A look at the life and ministries of Sister Mary Raymond Schelkopf
This photo of Sister Mary Raymond was taken in 1935.
The replies we have received regarding Throwback Thursday blogs have been superb.
The sisters who minister in the Archives Department absolutely enjoy digging into the records to look up the information.
Recently, we received a request to delve further into the life and ministries of Sister Mary Raymond Schelkopf.
And with that in mind, enjoy this week’s Throwback Thursday.
Sister Mary Raymond was born Cecilia Marie Schelkopf to parents John and Elizabeth Megan Schelkopf on Oct. 10, 1899, in Brimfield, Illinois, which is not too far from Peoria.
She entered the Congregation on Sept. 8, 1924 from St. Joseph Academy in Galesburg, Illinois, after feeling “drawn” to the Sisters of Providence, who ministered as teachers at the school.
This is a photo of Sister Mary Raymond taken in 1983.
She received a bachelor’s degree in social studies from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, with a minor in education. She earned her master’s degree in education from Indiana University.
Sister Mary Raymond taught at the elementary, junior high and high school levels in California, Illinois, Indiana and Massachusetts.
She also ministered as a principal for many years, including stints at St. Benedict, in Terre Haute, from 1936-41, and St. Agnes Academy, located in Indianapolis, where she ministered as Superior. She ministered at St. Agnes from 1958-61, and was also the principal for a period of time at Cathedral Grade School, also in Indianapolis.
In addition to her ministries as a teacher and principal, she also ministered as a Regional Superior and Provincial Superior for the Sisters of Providence.
In her commentary for Sister Mary Raymond, Sister Marie Kevin Tighe (RIP) discussed a conversation she had with her, asking “Mary Raymond, are you peaceful?”
Sister Mary Raymond’s response was, “I don’t ever remember not being peaceful.”
Sister Mary Raymond died on Aug. 30, 1991, at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. She was 91 years old and had been a Sister of Providence for 66 years. #throwbackthursday #tbt
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Sister Mary Raymond was also the principal, algebra and bookkeeping teacher, and superior at the old Providence High School in downtown Joliet in the 1950s when it was an all-girls school. Her sisters loved her, and we students admired and respected her. She had a wonderful laugh, a cackle really, but on the rare occasions she was displeased, we learned not to mess with her. One of her memorable expressions–“Oh, (he/she) is such a jack!”