Special to The Message
Eight Sisters of Providence with ties to the Diocese of Evansville are celebrating significant anniversaries this year.
60-year Jubilarians
Sister Ellen Cunningham is a native of Chicago. Currently, she ministers as a volunteer in the Institutional Advancement Department at St. Mary-of-the-Woods College.
Sister Ellen, formerly Sister Michael Aquinas, entered the Congregation on July 22, 1959, from St. Luke Parish in River Forest, Illinois. She professed perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1967.
She graduated from St. Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. She also earned a master’s degree in mathematics from Catholic University of America, and her Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Maryland. Sister Ellen also has a master’s of science in computing science education from the University of Evansville.
She taught at St. John the Evangelist School in Loogootee from 1966-67.
Sister Ellen has also ministered in Washington, D.C. and Illinois.
Sister Dorothy Rasche is a native of Jasper. Currently, she ministers as a Catholic Spiritual Guide for the U.S. Penitentiary in Terre Haute, and as the Director of The Connecting Link, West Terre Haute.
Sister Dorothy, formerly Sister Rose Martin, entered the Congregation on July 22, 1959, from St. Joseph Parish in Jasper. She professed perpetual vows
on Aug. 15, 1967.
She graduated from St. Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in education. She also has a master’s degree in religious studies from Mundelein University.
She taught at St. John the Baptist School in Vincennes from 1965-68, and she served in Student Clinical Pastoral Education at Deaconess Hospital in Evansville in 1978.
70-year Jubilarians
Sister Suzanne Buthod is a native of Fort Worth, Texas. Currently, she ministers in prayer at St. Mary-of-the-Woods.
Sister Suzanne, formerly Sister Mary Judith, entered the Congregation on Feb. 2, 1949, from St. Benedict Parish in Evansville. She professed perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1956.
She graduated from St. Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in English. She also has a master’s degree in religion from Manhattanville College in Purchase, New York.
Her Diocese of Evansville ministries include:
- Teacher, Reitz Memorial High School, Evansville (1974-75),
- Special Religious Education/ Auditor-Marriage Tribunal, Evansville (1978-80), and
- Auditor/Advocate, Marriage Tribunal/Assistant Director of Special Religious Education, Evansville (1981-84).
Sister Suzanne has also ministered in Illinois and Alabama.
Sister Rosemary Eyler is a native of Crawfordsville, Indiana. She currently serves as a parish volunteer at St. Christopher Parish in Indianapolis.
Sister Rosemary, formerly Sister Mary Luke, entered the Congregation on Feb. 2, 1949, from St. Bernard Parish, Crawfordsville in Indiana. She professed perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1956.
She graduated from St. Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in education. She also has master’s degrees in education and education administrative supervision from Indiana State University.
Her Diocese of Evansville ministries include:
- Teacher/Principal, Sacred Heart School, Evansville (1970-73),
- Principal, Sacred Heart, Evansville (1973-74), and
- Principal, Westside Catholic School, Evansville (1974-79).
Sister Rosemary has also ministered in Illinois, New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
Sister Margaret Norris is a native of Jasper. Currently, she ministers in massage therapy at St. Mary-of-the-Woods.
Sister Margaret, formerly Sister Marie Angeline, entered the Congregation on July 22, 1949, from St. Joseph Parish, Jasper. She professed perpetual vows on Jan. 23, 1957.
She graduated from St. Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in education, and also has a master’s degree in education from Indiana University.
Her Diocese of Evansville ministries include:
- Teacher, Assumption School, Evansville (1960-62),
- Teacher, Tenth Street School, Jasper (1969-78),
- Teacher, Jasper Middle School, Jasper (1978-83),
- Teacher, Fifth Street School, Jasper (1983-2001),
- Tutor, Exercise Facility, Evansville (2001-03), and
Volunteer, Evansville (2003-08).
Sister Margaret has also ministered in Illinois, North Carolina and Missouri.
Sister Joann Quinkert is a native of New Albany, Indiana. Currently, she ministers as a volunteer at St. Mary-of-the-Woods.
Sister Joann, formerly Sister Joan Margaret, entered the Congregation on Jan. 6, 1949, from Holy Trinity Parish, New Albany. She professed perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1956.
She graduated from St. Maryof-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in education, and also has a master’s degree in education from Indiana State University.
Her Diocese of Evansville ministries include teaching and serving as Principal/Superior at St. Simon School in Washington from 1965-68.
Sister Joann has also ministered in North Carolina, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky and Alabama.
75-year Jubilarians
Sister Rita Clare Gerardot is a native of New Haven, Ind. Currently, she ministers as a volunteer at St. Mary-of-the-Woods.
Sister Rita Clare entered the Congregation on July 21, 1944, from St. Louis Parish, New Haven. She professed perpetual vows on Jan. 23, 1952.
She graduated from St. Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in English. She also has a master’s degree in education from Indiana State University.
She taught at St. John the Baptist School in Vincennes from 1952-53.
She has also ministered in Illinois.
Sister Mildred Giesler is a native of Jasper. Currently, she ministers in prayer and health care at St. Mary-of-the-Woods.
Sister Mildred, formerly Sister Alma Joseph, entered the Congregation on Jan. 10, 1944, from St. Joseph Parish, Jasper. She professed perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1951.
She graduated from St. Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in education. She also has a master’s degree in education from Indiana State University and a master’s of religious education from the University of Seattle.
Her Diocese of Evansville ministries include:
- Teacher, St. Joseph School, Jasper (1965-76),
- Religious Education, St. Joseph Parish Center, Jasper (1976-79),
- Pastoral Associate, Precious Blood Parish, Jasper (1989-97), and
- Parish Visitor, Precious Blood Parish, Jasper (1997-2003).
Sister Mildred has also ministered in North Carolina, Illinois, Massachusetts and California.