2011 Rite of Commitment

Providence Associates Director Sister Diane Mason welcomed 15 Providence Candididate-Associates to the Providence family on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011. Associates, candidates, sisters, family and friends came from near and very far to participate in this year’s Rite of Commitment and Renewal in the Church of the Immaculate Conception.

Feeling more like spring than autumn, the day began for the candidates with a short rehearsal in the church followed by lunch. Candidates and their companions then gathered in the auditorium in Owens Hall for prayer before walking to the church for the Eucharistic Liturgy.

Mass included a reflection by General Superior Sister Denise Wilkinson followed by the Rite of Commitment. Nearly 40 Providence Associates participated in the Renewal of Commitment.

Providence Associates Teresa Clark (left) and Melissa Pasko prepare to participate in the Rite of Commitment and Renewal in the Church of the Immaculate Conception on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011. Teresa and Melissa are both from Terre Haute, Ind.

Sister Marceline Mattingly (center) sits with Mary Weber and her husband, Gary Meister, prior to the Rite of Commitment and Renewal in the Church of the Immaculate Conception on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011. Sister Marceline served as the companion to the couple who were at the Woods to renew their commitments. Mary and Gary reside in Indianapolis.

John Davis receives his Providence Associate pin from his companion, Sister Lisa Stallings, during the Rite of Commitment and Renewal in the Church of the Immaculate Conception on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011. John is from Terre Haute, Ind.

Providence Associate Carole Stokes (right) of West Terre Haute, Ind., renewed her commitment during the Rite of Commitment and Renewal in the Church of the Immaculate Conception on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011. Carole is pictured with Sister Joanne Golding.

Sister Joan Zlogar pins the recently blessed Providence Associate pin onto Margaret Carroll during the Rite of Commitment and Renewal in the Church of the Immaculate Conception on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011.

Sister Jane Marie Osterholt (left) shares a laugh with Providence Associate Debbie Dillow prior to the Rite of Commitment and Renewal in the Church of the Immaculate Conception on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011. Debbie resides in Lizton, Ind., and is a member of the Providence Associates Advisory Board.

Taking a little time to pose for a photo during the reception are (left to right): Cathy Keller, Sister Dorothy Rasche and Ron Keller. Sister Dorothy first served as a companion to Cathy and then last year to Ron. The Kellers reside in Newburgh, Ind.

Providence Associate Paul Beel and his wife, Barbie, chat with Providence Associate Father Dan Hopcus after the Rite of Commitment and Renewal in the Church of the Immaculate Conception on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011. Paul, who resides in Terre Haute, Ind., renewed his commitment.

Providence Associate Constance “Connie” Neeson shows her granddaughter Sarah the image of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin on the cover of the programs after the Rite of Commitment and Renewal in the Church of the Immaculate Conception on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011. Connie, who is from West Terre Haute, Ind., renewed her commitment.

Monica Hayden of Covington, Ga., reads the intercessions during the Rite of Commitment and Renewal in the Church of the Immaculate Conception on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011.

Providence Associates Mary Kay Wagner (left) and Peggy Balensuela take a moment to smile at the photographer during the reception after the Rite of Commitment and Renewal in the Church of the Immaculate Conception on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011. Mary Kay is from Green Bay, Wis., and Peggy is from Terre Haute, Ind.

Margaret Carroll (left) of Bethesda, Md., and her companion, Sister Joan Zlogar, pose for a photo prior to the Rite of Commitment and Renewal in the Church of the Immaculate Conception on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011.

Jennie Bear receives her Providence Associate pin from her companion, Providence Associate Linda McMahon, during the Rite of Commitment and Renewal in the Church of the Immaculate Conception on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011. Jennie is from Reno, Nev., and Linda resides in San Clemente, Calif.

General Superior Sister Denise Wilkinson (left) pins a Providence Associate pin on the lapel of the jacket of Linda Dubois during the Rite of Commitment and Renewal in the Church of the Immaculate Conception on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011. Linda is from West Terre Haute, Ind.

Posing for a photo prior to the Rite of Commitment and Renewal in the Church of the Immaculate Conception on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011, are Kay Lambert Smith (center) and her companions, Sisters Mary Ann McCauley (left) and Ann Matilda Holloran.

Dave Cox and Kay Lambert Smith process to the front of the church with candles prior to the Eucharist during the Rite of Commitment and Renewal in the Church of the Immaculate Conception on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011. Dave resides in Terre Haute, Ind., and Kay in Clinton, Ind.

Joni Luna of Corpus Christi, Texas, serves as the cross bearer during the Rite of Commitment and Renewal in the Church of the Immaculate Conception on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011.

Serving as candle bearers during the Rite of Commitment and Renewal in the Church of the Immaculate Conception on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011, are Jennie Bear (left) and Joanne Slater. Jennie hails from Reno, Nev., and Joanne from Paris, Ill.

These three happy looking Providence Associates served as greeters during the Rite of Commitment and Renewal in the Church of the Immaculate Conception on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011. They are (left to right): Sandy Scroggins, Brazil, Ind.; Amy Inserra, Terre Haute, Ind.; and Ronda Hoggatt, Clinton, Ind.

Geraldine “Gerri” Baum serves as lector during the Rite of Commitment and Renewal in the Church of the Immaculate Conception on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011. Gerri resides in Cary, Ill.

A Providence Associate event is never complete unless one of Sister Marianne Mader’s relatives is present! Pictured above before the Rite of Commitment and Renewal in the Church of the Immaculate Conception on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011, are (left to right): Anne Shupe-Scurry, Sister Marianne, Jeanette Mader Hall, Mary Hall and Catherine Mader Odle.

Evan, the son of Providence Associate Jennifer Drake and the grandson of Providence Associate Bev McGuire, gives the photographer a slight grin before the Rite of Commitment and Renewal on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011, in the Church of the Immaculate Conception. All three reside in Hamilton, Ohio.

New Providence Associates Deanna Ruston (left) and Marian Ramsey-Ford process with the altar cloth during the Rite of Commitment and Renewal on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011, in the Church of the Immaculate Conception. Deanna is from Evansville, Ind., and Marian is from Terre Haute, Ind.

Deanna Ruston presents her commitment form to General Officer Sister Dawn Tomaszewski during the Rite of Commitment and Renewal on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011, in the Church of the Immaculate Conception. Sister Diane is the general officer liaison to the Providence Associate Relationship.

Dave Cox receives his Providence Associate pin from his companion, Father Dan Hopcus, during the Rite of Commitment and Renewal on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011, in the Church of the Immaculate Conception. Dave resides in Terre Haute, Ind.

The 2011 Providence Associates are row one, left to right: Monica Hayden, Sister Diane Mason, Deanna Ruston, Marilyn Kirschten, Joann Kennelly, Linda Dubois; row two: Joanne Slater, Margaret Carroll, Kay Lambert Smith, Marian Ramsey-Ford, Joni Luna; row three: Geraldine “Gerri” Baum, Dave Cox, John Davis and Ron Keller. Not pictured are Rachel Ambrose, Jennie Bear and Mary Kay Powell.

Enjoying a light moment prior to the Rite of Commitment and Renewal in the Church of the Immaculate Conception on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011, are (left to right): Providence Associates Marsha McCarty, Catherine Mader Odle and Janice Lilly.