Sisters of Providence honor
diamond jubilarians

Twelve Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods are celebrating their diamond jubilee representing 60 years of ministry this year.

They were honored during a eucharistic liturgy on Dec. 8 at the Church of the Immaculate Conception at the motherhouse west of Terre Haute.

They are Providence Sisters Rita Black, Mary Eleanor Galvin, Marie Paul Haas, Laurine Haley, Marian Ruth Johnson, Eugene Francis Keaveney, Eileen Ann Kelley, Mary Patricia Peacock, Martha Steidl, Mary Jo Stewart, Marie Ellen Sullivan and Winifred Mary Sullivan.

Eight jubilarians will be featured this week and four sisters will be profiled in the Dec. 16 issue.

Sister Rita Black, a native of Terre Haute, ministers as an outreach nurse at The Connecting Link in West Terre Haute and the St. Ann Clinic in Terre Haute, both Providence Self Sufficiency Ministries.

She entered the congregation on July 22, 1945, from St. Patrick Parish in Terre Haute and professed perpetual vows on Jan. 23, 1953. She 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 Terre Haute. She received nurse’s aide training at Our Lady of Lourdes Infirmary and practical nurse’s training at Indiana Vocational Technical College.

Sister Rita taught at St. Philip Neri School in Indianapolis from 1951-52 and St. Charles Borromeo School in Bloomington from 1953-63. In Terre Haute, she taught at the former St. Benedict School from 1967-70 and served as principal there from 1969-70 then taught at the former St. Margaret Mary School from 1970-75.

At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Sister Rita served on the infirmary staff from 1975-77, was a licensed practical nurse there from 1979-80 and was supervisor of aides there from 1980-84.

She also ministered in Illinois, California, Alabama and Massachusetts.

Sister Mary Eleanor Galvin, a native of Malden, Mass., ministers in prayer at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

She entered the congregation on Feb. 2, 1945, from Sacred Hearts Parish in Malden and professed perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1952. She graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in education then earned a master’s degree in English at St. Michael College and master’s degree in pastoral counseling at Emmanuel College.

Sister Mary Eleanor taught at the former St. Ann School in Terre Haute from 1950-51, the former St. Anne School in New Castle from 1952-55 and the former St. Ann School in Indianapolis from 1958-59.

At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, she served as assistant pastoral care associate from 1988-90, director of pastoral care from 1990-96, assistant administrator from 1990-92 and coordinator of pastoral care from 1996-97.

Sister Mary Eleanor also volunteered in the office of Mother Theodore Guérin’s Cause from 1997-99 and the office of Mother Theodore Guérin’s Religious Articles from 1999-2004.

She also ministered in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maryland.

Sister Marie Paul Haas, a native of Terre Haute, ministers as a teacher at St. Francis Borgia School in Chicago.

She entered the congregation on July 22, 1945, from St. Ann Parish in Terre Haute and professed perpetual vows on Jan. 23, 1953. She graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in music education then earned a master’s degree in music education at Indiana State University.

Sister Marie Paul taught at Holy Cross School in Indianapolis from 1961-63.

She also ministered in California and North Carolina.

Sister Laurine Haley, a native of Melrose, Mass., is a ministry of care volunteer at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

She entered the congregation on July 22, 1945, from Sacred Hearts Parish in Malden, Mass., and professed perpetual vows on Jan. 23, 1953. She graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in education then earned a master’s degree in elementary school counseling at the University of New Hampshire.

At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Sister Laurine served on the health care services staff from 1998-2002 and residential services staff from 2002-05.

She also ministered in Illinois, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Maryland and Washington, D.C.

Sister Marian Ruth Johnson, a native of Fort Wayne, Ind., ministers as a volunteer in the Indianapolis area.

She entered the congregation on Feb. 2, 1945, from Precious Blood Parish in Fort Wayne and professed perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1952. She graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in education then earned a master’s degree in education at Marygrove College.

In Indianapolis, Sister Marian Ruth taught at the former St. Catherine School from 1951-52, served as principal at St. Philip Neri School from 1967-70, taught there from 1984-87 and taught at the former St. Patrick School from 1972-76. She also was principal at the former Middle Central Catholic School from 1976-82, the former St. Francis de Sales School from 1982-83 and the former St. Rita School from 1983-84.

Sister Marian Ruth served as an adult education teacher at the former Martin Center College in Indianapolis from 1990-93, an instructor at Martin University in Indianapolis from 1993-95, and a teacher and General Education Degree instructor at the Walker Career Center in Indianapolis from 1996-2003.

She also ministered in Illinois and California.

Sister Eugene Francis Keaveney, a native of Everett, Mass., ministers in residential services at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

She entered the congregation on Feb. 2, 1945, from St. Rose Parish in Chelsea, Mass., and professed perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1952. She 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.

Sister Eugene Francis taught at St. Paul School in Sellersburg from 1957-59. She served as a receptionist at Providence Retirement Home in New Albany from 1993-94, was a foster parent and adult education teacher at Providence Self Sufficiency Ministries in New Albany from 1994-96, and was an adult basic education and General Education Degree instructor at the Parkview Center in New Albany from 1996-2003 and Providence Place in Georgetown from 2003-05.

She also ministered in Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland and Washington, D.C.

Sister Eileen Ann Kelley, a native of Everett, Mass., ministers as a volunteer in the archives at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

She entered the congregation on July 22, 1945, from Sacred Hearts Parish in Malden, Mass., and professed perpetual vows on Jan. 23, 1953. She graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in education then earned a master’s degree in religious studies from Providence University.

Sister Eileen Ann taught at St. Joan of Arc School in Indianapolis from 1951-52 and Immaculate Heart of Mary School in Indianapolis from 1953-56. She served as a teacher and principal at St. Mary School in Richmond from 1956-57 and St. Patrick School in Terre Haute from 1967-70.

At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, she served as general secretary of the Sisters of Providence from 1976-86 then as archivist from 1991-2005.

She also ministered in Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland and Washington, D.C.

Sister Mary Patricia Peacock, a native of Chicago, ministers in outreach services in West Terre Haute and Terre Haute.

The former Sister Alice Elizabeth Peacock entered the congregation on Feb. 2, 1945, from St. Robert Bellarmine Parish in Chicago and professed perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1952. She graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in education then earned a master’s degree in education at Marygrove College and master’s degree in pastoral theology at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

Sister Mary Patricia taught at St. Philip Neri School in Indianapolis from 1947-51 and St. Joan of Arc School in Indianapolis from 1951-52.

She also ministered in Illinois.

(Next week, Providence Sisters Martha Steidl, Mary Jo Stewart, Marie Ellen Sullivan and Winifred Mary Sullivan will be featured.) †