Providence sisters celebrate
jubilees of profession

Nineteen Sisters of Providence at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods are celebrating jubilees of religious profession in December, including one sister who is observing her 80th anniversary as a member of the congregation.

Sister Gertrude Eileen Getrey, the 80-year jubilarian, is the oldest of the sisters who were honored during the congregation’s Senior Jubilee Celebration on Dec. 8 at the Church of the Immaculate Conception at the motherhouse at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

A native of Jasonville, Ind., Sister Gertrude Eileen ministers in prayer at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

She entered the congregation on June 5, 1925, from St. Joan of Arc Parish in Jasonville and professed perpetual vows on Dec. 8, 1932. She graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in education.

Sister Gertrude Eileen taught at St. Patrick School in Terre Haute from 1939-42 and 1971-78 then served as a tutor at the Gibault School in Terre Haute from 1978-84. In Indianapolis, she taught at St. Thomas Aquinas School from 1951-53 and Holy Cross School from 1953-54.

At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Sister Gertrude Eileen ministered as a tutor from 1984-85 and served on the Health Care Services staff from 1984-92.

She also ministered elsewhere in Indiana as well as in Illinois and Massa-chusetts.

Sisters Ellen Catherine Conroy and Mary Charles Spalding are celebrating their 75th anniversary this year.

A native of Chicago, Sister Ellen Catherine Conroy ministers in prayer at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

She entered the congregation on Feb. 11, 1930, from St. Mel Parish in Chicago and professed perpetual vows on Jan. 23, 1937. She graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in education.

In Indianapolis, Sister Ellen Catherine taught at St. Philip Neri School from 1948-49 and St. Joan of Arc School from 1956-58.

She also ministered elsewhere in Indiana as well as in Illinois and North Carolina.

A native of Indianapolis, Sister Mary Charles Spalding ministers in prayer at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

She entered the congregation on Dec. 24, 1930, from Holy Cross Parish in Indianapolis and professed perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1938. She graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with bachelor’s degrees in education and English then earned a master’s degree in education from Ball State University in Muncie, Ind.

In Indianapolis, Sister Mary Charles taught at St. Philip Neri School from 1950-53. At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, she served on the Providence Center staff from 1996-2000.

She also ministered elsewhere in Indiana as well as in Illinois, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Washington, D.C.

Sisters Mildred Anne Dudine, Mary Terence Haag, Cecile Morse and Rosemary Powers are celebrating their 70th anniversary in December.

A native of Jasper, Ind., Sister Mildred Anne Dudine ministers in prayer at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

She entered the congregation on Jan. 12, 1935, from St. Joseph Parish in Jasper and professed perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1943. She graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in music education.

In the archdiocese, Sister Mildred Anne taught at Sacred Heart School in Terre Haute from 1942-43 and St. Philip Neri School in Indianapolis from 1948-53.

She also ministered elsewhere in Indiana as well as in Illinois, California and Washington, D.C.

A native of Montgomery, Ind., Sister Mary Terence Haag ministers as a parish visitor for St. Monica Parish in Indian-apolis.

She entered the congregation on July 14, 1935, from St. Michael Parish in Montgomery and professed perpetual vows on Jan. 23, 1944. She graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in education.

In Indianapolis, Sister Mary Terence taught at the former St. Patrick School from 1938-39, the former St. Catherine School from 1939-43, St. Rita School from 1944-46, the former St. Bridget School from 1946-54 and 1970-71, St. Anthony School from 1967-70, the former St. Francis Day Nursery from 1971-73 and the former St. Ann School from 1979-85.

She also ministered as a home visitor, extraordinary minister of holy Communion and provided care for people in need at St. Ann, St. Bridget and St. Monica parishes from 1980-96.

She also ministered elsewhere in Indiana and in Illinois.

A native of Lexington, Ky., Sister Cecile Morse ministers in prayer at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

She entered the congregation on Jan. 14, 1935, from St. Colman Parish in Washington, Ohio, and professed perpetual vows on Jan. 23, 1943. She graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in English.

