The staff of The Catholic Telegraph wishes to express our gratitude to the following women and men religious celebrating jubilees in 2016 for their steadfast faith and dedicated service to the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.

Adrian Dominican Sisters

Sister Marie Therese Emery

Sister Marie Therese, a native of St. Louis, is marking 75 years in religious life. Sister Marie Therese graduated from St. Joseph Academy in Adrian, Mich., and entered the congregation in June 1946, from St. John Parish, Ypsilanti. She professed first vows on Dec. 31, 1947, and final vows on Dec. 31, 1952.

Sister Marie Therese holds a bachelor’s degree in social science from Siena Heights College (now university) in Adrian; a master’s degree in history from the University of Detroit; and master’s degree in curriculum and a doctorate in education, with a focus on administration and curriculum, both from Michigan State University. In addition to certificates in education, she holds a license as a radio operator and three pilot’s licenses from the Federal Aviation Administration. She has been a pilot since 1973 and is still current in her pilot’s license.

From 1946 to 1972, Sister Marie Therese ministered in education as teacher or administrator at Catholic schools in Michigan, Illinois, and Ohio. She took one year out from teaching – 1961 to 1962 – to serve as vocation director for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. She remained in Cincinnati to serve as teacher and assistant principal at St. Antoninus from 1962 to 1963, and as teacher and principal at St. Vincent Ferrer. “I have taught every grade from Grade 1 through university graduates,” she recalled. “I loved and respected the pupils God gave me.”

Sister Marie Therese then took on less traditional ministries: as the fleet safety project supervisor for the State of Michigan, 1972 to 1973, and as an engineering and automotive consultant for the American Automobile Association (AAA) in Washington, D.C, 1973-1974. Her work at AAA included working with teachers and writing manuals for them on traffic safety and bike safety.

Sister Marie Therese ministered at Michigan State University from 1974 to 1997 as a traffic safety specialist, administrator of the traffic safety program, computer teacher, and director of the Technology Lab. She said she especially enjoyed her work as a computer teacher. “Everything was new and no one had done it yet,” she recalled. “I stayed up all night to learn,” and then taught the computer lesson the next day.

She retired from formal ministry in 1997, and has been residing at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian since 2012.

In reflecting on her Jubilee year, Sister Marie Therese said, “My vocation was God’s invitation to me, to love, serve and obey Him through vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience and give service to the Catholic Church. I have made every effort to grow in virtue.”

Sister Patricia Martin

Sister Patricia, formerly known as Sister John Martin, is celebrating 70 years as an Adrian Dominican Sister. She had served for four years at St. Theresa Home in Cincinnati. A native of Detroit, she was taught by Adrian Dominicans at St. Bridget’s in first grade before the family moved to a farm in Lenawee County, Mich., when she was four.

After graduating from Morenci High School, Morenci, Mich., in 1945, Sister Pat began to attend Siena Heights College (now University), where she decided to enter the Adrian Dominican Congregation on Feb. 2, 1946. She made first profession in August 1946 and final profession in August 1952. Ultimately, Sister Pat earned her bachelor’s degree in nutrition from Siena Heights in 1956.

Sister Pat’s earliest missions, from 1950 to 1979, involved teaching in Catholic schools in Illinois and Michigan. In 1979, while taking the necessary steps to becoming a registered dietitian, Sister Pat became the food service director at St. Theresa Home in Cincinnati. She served there until 1983, when she returned to Michigan to serve first as a dietitian and then ad parish coordinator for ministry to the aging.

Now retired and living in Adrian, Michigan, Sister Pat volunteers at the motherhouse, with Housing Help of Lenawee County; and with Share the Warmth, a volunteer-run homeless shelter in Adrian, open during the winter months. “It’s been a very enriching, life-giving experience for me, knowing the Lord and serving God’s people,” she said.

