18 Oldenburg Franciscan sisters celebrate jubilees

Eighteen Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis in Oldenburg are celebrating jubilees this year.

Marking 75 years as Oldenburg Franciscans are Sisters Mary Mark Deters, Therese de Lourdes Galm, Joannes Pardo, Dorothy Steckler and Marie Celine Wilhelm.

The 60-year jubilarians are Sisters Marta Aiken, Irene Hoff, Timothy Kavanaugh, Kathleen McCarthy, Dolores Jean Nellis, Catherine Raters, Jacinta Stein, Virginia van Benten, Marie Werdmann and Claire Whalen.

Celebrating 50 years with the congregation are Sisters Helen Eckstein, Rose Marie Weckenmann and Agnes Willhelm.

Sister Mary Mark Deters ministered as a teacher at St. Louis School in Batesville.

She also served as a teacher and principal at Catholic schools staffed by the congregation in the Evansville Diocese as well as in Ohio, Illinois and Missouri.

Sister Mary Mark is currently in retirement and lives at St. Clare Hall at the motherhouse in Oldenburg.

A native of Indianapolis, Sister Therese de Lourdes Galm served as a teacher and organist at the former Holy Family School in Oldenburg.

She also ministered as a teacher and principal at Oldenburg Academy of the Immaculate Conception in Oldenburg for 20 years.

In the archdiocese, Sister Therese de Lourdes also taught at Little Flower School in Indianapolis and St. Mary School in North Vernon.

Sister Therese de Lourdes also served as a teacher and guidance counselor at Father Thomas Scecina Memorial High School in Indianapolis for 16 years.

She also served as motherhouse minister and in later years ministered in pastoral care for the sisters at the motherhouse.

Sister Therese de Lourdes is currently in retirement and lives at St. Clare Hall at the motherhouse.

A native of Richmond, Sister Joannes Pardo ministered in domestic service in the archdiocese at Marian College in Indianapolis, St. Louis Parish in Batesville and St. Andrew Parish in Richmond.

From 1978-85, Sister Joannes served as director of food service at the motherhouse.

She also ministered in Ohio, Missouri and New Mexico.

Since 1985, Sister Joannes has ministered in Pedicare at the motherhouse.

Sister Dorothy Steckler, formerly Sister Bernarda, a native of Nesbit, Ind., taught at St. Gabriel School in Connersville as well as St. Lawrence, St. Mark, St. Michael and St. Gabriel schools in Indianapolis.

She also taught in the archdiocese at Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in New Albany and St. Joseph School in Shelbyville.

From 1986-97, Sister Dorothy served as parish minister at St. Mary Parish in Lanesville.

She also ministered at Catholic schools staffed by the congregation in the Evansville Diocese as well as in Ohio and Missouri.

Sister Dorothy is currently serving at Mother of Sorrows School in Louisville, Ky.

A native of Brookville, Sister Marie Celine Wilhelm served as a teacher and principal in the archdiocese at St. Louis School in Batesville as well as Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Lawrence schools in Indianapolis.

She also ministered at Catholic schools staffed by the congregation in the Evansville Diocese and in Ohio.

Sister Marie Celine is currently ministering in community service at the motherhouse.

Sister Marta Aiken taught at the former St. Mary Academy in Indianapolis and Marian College in Indianapolis as well as Oldenburg Academy of the Immaculate Conception in Oldenburg.

She also ministered at Catholic schools staffed by the congregation in Ohio and Missouri, and served as a hospital chaplain in Louisiana and Florida.

Sister Marta is currently serving as a chaplain and assisting with hospital ministry at the motherhouse.

A native of Batesville, Sister Irene Hoff, formerly Sister Immaculata, taught at Our Lady of Lourdes School in Indianapolis as well as the former St. Francis de Sales and St. Bernadette schools in Indianapolis. She also served as a teacher and principal at St. Mary School in Rushville.

Sister Irene also ministered at Catholic schools staffed by the congregation in the Evansville Diocese and in Ohio.

She also served as coordinator of central food service and community service at the motherhouse.

Sister Irene is currently serving as curator of the Heritage Room at the motherhouse.

A native of Indianapolis, Sister Timothy Kavanaugh served as a teacher and principal in the archdiocese at St. Joseph School in Shelbyville, St. Vincent de Paul School in Bedford, St. Gabriel School in Indianapolis and Cardinal Ritter Jr./Sr. High School in Indianapolis.

She also taught at Catholic schools staffed by the congregation in the Evansville Diocese and in Ohio.

Since 1987, Sister Timothy has served as pastoral associate at St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish in Indianapolis.

Sister Kathleen McCarthy, formerly Sister Mary Agnes, taught at St. Lawrence School in Lawrenceburg and the former Holy Trinity School in Indianapolis.

