Newsnotes from fall 2022 HOPE magazine

Donation allows for expanded ride service for sisters

Thanks to the generous support of those dear to her, Sister Ann Matilda Holloran, SP, recently expanded her “golf cart ministry” for sisters at the motherhouse. With the donation of a brand-new golf cart dedicated for her ministry, she can now transport sisters around campus and give them a lift daily. Perhaps a sister wishes to attend Sunday Brunch at O’Shaughnessy, catch the excitement of a soccer game at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College or say hello to her favorite alpaca — Sister Ann Matilda provides door-to-door transportation services with a smile. Her ministry helps sisters stay connected, gives a sense of freedom and lifts the spirits!

Fountain restored to its youth

Years of water and elements had taken a toll on the fountain at the end of the Avenue at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. The Sisters of Providence recently undertook to have the fountain restored and refurbished.

This summer the fountain was cleaned, patched and re-coated to make it water proof. A new water filter system was installed. A new water supply was set up to bring soft water to the fountain to help keep the water clean. A pool pump and sand filter were installed. The fountain also got an electrical upgrade and new LED lights were installed.

As of the end of July, the fountain is back up and running in its restored glory.

Valley Professionals Community Health Center opens

On June 14, Valley Professionals Community Health Center had its official ribbon cutting ceremony and open house for the West Terre Haute community. Sister Dorothy Rasche, SP, Director of The Connecting Link, was heavily involved in getting the health center opened in West Terre Haute, helping organize events to raise money and more.

Congregation blesses the new Woodhaven Retreat and Guest House

There’s a new place for lodging for visitors and retreatants at the Woods!

On May 31 the Sisters of Providence officially blessed and conducted a ribbon cutting for Woodhaven Retreat and Guest House.

“You bless us with your presence. Our house is your house. You are always welcome here,” General Superior Sister Dawn Tomaszewski, SP, said during her blessing.

The building includes 10 single bedrooms, each with a private bath. One of the rooms will be permanently occupied by Sister Mary Beth Klingel, SP, who welcomes guests at Woodhaven.

The center of the building includes a kitchenette, dining area and gathering space. There are two handicap accessible rooms available.

Cost for guests is $70 per night. For reservations contact twatson@spsmw.org or 812-535-2946.

Providence Cristo Rey High School dedicates new building

Citing a necessity for a newer and larger building, school officials recently relocated Providence Cristo Rey High School from its facility at 75 N. Belleview Place, Indianapolis, to its new location at the former Christel House Academy South charter school building at 2717 S. East Street, Indianapolis.

The move began at the end June and was official with a ribbon cutting ceremony on July 29. Several Sisters of Providence, Providence Associates and others attended the ribbon cutting for the new facility.

The 131,000-square feet building built in the 1900s features a regulation size gymnasium and stage, large cafeteria and full kitchen, a soccer field and outdoor track, large classrooms and more. The building also offers the school the opportunity to host home sporting events in the gymnasium in addition to the possibility to create baseball and softball fields in the future. The former building was established in 2007 and is sold to Legacy Learning Center, a not-forprofit education center.

Providence Cristo Rey High School is sponsored by the Sisters of Providence. Cristo Rey school model, created by Jesuits, supplements classroom instruction with a work-study program for students from economically disadvantaged families.

At the ribbon cutting, Sister Jeanne Hagelskamp, SP, the first president and eventually principal of the school, led the blessing.

Taking stock of giving transfers

We have updated our giving pages on the website at SistersofProvidence.org to include securities and wire transfer instructions for your gifts of stock and other marketable securities. You can find the new instructions here. We updated these instructions after our bank changed its name from Terre Haute Savings Bank to The Hometown Savings Bank earlier this year. Feel free to share with your broker or financial advisor.

Sister Betty Hopf honored with Sunshine Award

Sister Betty Hopf, SP, has ministered as the chaplain of the Hux Cancer Center through the Union Health Group in Terre Haute, Indiana, for nearly 15 years.

And on May 11, Sister Betty was greeted by her colleagues at the entrance of the building as she received the Union Health Sunshine Award.

“I was just stunned,” Sister Betty said. “I was humbled and shocked. It was a total surprise.”

Mandi Scott, health care copywriter for Union Health, said the Sunshine Award honors non-clinical employees for “their compassionate healthcare they provide for going above and beyond their normal duties.”

“Sister Betty was actually nominated by a former patient at the Hux Cancer Center,” Scott said. “She’s very compassionate. Some of the words used by the patient included warm, gracious and immediately endearing.”

