A new leadership team for the Sisters of Providence

The Sisters of Providence gathered at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods from Oct. 21-25 for their 40th General Chapter meeting. The Chapter meeting culminated in the election of the Congregation’s Leadership Team of the next five years.

Sister Dawn Tomaszewski was re-elected as general superior. Sister Jeanne Hagelskamp, who had ministered as general officer in the previous administration, was selected as vicar. Elected as general officers in their first term in leadership were Sister Laura Parker, Sister Anne Therese Falkenstein and Sister Carole Kimes.

The officers-elect will be installed during a Eucharistic Liturgy on Sunday, Jan. 23, in the Church of the Immaculate Conception at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

Sister Dawn Tomaszewski

Hometown: Chicago

Year entered Congregation: 1975

Degrees: Bachelor’s in journalism from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. Master’s in journalism from the University of North Carolina. Master’s in theology from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.

Past ministries: Teacher; various positions with the Sisters of Providence — including creating the first combined fundraising and communications office; vice president for advancement at Guerin College Preparatory School in River Grove, Illinois. Served previous terms as general officer and then general superior.

Sister Jeanne Hagelskamp

Hometown: Indianapolis

Year entered Congregation: 1975

Degrees: Bachelor’s in mathematics from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. Master’s in mathematics with concentration in physics from Purdue University. Certificate of advanced study in educational leadership administration supervision from the National College of Education in Chicago. Doctorate of Education in Private School Administration from the University of San Francisco.

Past ministries: Most of her career has been in urban education as a teacher, curriculum director, principal and college professor. She was instrumental in founding Providence Cristo Rey High School in Indianapolis in 2005. Served a previous term as general officer.

Sister Laura Parker

Hometown: Chicago

Year entered Congregation: 2003

Degrees: Associate’s degree in nursing from Triton College in River Grove. Bachelor’s in nursing from Lewis University in Romeoville, Illinois. Master of Arts degree in pastoral studies from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.

Past ministries: Chaplain resident at Elmhurst Memorial Hospital in Elmhurst, Illinois; hospice chaplain at Seasons Hospice and Palliative Care of Illinois in Willowbrook. Prior to entering the Congregation, Sister Laura was a registered nurse and worked at Resurrection Hospital. While there, she was also a parish nurse at Our Lady, Mother of the Church, in Chicago for seven years.

Sister Anne Therese Falkenstein

Hometown: Somerville, Massachusetts

Year entered Congregation: 1979

Degrees: Bachelor’s degrees in theology and education from Emmanuel College. Master’s degree in religious education from Boston College. Master’s degree in language education from Indiana University. Doctorate in Language Education from Indiana University.

Past ministries: Teacher, campus ministry and recruitment for Mother Theodore Guerin High School in River Grove, Illinois; instructor of English, associate professor, director of division of international exchanges, administrator and special assistant to the president at Providence University in Taiwan.

Sister Carole Kimes

Hometown: Fort Wayne, Indiana

Year entered Congregation: 1980

Degrees: Bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Indiana University. Bachelor’s in nursing from the University of Indianapolis.

Past ministries: Teacher at Holy Cross in Indianapolis; nurse at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, hospice home care nurse for Visiting Nurse Service in Indianapolis; teacher at Cardinal Ritter High School in Indianapolis; Sisters of Providence director of postulants, caregiver to parents; and pastoral associate and director of pastoral care at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Carmel, Indiana.

Originally published in the winter 2022 issue of HOPE magazine.