Four Providence sisters celebrate golden jubilees

Criterion staff report

Four Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods recently celebrated their 50th anniversary as members of the congregation.

They are Sisters Marilyn Baker, Jane Marie Osterholt, Martha Joseph Wessel and Therese Whitsett.

Sister Marilyn Baker, the former Sister Ann Cecile, is a native of New Delhi, India.

She entered the congregation on Sept. 15, 1962, from St. Patrick Parish in Fayetteville, N.C., and professed her perpetual vows on Dec. 28, 1970.

Sister Marilyn earned a bachelor’s degree in education at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, master’s degree in reading at Salem State University in Salem, Mass., and doctorate in education at Indiana State University in Terre Haute.

In the archdiocese, Sister Marilyn taught at St. Simon the Apostle School in Indianapolis from 1980-83.

She also ministered at Catholic schools in Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina and Washington, D.C.

Sister Marilyn also taught at Providence College, later Providence University, in Taiwan from 1983 until 2010.

She currently ministers as an adjunct professor in the intensive English program at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

Sister Jane Marie Osterholt is a native of Celina, Ohio.

She entered the congregation on Sept. 17, 1962, from St. Hyacinth Parish in Fort Wayne, Ind., and professed her perpetual vows on Sept. 16, 1973.

Sister Jane Marie earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, master’s degree in religious studies at Marygrove College in Detroit, Mich., and doctorate in ministry theology at the University of Saint Mary-of-the-Lake in Mundelein, Ill.

In the archdiocese, Sister Jane Marie taught at St. Thomas Aquinas School in Indianapolis from 1967-68.

She also ministered at Catholic schools or hospitals in Indiana, Illinois and Michigan, and served as an author or catechism consultant for two publishers.

Sister Jane Marie recently completed a five-year term as a general officer of the congregation’s leadership team.

Sister Martha Joseph Wessel is a native of Ferdinand, Ind., and also lived in Jasper, Ind.

She entered the congregation on Sept. 17, 1962, from Holy Family Parish in Jasper, and professed her perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1970.

Sister Martha Joseph earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and master’s degree in elementary education at Indiana State University.

In the archdiocese, Sister Martha Joseph taught at the former St. Anne School in New Castle from 1968-74, and later ministered as a principal and teacher there from 1977-82. She also taught at Holy Cross School in Indianapolis from 1974-77 and the former All Saints School in Columbus from 1982-84.

She also ministered as a teacher or principal at Catholic schools elsewhere in Indiana and Kentucky.

Sister Martha Joseph currently ministers as administrator of Owens Hall and supervisor of the Office of Records Hall at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

Sister Therese Whitsett, the former Sister Timothy Marie, is a native of Indianapolis.

She entered the congregation on Sept. 17, 1962, from St. Anthony Parish in Indianapolis, and professed her perpetual vows on Feb. 10, 1974.

Sister Therese earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and master’s degree in communication arts at Webster University in Webster Grove, Mo.

In the archdiocese, Sister Therese taught at the former St. Ann School in Indianapolis from 1971-72, Holy Cross School in Indianapolis from 1972-79 and St. Lawrence School in Indianapolis from 1990-91. She also ministered as an instructor and in outreach ministry at the Hispanic Education Center in Indianapolis.

She also taught at a Catholic high school in Chicago, Colegio San Jose in Arequipa, Peru, and Catholic Indian Mission in Fort Yates, N.D.

Sister Therese currently teaches English as a second language at St. Philip Neri School in Indianapolis. †