Eight Providence sisters celebrate longtime jubilees

Criterion staff report

Eight Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods are celebrating the anniversaries of their religious profession 80, 75 or 70 years ago.

They are Sisters Frances Alma McManus, Mary Esther Lane, Marceline Mattingly, Agnes Eileen O’Brien, Marie Eleanor Shaw, Rita Lerner, Conrad Monrad and Alexa Suelzer.

A native of Quincy, Ill., Sister Frances Alma McManus is celebrating her 80th year as a Sister of Providence.

She entered the congregation on June 7, 1928, from SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral Parish in Indianapolis and professed her perpetual vows on Jan. 23, 1936.

Sister Frances Alma earned a bachelor’s degree in English at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, a master’s degree in Latin at Indiana University in Bloomington, and a master’s degree in education and secondary administration at Indiana State University in Terre Haute.

In the archdiocese, Sister Frances Alma taught at the former Holy Trinity School in New Albany from 1932-35, the former St. Agnes Academy in Indianapolis from 1945-48 and the former Ladywood Academy in Indianapolis from 1961-62.

She also taught at Catholic schools in Fort Wayne, Ind., as well as in Illinois, California, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Washington, D.C.

Sister Frances Alma currently ministers in prayer at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

A native of Loogootee, Ind., Sister Mary Esther Lane, formerly Sister Francis Gertrude, is celebrating her 75th year as a Sister of Providence.

She entered the congregation on Aug. 15, 1933, from St. John Parish in Loogootee, Ind., and professed her perpetual vows on Jan. 23, 1942.

Sister Mary Esther earned a bachelor’s degree in English at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and a master’s degree in education at Butler University in Indianapolis.

In the archdiocese, Sister Mary Esther taught at St. Charles Borromeo School in Bloomington from 1940-41, St. Anthony School in Indianapolis from 1945-46, the former St. Joseph School in Terre Haute from 1952-57, St. Paul School in Sellersburg from 1957-58, the former St. Agnes Academy in Indianapolis from 1967-69 and the former Ladywood-St. Agnes Academy in Indianapolis from 1972-75.

Sister Mary Esther also taught at Catholic schools in Fort Wayne, Ind.; Loogootee, Ind.; and Hammond, Ind.; as well as in Illinois and California.

She also ministered at Our Lady of Fatima Retreat House in Indianapolis from 1975-76, and at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods in community services from 1995-96 and residential services from 1996 until 2005.

Sister Mary Esther currently ministers in prayer at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

A native of Henderson County, Ky., Sister Marceline Mattingly is celebrating her 75th year as a Sister of Providence.

She entered the congregation on Feb. 10, 1933, from SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral Parish in Indianapolis and professed her perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1941.

Sister Marceline earned a bachelor’s degree in English at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and a master’s degree in biology at the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Ind.

In the archdiocese, Sister Marceline taught at St. Anthony School in Indianapolis from 1938-40, St. Philip Neri School in Indianapolis from 1942-46, St. Mary School in Richmond from

1940-41, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College from 1966-68 and Our Lady of Providence High School in Clarksville from 1968-70.

Sister Marceline also ministered as a pastoral associate at St. Mary Parish in New Albany from 1983-89, and at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods as an assistant activity director from 1989-91 and a Learning Resource Center instructor from 1991-93 and from 1994 until 2001.

She also taught at Catholic schools in Fort Wayne, Ind., as well as in Illinois and Washington, D.C.

Sister Marceline currently ministers as a ministry of care volunteer at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

A native of Chicago, Sister Agnes Eileen O’Brien is celebrating her 75th year as a Sister of Providence.

She entered the congregation on Aug. 21, 1933, from Maternity BVM Parish in Chicago and professed her perpetual vows on Jan. 23, 1941.

Sister Agnes Eileen earned a bachelor’s degree in education at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and a master’s degree in education at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind.

In the archdiocese, Sister Agnes Eileen taught at St. Philip Neri School in Indianapolis from 1936-38 and St. Joan of Arc School in Indianapolis from 1944-46.

At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Sister Agnes Eileen served on the infirmary staff from 1974-76, as a physical therapist from 1976-81, as supervisor of non-medical personnel from 1981-82, on the telephone room staff from 1988-89 and 1993-94, and on the health care services staff from 1989-93.

