Cathedral High School honors Sister Mary Ann Stewart with honorary diploma

Cathedral High School honored a Sister of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, Monday evening, May 18, during the school’s 2025-26 commencement.

Sister Mary Ann Stewart, SP, was awarded an honorary diploma from the school for her ministry of 46 years at Cathedral as a history teacher.

Sister Mary Ann started teaching U.S. and World History at the school in 1980. She has also ministered as the department chairperson of the school’s history department for four years.

But many of the students she has crossed paths with since 1980 will always remember her for history class.

“She is so beloved in our community,” Cathedral Director of Marketing Grace Trahan-Rodecap said. “She is affectionately known as ‘Sister History.’”

Trahan-Rodecap said Cathedral is celebrating 50 years of females attending the school this year. In 1976, Cathedral, originally an all-boys school, purchased Ladywood-St. Agnes School, then a sponsored ministry of the Sisters of Providence.

“This is a year-long celebration as we recognize young ladies who have been a part of our graduating classes for 50 years,” Trahan-Rodecap said.

Sister Mary Ann said the merger of the two schools was passed by the Cathedral Board of Trustees.

“They combined the schools, which enabled both schools to survive,” Sister Mary Ann said. “Two years after that sale, I took final vows (1978) and completed a master’s degree in social science education at Indiana State University (ISU).

“(The late) Sister Jane Bodine, SP, one of our provincial councilors in Indiana, let Mike McGinley, the president of Cathedral, know that I was available to teach there.”

Prior to teaching at Cathedral, Sister Mary, a native of Terre Haute, taught seventh and eighth grade social studies and religion at Middle Central Catholic School in Indianapolis.

Sister Mary Ann came to the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, from Sacred Heart Parish in Terre Haute. She professed first vows on September 12, 1965.

In addition to her master’s degree, she also has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC).

Sister Mary Ann said her fascination with history began when she was in formation with the Sisters of Providence while studying at SMWC.

“Those were the tumultuous years of the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War protests,” Sister Mary Ann recalled. “I remember seeing a presentation about Saint Mary-of-the-Woods students taking part in the Voting Rights Summer when we were just postulants.

“At ISU, I studied a lot of minority and immigration history and for the first time, discovered that my family were early settlers in Terre Haute. We believe that my great-great-grandfather received land in Vigo County in payment for his service in the Ohio Militia during the War of 1812.”

During her time at Cathedral, Sister Mary Ann has also been active in some of the afterschool clubs the school offers to students.

“She’s so lovely,” Trahan-Rodecap said. “She’s so kind. She cares so much about our holy cross core values. She’s very approachable. When you see her, you can’t help but smile.

“She has such a wealth of knowledge and she’s a real champion of social justice. She’s loved by everyone. (The students) just adore her.”

“For many years, I was the advisor for Cathedral’s Model UN Team,” Sister Mary Ann said. “We participated in the program at Indiana University-Purdue University of Indianapolis until COVID shut it down. Marian University now has a Model UN Program and I once again have a Model UN Team – five freshmen and a sophomore last fall and one of those freshmen won three awards!”

Sister Mary Ann said staying at Cathedral for almost a half-century has been a natural fit for her.

“I have stayed at Cathedral because the school has provided me many opportunities,” she said. “I have been a department chair. I have taught AP U.S. History, IB History of the Americas, and dual credit U.S. History with Indiana University. The school values having religious on the faculty so they have enabled me to stay on with a lighter teaching load. We presently have two Holy Cross priests, a Holy Cross brother and me.”

“Every Friday after she says our prayer on the PA, Sister Mary Ann extends an Irish blessing,” Trahan-Rodecap added. “Everybody just loves her!”