Sister Betty received a certificate and a banner was hung at the entrance of the building in her honor.

“I absolutely love my ministry,” Sister Betty said. “I feel like I’m making a difference in peoples’ lives. They are dealing with so much. They love the spiritual presence. It’s meaningful to them.

“It’s not an easy ministry, but there’s comfort in knowing that I’ve made a difference for the patients.”

Sisters recognize benefactors at dinner

Approximately 230 benefactors and others joined the Sisters of Providence for a meal and award presentation during the 20th Saint Mother Guerin Evening at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods on Sat., June 4.

The dinner takes place to honor benefactors for their gifts of time, talent and resources, while also presenting awards to specific benefactors.

Above, Sister Jeanne Hagelskamp and Sister Dawn Tomaszewski present the Queen Amelia Award, given for significant financial contributions, to Anita McMahon, shown here accompanied by her son, Michael.

Left, Edward “Ned” Costello receives the Sarah and Joseph Thralls Award, from Sister Dawn Tomaszewski. The award honors significant contributions of time, talent and expertise.

Receiving Saint Mother Theodore Guerin Companions Awards were: Bob Desautels, Randy Adams and his wife Maria, Judith Schubert and Marianne Breen, and Beth Collins and Sister Barbara Battista, SP.

The Congregation also recognized the Geoff and Josie Fox Family Foundation; Mary Jo Gallagher; Guerin, Inc.; Mark E. and Marilyn S. Haag; Patricia S. Robak; The William O’Neil Foundation and William J. Witchger for cumulative financial gifts of more than $100,000, by having their names placed on the Rooted in Providence award plaque in Providence Hall.

Sister Jody O’Neil accompanies brother on ‘Honor Flight’

Just before Easter this year, Sister Jody O’Neil, SP, traveled with her brother, Mike, from Indianapolis to Washington, D.C., taking part in the annual Indy Veteran Honor Flight.

The flight is for veterans who are flown to the nation’s capital. They then have opportunity to visit war memorials and more.

Sister Jody said her brother was on a wait list until Vietnam veterans were eligible to take part in the flights. Then for two additional years, COVID-19 forced postponements of the flights.

Sister Jody accompanied Mike as his guardian for the event. They joined 86 other veterans.

“I am honored to have had this experience with my brother and to have witnessed all the gratitude shown toward him,” Sister Jody said.“I welcomed this opportunity to be Mike’s guardian and to learn more specifics of his being drafted into the Army at the age of 18 to engage in basic training and to serve in Vietnam,” Sister Jody said. “We both left home at the same time as his military experience coincided with my entrance into the Congregation. Mike and his veteran brothers and sisters are indeed national treasures.”

John Harvey signs on in finance

The Sisters of Providence recently hired John Harvey to serve as the Congregation’s Chief Financial Officer. John came aboard in April 2022, replacing Traci Tucker, who had ministered for the Congregation in that capacity for more than five years.

John was born in New Orleans and raised on the east coast. He began his professional career in Texas and considers Louisiana and Texas his “home.” Currently, he lives in Camargo, Illinois, located 30 minutes south of Champaign. John graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with bachelor’s degrees in business administration and accounting. He also has a master’s degree in professional accounting. He said he worked for approximately 20 years in the airline industry, primarily at Southwest and JetBlue.

John said he is looking forward to what lies ahead regarding his employment with the Congregation. “I love being here. In many ways, I feel I am doing what I have been called to do.”

Jody Puckett joins the team

Effingham, Illinois, resident Jody Puckett recently joined the Sisters of Providence to minister as the new Director of the Ministry of the Woods.

Jody came to the Sisters of Providence following working for Heartland Dental, where she served as the director of marketing. Prior to that, she worked at St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital in Effingham for more than 30 years.

In her new position, Jody will help lead the strategy for the ministries of Providence Spirituality & Conference Center and White Violet Center for EcoJustice.

“Everything that happens at Saint Mary-of-theWoods supports the Ministry of the Woods,” Jody said. “This is an evolving position and I’m looking forward to it. The opportunity to work with existing teams to help advance these ministries is what I’m excited about.”

Jody, a mother of two adult sons, said while she and her husband still live in Effingham, they are looking to relocate to Indiana. She added she is eager to help advance the mission of the Sisters of Providence.

“The sisters have such dedication to responsible stewardship and a great respect for their team as a family,” Jody said. “It’s also very apparent that they are an extremely brave, diligent group of women who are following in the footsteps of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin.”

Don’t be afraid to take the leap into religious life!

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