She also taught at Catholic schools in Washington, Ind., and Lafayette, Ind., as well as in Illinois, Oklahoma, California and Missouri.

Sister Agnes Eileen currently ministers in prayer at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

A native of Chicago, Sister Marie Eleanor Shaw is celebrating her 75th year as a Sister of Providence.

She entered the congregation on Aug. 22, 1933, from St. Viator Parish in Chicago and professed her perpetual vows on Jan. 23, 1942.

Sister Agnes Eileen earned a bachelor’s degree in education at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and a master’s degree in education administration at Illinois State University in Normal, Ill.

In the archdiocese, Sister Agnes Eileen taught at the former Annunciation School in Brazil from 1936-37 and St. Anthony School in Indianapolis from 1949-53.

At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, she ministered in community services from 1993-96 and residential services from 1996 until 2005.

She also taught at Catholic schools in Jasper, Ind.; Fort Wayne, Ind.; and Whiting, Ind.; as well as in Massachusetts, California, Illinois and Washington, D.C.

Sister Marie Eleanor currently ministers in prayer at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

A native of Chicago, Sister Rita Lerner, formerly Sister Edward Clare, is celebrating her 70th year as a Sister of Providence.

She entered the congregation on Jan. 8, 1938, from St. Sylvester Parish in Chicago and professed her perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1946.

Sister Rita earned a bachelor’s degree in education at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and a master’s degree in education at Ball State University.

In the archdiocese, Sister Rita served as a librarian and on the audio-visual staff at St. Matthew School in Indianapolis from 1977-83.

At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Sister Rita ministered in outpatient care as a nurse’s aide from 1983-86, director of activities from 1986-87, on the health care services staff and as a librarian from 1987-96, and on the residential services staff from 1999 until 2006.

She also ministered in Evansville, Ind., as well as in Illinois, California and Washington, D.C.

Sister Rita currently ministers in prayer at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

A native of Chicago, Sister Conrad Monrad is celebrating her 70th year as a Sister of Providence.

She entered the congregation on July 22, 1938, from St. Cyril Parish in Chicago and professed her perpetual vows on Jan. 23, 1947.

Sister Conrad earned a bachelor’s degree in Latin at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and a master’s degree in mathematics at Marquette University in Milwaukee.

In the archdiocese, Sister Conrad taught at the former St. Joseph School in Indianapolis from 1943-46, the former St. Catherine School in Indianapolis in 1947, Nativity School in Indianapolis from 1955-56, the former St. Anne School in New Castle from 1951-54, and the former Holy Trinity School in New Albany from 1954-55.

At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, Sister Conrad served as an instructor and chairperson of the mathematics department from 1966-69, an assistant professor and chairperson of the mathematics department from 1971-74, an instructor for the Woods External Degree program from 1977-97 and 1998-99, an associate professor from 1977-85, a professor from 1985-97 and 1998-99, and an adjunct professor from 1999 until 2006.

She also taught at Catholic schools in Fort Wayne, Ind.; Evansville, Ind.; and Lafayette, Ind.; as well as in Illinois, Pennsylvania, California and Florida.

Sister Conrad currently ministers in prayer at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

A native of Fort Wayne, Sister Alexa Suelzer is celebrating her 70th year as a Sister of Providence.

She entered the congregation on Feb. 14, 1938, from St. Patrick Parish in Fort Wayne and professed her perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1946.

Sister Alexa earned a bachelor’s degree in English at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, a master’s degree in English at Marquette University and a doctorate in Sacred Doctrine at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

In the archdiocese, Sister Alexa taught at the former St. Patrick High School in Terre Haute from 1941-46 and the former St. Agnes Academy in Indianapolis from 1946-60.

At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, she served as an instructor at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College from 1962-65, on the juniorate staff from 1965-68, as a professor from 1982 until 2002, as a provincial councilor from 1972-76, in community services from 2002-03, on the residential services staff from 2003-06 and as a volunteer at the motherhouse in 2006.

She also taught at Catholic schools in Evansville, Ind., and Washington, Ind., as well as in Illinois, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma and Washington, D.C.

Sister Alexa Suelzer currently ministers as a volunteer in the telephone room and the central business office at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. †