In Indianapolis, Sister Cecile Morse served on the maintenance staff and as the convent bookkeeper at the former Ladywood Academy from 1969-70.

At the Providence Retirement Home in New Albany, she served as a clerical assistant from 1983-1984 and receptionist from 1984-86.

She also ministered in parish service and as a bookkeeper at Our Lady of the Greenwood Parish in Greenwood from 1986-89.

At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, she taught in the congregation’s Juniorate program from 1937-38. She ministered in the printing office from 1938-69 and 1970-80, and as a receptionist from 1989-91. She served on the mail room staff, phone room staff, as a health care companion, health care services staff and residential services staff from 1991-2000.

She also ministered elsewhere in Indiana and in Illinois.

A native of Linton, Ind., Sister Rosemary Powers ministers in prayer at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

The former Sister Mary Gilbert entered the congregation on Jan. 12, 1935, from St. Peter Parish in Linton and professed perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1942. She graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in social studies then earned a master’s degree in education from the University of Notre Dame.

In Indianapolis, Sister Rosemary taught at the former St. Catherine School from 1937-1942.

At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, she ministered as an administrative assistant from 1984-87 and archives staff member from 1987-2002.

She also ministered elsewhere in Indiana as well as in Illinois and Missouri.

Twelve sisters are celebrating their diamond jubilee representing 60 years of ministry this year. Eight of those sisters were featured in a story in the Dec. 9 issue of The Criterion.

Sisters Martha Steidl, Mary Jo Stewart, Marie Ellen Sullivan and Winifred Mary Sullivan are profiled this week.

A native of Paris, Ill., Sister Martha Steidl ministers as an adjunct faculty member for the Woods External Degree program at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.

The former Sister Marie Aquinas Steidl entered the congregation on July 22, 1945, from St. Mary Parish in Paris and professed perpetual vows on Jan. 23, 1953. She graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in music then earned a master’s degree in music at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and master’s degree in religious studies at Mundelein University in Mundelein, Ill.

Sister Martha taught at the former Cathedral Grade School in Indianapolis from 1950-52.

At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, she was a

music instructor from 1973-77, assistant professor from

1977-80, associate professor from 1980-83 and 1984-88, and professor from 1988-2001.

She also ministered elsewhere in Indiana as well as in Illinois and Washington, D.C.

A native of Terre Haute, Sister Mary Jo Stewart ministers as a volunteer at St. Ann Clinic in Terre Haute.

The former Sister Joseph Maureen Stewart entered the congregation on Jan. 8, 1945, from St. Ann Parish in Terre Haute 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 completed her licensed practical nurse’s training at Indiana Vocational Technical College.

Sister Mary Jo taught at the former St. Patrick School in Indianapolis from 1967-68 and St. Mary School in Richmond from 1968-70.

At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, she served on the infirmary staff from 1973-75 and 1976-78, as a licensed practical nurse there from 1981-85, and as a driver and physical therapy health services staff member from

1985-86.

She also ministered elsewhere in Indiana as well as in Illinois, California and Mississippi.

A native of Chicago, Sister Marie Ellen Sullivan ministers in prayer at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

She entered the congregation on Feb. 2, 1945, from Our Lady Help of Christians 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 English then earned a master’s degree in education at Indiana State University and master’s degree in pastoral studies at Loyola University.

Sister Marie Ellen taught at St. Philip Neri School in Indianapolis from 1947-50 then served as principal at

Our Lady of Providence High School in Clarksville from 1967-71.

She also ministered elsewhere in Indiana as well as in Illinois, Maryland and Washington, D.C.

A native of Terre Haute, Sister Winifred Mary Sullivan ministers as a volunteer in Jasper, Ind., in the Evansville Diocese.

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 education then earned a master’s degree in education at St. Louis University.

Sister Winifred Mary taught at Holy Family School in New Albany from 1958-60 and St. Joan of Arc School in Indianapolis from 1966-67. She served as a teacher at the former St. Margaret Mary School in Terre Haute from 1967-69 and as principal there from 1968-69.

She also ministered elsewhere in Indiana as well as in Illinois, Maryland and Missouri. †