Sister Dawn Tomaszewski installed as general superior of the Sisters of Providence

Sister Dawn Tomaszewski was installed as general superior for the Sisters of Providence on Saturday, Sept. 10, during a Eucharistic Liturgy in the Church of the Immaculate Conception at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

Also installed as part of the Congregation’s leadership team were Sisters Lisa Stallings, vicar, Jeanette Hagelskamp, Mary Beth Klingel and Jeneen Howard. All were elected in July during the Congregation’s General Chapter, which takes place every five years. The leadership team effectively serves as the Congregation’s board of directors. In addition, during the General Chapter, the Congregation also sets its direction for the next five years.

During the installation, Sister Dawn reiterated the sisters’ pledge during General Chapter to “Embrace our Emerging Future.”

“We created a statement that listed ways that we will do this – where we as a Providence community – sisters, associates, ministry partners – should focus our energy, where the God of Providence might be sending us forth at this time in our history,” Sister Dawn said.

“And though the five of us were chosen for elected leadership, we know that all of us need to take seriously the call to tend the soul of the world community. Our vision, as believers in a Provident God, must be big enough, daring enough to embrace the needs of our world. The world needs us for this.

“The world needs all of us – not just as sisters or associates sitting here in this church or watching via Live Stream – the world needs you, our brothers, our sisters, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends, all our companions on the journey. The world needs us to nudge each other toward even greater love and inclusion.”

Sister Dawn, who succeeds Sister Denise Wilkinson – who served the Congregation as general superior for the past 10 years – is a native of Chicago. She is a graduate of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. She received a master’s degree in journalism from the University of North Carolina and a master’s degree in theology from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.

Prior to being elected general superior, Sister Dawn ministered as a member of the Congregation’s leadership team.

Sister Dawn entered the Congregation on Aug. 23, 1975, from St. John Brebeuf Parish in Niles, Illinois. She professed perpetual vows on Aug. 19, 1984.

She ministered as a teacher at Marywood School in Orange, California (1977-1980). Sister Dawn also taught at Mother Theodore Guerin High School, now known as Guerin College Preparatory High School, in River Grove, Illinois, (1980-82).

She ministered as the Congregation’s director of communications (1984-1999), director of communications and development for the Congregation (1990-91), and director of the Office of Congregational Advancement (1991-96). During part of this time, she was an instructor at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (1984-87). Sister Dawn also ministered as communications and media coordinator for the Office of Catholic Education, Archdiocese of Chicago (1999-2004), communications and public relations director for Guerin College Preparatory School (2004-05), director of advancement for Guerin College Preparatory School (2005-09), and vice president for advancement at Guerin College Preparatory High School (2009-2011).

She is the daughter of the late Lenard Tomaszewski and Marian Sekula Tomaszewski. She attended St. Monica Elementary School in Chicago and Mother Theodore Guerin High School in River Grove.

Sister Lisa is a native of Evansville. She previously ministered as the Congregation’s vicar on the leadership team.

Sister Lisa entered the Congregation on Aug. 23, 1975, from Christ the King Parish, located in Evansville. She professed perpetual vows on Aug. 25, 1984.

She graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in English. She received a master’s degree in English from Indiana University, a master’s degree in music with concentration in sacred music and liturgy from St. Joseph College in Rensselaer, Indiana, and a master’s degree in theological studies from St. Meinrad School of Theology.

Sister Lisa ministered as a teacher at Our Lady of Providence High School in Clarksville, Indiana (1977-81). She also taught at Providence-St. Mel School in Chicago (1981-88), and served as director of music at St. Bernadette Parish, in Evergreen Park, Illinois (1989-1990). She also ministered as director of music at St. William Parish, Chicago (1990-94), director of liturgy at St. James Parish, Elizabethtown, Kentucky (1994-98), assistant coordinator of liturgy at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods (1998), director of worship at the Cathedral of the Assumption, Louisville, Kentucky (1998-2009), and coordinator of music at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods (2009-2011).

Sister Jeanette – known as Sister Jeanne – is a native of Indianapolis. Prior to being elected to the leadership team, she ministered as the director for the Academy of Teaching and Learning Leadership, as well as being an associate professor in leadership at Marian University, Indianapolis.

Sister Jeanne entered the Congregation on Aug. 23, 1975, from St. Matthew Parish in Indianapolis, and professed perpetual vows on Aug. 19, 1984.

She graduated from St. Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. She received a master’s degree in mathematics and with a concentration in physics from Purdue University, and a Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Leadership Administrative Supervision from the National College of Education, now known as National Louis University, located in Chicago. She also earned a doctorate of education degree in Private School Administration from the University of San Francisco.

Sister Jeanne ministered as a teacher at Providence High School in New Lenox, Illinois (1977-79), as well as an instructor in physics and math, and assistant director of financial aid and director of admissions research at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (1979-1982). Her other ministries included teacher of math, physics and computer at Providence-St. Mel in Chicago (1982-86); curriculum director, and a teacher of physics, mathematics and computer science at Providence-St. Mel (1986-1991); principal at Mother Theodore Guerin High School (1991-97); assistant director of the Institute for Catholic Educational Leadership at the University of San Francisco (1997-2000); faculty member at the University of San Francisco (2000); assistant professor and assistant director of the Institute of Catholic Educational Leadership at the University of San Francisco (2000-01); principal at Mother Theodore Guerin High School (2001-02); assistant director/assistant professor for the Institute for Catholic Educational Leadership, director of teacher education and an assistant professor at the University of San Francisco (2002-05); project coordinator for Providence Cristo Rey High School in Indianapolis (2005-06); president of Providence Cristo Rey High School (2006-09); and principal at Providence Cristo Rey High School (2009-2013).

Sister Mary Beth is a native of Jasper, Indiana. This will be her second consecutive five-year period of ministering on the Congregation leadership team.

Sister Mary Beth entered the Congregation on Sept. 12, 1964, from St. Joseph Parish in Jasper. She professed perpetual vows on Sept. 6, 1970.

She graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in education. She received a master’s degree in liturgical studies from the University of Notre Dame.

Sister Mary Beth ministered as a teacher at Saint Margaret Mary School in Terre Haute (1968-1970), and at Tenth Street School in Jasper (1970-72). From 1972-76, she was a member of the Congregation’s renewal team. She then returned to Saint Margaret Mary Parish in Terre Haute, where she ministered as a pastoral associate (1976-2004), and as parish life coordinator (2004-05). Prior to being elected to the leadership team in 2011, she ministered as the Congregation’s director of novices (2006-2011).

Sister Jeneen – known as Sister Jenny – is a native of Indianapolis. This will be her second consecutive five-year period of ministering on the Congregation leadership team.

Sister Jenny entered the Congregation on Aug. 22, 1983. She was a member of St. Matthew Parish and entered the Congregation from Holy Cross Parish in Indianapolis. She professed perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1992.

She graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor’s degree in biology. She received a master’s degree in biology from Ball State University. She also received a master’s degree in guidance counseling in secondary schools from Northeastern Illinois University.

Sister Jenny served one previous term on the Congregation’s leadership team from 1996 to 2001. She also ministered as a teacher at North Central High School in Indianapolis (1974-1984), a teacher at Providence-St. Mel School in Chicago (1985-1990), teacher at Cathedral High School in Indianapolis (1991-96), and as the Congregation vocation director (2001-2011).