Sister Jean Irene McAllister

Sister Jean Irene, also celebrating her 70-year Jubilee, is a native of the Detroit area. She entered the congregation in June 1946 and completed her high school education at St. Joseph Academy in Adrian in 1947. Sister Jean Irene professed first vows on Dec. 30, 1947, and final vows on Dec. 31, 1952. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Siena Heights College (now university) in Adrian.

After serving her first assignments in the Chicago area, Sister Jean Irene traveled to Ohio. She taught from 1953 to 1958 at St. Francis Xavier in Medina, Ohio, in the Diocese of Cleveland, then moved to the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, where she taught from 1958 to 1964 at St. Vincent Ferrer in Cincinnati. Her later assignments took her to schools in Florida and Michigan.

Sister Jean Irene also served as pastoral minister from 1979 to 1988 at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Melbourne, Fla., and from 1988 to 2003 at Rocky Creek Village, a senior living community in Tampa. While serving in Rocky Creek, she was part of a line dance group and kitchen band that performed at nursing homes, senior centers, and parish festivals. She retired to Adrian in 2003.

Sister Jean Irene described her vocation as “a gift and a shared journey with other members of our Congregation. …My heart overflows with gratitude for my 70 years as an Adrian Dominican.”

Sister Kathleen Schanz

Sister Kathleen, who recently completed her six-year term as a member of the Adrian Dominican Sisters’ General Council, is marking 50 years with the congregation. The former Sister Georgine Marie was born in Detroit; graduated from Regina High School in Harper Woods, Mich.; and entered the congregation from St. Jude’s Parish in Detroit on August 28, 1965. She professed her first vows on Aug. 4, 1967, and her final vows on Aug. 2, 1975.

After her first assignment in Cleveland, Sister Kathleen was transferred in 1969 to teach at St. Antonitus in Cincinnati until 1973. She then taught in schools in California, Michigan, and Ohio. “As a teacher, I hold special, fond memories in Cincinnati at the school and parish,” she said. “I loved it there!”

Sister Kathleen’s ministerial focus changed in 1989, when she began service at the congregation’s Office of Mission and Ministry. She later served as director of Weber Retreat and Conference Center in Adrian, , from 1994 to 2002; director of Athena International in Chicago from 2003 to 2004; and director of Lenawee County (Michigan) United Way from 2004 to 2010. That year, she was elected to serve a six-year term on the General Council of the Adrian Dominican Sisters. She left office on July 2, 2016.

“To celebrate a Jubilee marks a significant passage in my life,” Sister Kathleen said. “It marks the deepening of relationships with my God, with my family and friends, and with my Adrian Dominican community.”

 

Congregation of Divine Providence

75 Years

Sister Margaret Mary Austing served as an elementary teacher at St. Aloysius School, Elmwood, from 1945-50, and at Assumption School, Mt. Healthy, from 1969-1970.

70 Years

Sister Elizabeth Kelemen served as elementary teacher at St. John School, Dry Ridge, from 1977 to 2008.

Sister Mary of the Angels Becker served as an elementary teacher at St. Michael School, Ripley, 1953-1958, and as DRE there from 1982-1984; also as an elementary teacher at Assumption School, Mt. Healthy, from 1982-1984 and in pastoral care to shut-ins at Assumption Parish from 1989-1990.

60 Years

Sister Claire Osburg, formerly served as a social worker at St. Joseph Orphanage and for Catholic Social Services, Cincinnati.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

50 Years

Sister Carolyn Marie Betsch from Assumption Parish, Mt. Healthy
Sister Mary Carol Henggeler from St. John the Baptist Parish, Dry Ridge
Sister Grace Ann Schmersal from the Diocese of Toledo, recently retired after 27 years working in activities with retired Sisters of Charity at Mother Margaret Hall, Mt. St. Joseph.

25 Years

Sister Lucy Zientek from St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Bayonne, NJ, presently serving as pastoral associate at St. Ignatius Parish, Cincinnati, since 2006; previously at St. Monica-St. George Parish as pastoral associate and campus minister from 1991 to 2001.