earned a master’s degree in education at Indiana State University.

In the archdiocese, Sister Mary Isabelle taught at the former St. Ann School in Terre Haute from 1951-54, St. Charles Borromeo School in Bloomington in 1951, the former St. James School in Indianapolis from 1960-63, the former Holy Trinity School in New Albany from 1963-66, St. Andrew School in Indianapolis from 1966-68, the former St. Mary School in Indianapolis from 1972-73, and as a substitute teacher and bookstore manager at Our Lady of Providence High School in Clarksville from 1973-79.

She also ministered at the former Catholic Central Retirement Home from 1972-73, served as house mother at the former St. Elizabeth Home in Indianapolis and as a parish visitor at St. Philip Neri Parish in Indianapolis from 1979-81, and was a secretary at Our Lady of Fatima Retreat House in Indianapolis from 1981-87.

At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Sister Mary Isabelle ministered as a switchboard operator at Providence Hall from 1987-89, on the mailroom staff from 1987-91, on the transportation staff from 1989-95, as sacristan and in the phone room at Owens Hall from 1991-95, on the community service staff from 1995-96, and on the residential services staff from 1996-2001.

She also taught at Catholic schools in Whiting, Ind.; Jasper, Ind.; and Vincennes, Ind., and ministered in Illinois, California and Washington, D.C.

A native of Saskatchewan, Canada, Sister Serena Ziolkowski currently ministers as a member of the residential services staff at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

She entered the congregation on July 16, 1936, from St. Mark Parish in Chicago and professed perpetual vows on Jan. 23, 1945.

Sister Serena graduated from Immaculate Heart College with a bachelor’s degree in English history then earned a master’s degree in education at Xavier University.

In the archdiocese, Sister Serena taught at St. Anthony School in Indianapolis from 1940-44, the former St. Margaret Mary School in Terre Haute from 1951-56, St. Paul School in Sellersburg from 1957-63, and St. Joan of Arc School in Indianapolis from 1970-73. She served as a teacher and principal at the former St. Leonard School in West Terre Haute from 1963-65 and the former St. Catherine School in Indianapolis from 1967-70.

At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Sister Serena served as an assistant to the communications coordinator from 1980-81, as switchboard operator at Providence Hall from 1987-88, on the St. Anne Chapel staff from 1988-96, and as a tutor from 1988-93.

She taught and served as principal or curriculum coordinator at Catholic schools in Evansville, Ind.; Gary, Ind.; and Whiting, Ind.; and also ministered in Illinois, California and New Hampshire. †