Sixteen members of the Oldenburg Franciscans celebrate jubilees

Criterion staff report

In 2022, 16 members of the Sisters of St. Francis in Oldenburg celebrated significant milestones in their religious community.

The anniversaries are marked by the year in which the sisters entered religious life with the Franciscans. Some who entered in February celebrated their jubilees this year in anticipation of the actual anniversary of their entering religious life.

80-year jubilarians

Sister Jean Sora is a native of Middletown, Ohio. She entered the community on Sept. 8, 1942, and professed final vows on Aug. 12, 1948.

Sister Jean earned a bachelor’s degree at Marian University in Indianapolis and a master’s degree at the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati.

In the archdiocese, Sister Jean served at Our Lady of Lourdes School in Indianapolis from 1949-51 and at the former St. Mary School in New Albany from 1955-58. She also ministered in the Diocese of Evansville, Ind., and in Missouri and Ohio.

Sister Jean currently lives in retirement at the motherhouse.

75-year jubilarians

Sister Timothy Kavanaugh is a native of Beech Grove. She entered the community on Sept. 7, 1947, and professed final vows on Aug. 12, 1953.

Sister Timothy earned a bachelor’s degree at Marian University and a master’s degree at Xavier University in Cincinnati.

In the archdiocese, she served at St. Joseph School in Shelbyville from 1954-56, St. Vincent de Paul School in Bedford from 1961-62 and the former

St. Gabriel the Archangel School in Indianapolis from 1971-2006.

Sister Timothy also served in the Diocese of Evansville and in Ohio.

She currently lives in retirement at the motherhouse.
 

Sister Irene Hoff is a native of Batesville. She entered the community on Sept. 8, 1947, and professed final vows on Aug. 12, 1953.

Sister Irene earned a bachelor’s degree at Marian University and a master’s degree at Xavier University.

In the archdiocese, she served in Indianapolis at the former St. Francis de Sales School from 1949-53, the former St. Bernadette School from 1953-55 and Our Lady of Lourdes School from 1955-58, and at the motherhouse from 1975-2012.

Sister Irene also served in the Diocese of Evansville and in Michigan, Missouri and Ohio.

She currently lives in retirement at the motherhouse.
 

Sister Claire Whalen (formerly Sister Mary Giles) is a native of Cincinnati. She entered the community on Sept. 12, 1947, and professed final vows on Aug. 12, 1953.

Sister Claire earned a bachelor’s degree at Marian University, a master’s degree in education at Butler University in Indianapolis and a doctorate in education at the University of Cincinnati.

In the archdiocese, she served in Indianapolis at St. Christopher School from 1949-56 and at Marian University from 1956-72, 1973-79 and 1987-91. She also served at St. Charles Borromeo School in Bloomington from 1972-73 and at the motherhouse from 1979-86 and 1993-2016.

Sister Claire currently lives in retirement at the motherhouse.
 

Sister Virginia Van Benten (formerly Sister Lucia) is a native of Beech Grove. She entered the community on Feb. 10, 1948, and professed final vows on Aug. 12, 1953.

Sister Virginia earned a bachelor’s degree at Marian University and a master’s degree in library science at Dominican University in River Forest, Ill.

She served in the archdiocese in Indianapolis at Our Lady of Lourdes School from 1953-55, Father Thomas Scecina Memorial High School from 1963-65 and Marian University from 1980-81. She also ministered at St. Susanna School in Plainfield from 1987-90 and at the motherhouse from 1990-2016.

Sister Virginia also served in Kansas and Ohio.

She currently lives in retirement in Batesville.

70-year jubilarians

Sister Doris Holohan is a native of Streator, Ill. She entered the community on Feb. 2, 1953, and professed perpetual vows on Aug. 12, 1958.

Sister Doris earned a bachelor’s degree at Marian University.

In the archdiocese, Sister Doris served at the former St. Mary School in New Albany from 1954-56, St. Mary School in Aurora from 1956-59 and St. Louis School in Batesville from 1959-60.

She also served in Ohio and Papua New Guinea.

Sister Doris currently lives in retirement at the motherhouse.
 

Sister Janice Scheidler is a native of Millhousen. She entered the community on Feb. 2, 1953, and professed final vows on Aug. 12, 1958.

Sister Janice earned a bachelor’s degree at Marian University.

She ministered in the archdiocese at Our Lady of Lourdes School in Indianapolis from 1954-58, St. Joseph School in Shelbyville from 1958-62, at the motherhouse from 1964-85

and Marian University from 1985-2013.

Sister Janice also served in Missouri and Ohio.

She currently lives in retirement at the motherhouse.

60-year jubilarians

Sister Margaret Maher (formerly Sister Catherine Siena) is a native of Cincinnati. She entered the community on Sept. 8, 1962, and professed final vows on Aug. 12, 1968.

Sister Margaret earned a bachelor’s degree at Marian University and a master’s degree in education at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind.