She also served as a teacher and principal at Catholic schools staffed by the congregation in Cincinnati.

Sister Kathleen is currently ministering in community service at the motherhouse.

A native of Washington, Ind., Sister Dolores Jean Nellis, formerly Sister Joseph Ann, ministered at St. Gabriel School in Connersville and Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in New Albany.

In Indianapolis, she served at St. Rita School, Father Thomas Scecina Memorial High School, Cardinal Ritter Jr./Sr. High School and Marian College.

Sister Dolores Jean also initiated then served as director of the congregation’s development office in 1984 and ministered as director of alumnae at the Oldenburg Academy of the Immaculate Conception until 1988.

She also served at Catholic schools staffed by the congregation in the Evansville Diocese and in Ohio and Missouri.

Sister Dolores Jean currently ministers as attendance secretary and receptionist at Cathedral High School in ­Indianapolis.

A native of Indianapolis, Sister Catherine Raters, formerly Sister William Cecile, served as a teacher and principal at St. Mary Child Center in Indianapolis.

Also in Indianapolis, she taught at Our Lady of Lourdes School, the former St. Bernadette School and Martin University.

She also taught at Catholic schools staffed by the congregation in Kentucky, Ohio and Missouri.

Sister Catherine currently serves as a tutor and assistant kindergarten teacher at Little People’s Prep Day School and Arlington Elementary School in Indianapolis.

Sister Jacinta Stein taught at Little Flower, St. Monica, St. Lawrence and Our Lady of Lourdes schools in Indianapolis as well as at St. Mary School in Greensburg, St. Vincent de Paul School in Bedford and St. Mary School in Aurora.

She also taught at Catholic schools staffed by the congregation in Missouri and Ohio.

Sister Jacinta is currently in retirement and lives at

St. Clare Hall at the motherhouse.

A native of Beech Grove, Sister Virginia van Benten, formerly Sister Lucia, ministered at Our Lady of Lourdes School, Father Thomas Scecina Memorial High School and Marian College in Indianapolis.

Sister Virginia also taught at St. Susanna School in Plainfield and St. Louis School in Batesville.

She also ministered at Catholic schools staffed by the congregation in Ohio and Kansas.

From 1990-98, she served as director of personnel services at the motherhouse.

Sister Virginia is currently the archives researcher for the congregation at the motherhouse.

Sister Marie Werdmann, formerly Sister Louis Clare, ministered at the former Holy Rosary School, former St. Bridget School and former Holy Trinity School in Indianapolis.

She also taught at St. Monica, Holy Cross Central, St. Gabriel and St. Rita schools in Indianapolis as well as at Catholic schools staffed by the congregation in the Evansville Diocese and in Ohio, Missouri and Mexico.

From 1979-85, Sister Marie initiated the congregation’s office of personal growth and was its first director.

Sister Marie is currently ministering in community service at the motherhouse.

Sister Claire Whalen, formerly Sister Mary Giles, taught at St. Christopher School in Indianapolis and later served as chairperson of the education department at Marian College in Indianapolis.

From 1979-86, Sister Claire ministered as director of personnel services for the congregation at the motherhouse.

For the next three years, she served as dean of academic affairs at Marian College.

In 1993, Sister Claire began her ministry as program director for Michaela Farm in Oldenburg.

Sister Claire is currently working in outreach programs at Michaela Farm.

A native of St. Nicholas, Ind., Sister Helen Eckstein, formerly Sister Antonella, taught at Holy Name School in Beech Grove then at St. Michael School in Brookville from 1965 until 2005.

She also taught at Catholic schools staffed by the congregation in Ohio.

Sister Helen is currently ministering in community service at the motherhouse.

Sister Rose Marie Weckenmann, formerly Sister Mary Sarah, taught at St. Mary School in Aurora and St. Vincent de Paul School in Bedford as well as St. Monica School and Cardinal Ritter Jr./Sr. High School in Indianapolis.

From 1969-79, Sister Rose Marie served as a teacher and principal at Oldenburg Academy of the Immaculate Conception.

She also ministered at Catholic schools staffed by the congregation in Ohio.

Sister Rose Marie is currently serving as media center coordinator for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.

A native of Connersville, Sister Agnes Willhelm, formerly Sister Leonette, taught at St. Michael School in Brookville, Holy Name School in Beech Grove and the former Holy Family School in Oldenburg.

From 1969-87, Sister Agnes ministered at Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in New Albany.

She also taught at Catholic schools staffed by the congregation in Ohio.

Sister Agnes also ministered at Rolling Hills Health Care Center in New Albany.

Since 1992, Sister Agnes has served as co-director of activities at the Providence Retirement Home in New Albany. She is currently ministering in spiritual care at the Providence Retirement Home.†