In the archdiocese, she served at St. Christopher School in Indianapolis from 1964-65 and at the motherhouse from 2006-21

Sister Margaret also served in Ohio.

She currently lives in retirement at the motherhouse.
 

Sister Carol Ann Mause (formerly Sister Rosirita) is a native of Cincinnati. She entered the community on Sept. 9, 1962, and professed final vows on Aug. 12, 1968.

Sister Carol Ann earned a bachelor’s degree at Marian University and a master’s degree at Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa.

In the archdiocese, she ministered at Oldenburg Academy of the Immaculate Conception in Oldenburg from 1995-97 and St. Nicholas School in Ripley County from 2012-16.

Sister Carol Ann also served in Missouri and Ohio.

She currently lives in retirement at the motherhouse.
 

Sister Daria Mitchell (formerly Sister Mary Alisa) is a native of Hamilton, Ohio. She entered the community on Feb. 2, 1963, and professed final vows on Aug. 12, 1968.

Sister Daria earned a bachelor’s degree at Marian University and master’s degrees at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and the Franciscan University in Allegany, N.Y.

In the archdiocese, she served at St. Joseph School in Shelbyville from 1964-65.

Sister Daria also ministered in New York and Ohio.

She currently lives in retirement at the motherhouse.
 

Sister Barbara Riemensperger (formerly Sister Mary Cabrini) is a native of Cincinnati. She entered the community on Feb. 2, 1963, and professed final vows on Aug. 12, 1968.

Sister Barbara earned an associate degree in nursing at Miami University and a bachelor’s degree at Marian University.

In the archdiocese, she ministered at St. Louis School in Batesville from 1964-65, St. Lawrence School in Lawrenceburg from 1966-68 and at the motherhouse from 1969-70, 1972-82 and 1984-2017.

Sister Barbara also served in Mississippi and Ohio.

She currently lives in retirement at the motherhouse.
 

Sister Marya Grathwohl is a native of Cincinnati. She entered the community on Feb. 2, 1963, and professed final vows on Aug. 12, 1968.

Sister Marya earned a bachelor’s degree at Marian University and master’s degrees at St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Ill., and at the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco.

In the archdiocese, she served at the motherhouse from 1986-94.

Sister Marya also served in the Diocese of Evansville and in Missouri, Montana and Wyoming.

She currently ministers as a spiritual director, in retreats and as director of Earth Hope in Billings, Mont.
 

Sister Diane Jamison (formerly Sister Gabrielle) is a native of Cincinnati. She entered the community on Feb. 2, 1963, and professed final vows on Aug. 12, 1968.

Sister Diane earned a bachelor’s degree at Marian University and a master’s degree at St. Bonaventure University in Allegany, N.Y.

In the archdiocese, she ministered in Indianapolis at St. Barnabas School from 1980-88, Our Lady of Fatima Retreat House from 1988-89 and Marian University from 2005-06, at Holy Name School in Beech Grove from 1964-66, Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in New Albany from 1968-69 and at the motherhouse since 2009.

Sister Diane also served in the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Ind., and in Illinois, Michigan and Minnesota.

She currently ministers as director of ongoing formation at the motherhouse.
 

Sister Marlene Kochert (formerly Sister Mary Alicia) is a native of Lanesville. She entered the community on Sept. 8, 1962, and professed final vows on Aug. 12, 1968.

She earned a bachelor’s degree at Marian University and a master’s degree in education at the former Marygrove College in Detroit.

In the archdiocese, Sister Marlene served at the former St. Bernadette School in Indianapolis from 1964-65,

Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in New Albany from 1966-68, St. Louis School in Batesville from 1975-79 and St. Gabriel School in Connersville from 1979-88.

She also ministered in New Mexico and Ohio.

Sister Marlene currently ministers as a pastoral associate at St. Mary Mission in Tohatchi, N.M.

50-year jubilarians

Sister Donna Prickel is a native of Morris. She entered the community on Sept. 8, 1972, and professed final vows on Aug. 19, 1979.

Sister Donna earned bachelor’s degrees at Marian University and at the Cincinnati State Bethesda School of Nursing in Cincinnati.

In the archdiocese, she served at the motherhouse from 1976-77 and 1984-86, St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis from 1987-92 and as parish life coordinator of Immaculate Conception Parish in Millhousen from 2016-22.

Sister Donna has also ministered in Michigan.

She currently serves as parish life coordinator of Holy Trinity Parish in Edinburgh.
 

Sister Mary Moster is a native of Liberty. She entered the community on Sept. 8, 1972, and professed final vows on Aug. 7, 1982.

Sister Mary earned a bachelor’s degree at Marian University and a doctorate at the University of Minnesota.

In the archdiocese, she ministered in Indianapolis at St. Lawrence School from 1976-78 and Martin University from 1993-95.

Sister Mary has also served in Missouri, Ohio and South Dakota.

She currently ministers as a clinical psychologist at Batesville Community Health in Batesville. †