Several religious sisters who once served in the Diocese of Gary are celebrating milestone jubilees this year, marking significant years of service to the Catholic Church in a variety of roles.
Their religious orders have provided information about the lives of their jubilarians:
Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ
Sister Coletta Wrasman, 60 years, was born in Delphos, Ohio, entered the PHJC in 1960, took her first vows in 1963 and took her final vows on Aug. 6, 1968. Involved in education, vocations, and as an organist, novice director, spiritual director and library management, she served at St. Catherine of Siena School in Hammond during the years 1965-68 and St. Mary School in East Chicago from 1980-81. She resides at Convent Ancilla Domini in Donaldson.
Sister Roberta Christianson, 60 years, was born in Mishawaka, also entered the PHJC in 1960, took her first vows in 1963 and took her final vows on Aug. 6, 1968. She was involved in education, administration, transportation, childcare and PHJC community service, and is a sacristan at the visitation chapel at Convent Ancilla Domini in Donaldson. She served the years 1971-73 at St. Catherine of Siena School in Hammond and later at Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, also in Hammond.
Sister Annemarie Kampwerth, 60 years, was born in Breese, Ill. and entered the PHJC in 1960, took her first vows in 1963 and took her final vows on Aug. 6, 1966. She has been involved in education, administration, PHJC Provincial leadership and pastoral ministry, and serves as a board member for Sojourner Truth House in Gary and St. Catherine Hospital in East Chicago, while residing at Visitation Convent in East Chicago. She served at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Hammond during 1983-85, and Health Visions Midwest in Hammond from 1998-2013. Since 2022, she has served at Health Visions Midwest as well as at Ashley House pediatric and young adult program at St. Catherine Hospital.
Sister Virginia Kampwerth, 60 years, was born in Breese, Ill. and entered the PHJC in 1960, took her first vows in 1963 and took her final vows on Aug. 6, 1968. Involved in education, administration and on the PHJC Provincial Council, she served at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Hammond in 1965-66 and is now involved in the ministry of prayer at Catherine’s Cottage, the motherhouse in Donaldson.
Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart
Sister Colleen Loehmer, 75 years, was born in Schererville, professed her first vows in 1951 and spent nearly 50 years in education as a teacher, teacher aide or private tutor, including St. Michael School, Schererville, from 1969-73 and 1979-90 and at St. Joseph School, Dyer, from 1973-75. In retirement, she shares her artistic gifts and holds in prayer the special intentions of many.
Sister Marilyn Renninger, 70 years, was born in Hoagland, Ind., professed her first vows in 1956 and spent 18 years as a teacher and principal, including 1956-60 at St. Joseph School, Dyer. She was elected to her congregation’s leadership team as a councilor and then as the superior general for two terms. She ministered in an Illinois parish as a pastoral associate, then moved to Belize, Central America, to establish a new parish. She holds a weekly scripture class in preparation for the Sunday scripture readings, is the spiritual assistant for three Secular Franciscan Fraternities and is on the Board of the South West Inter-Faith Team.
Sister Josephine Mulcahey, 70 years, was born in Rockford, Ill., professed her first vows in 1956 and spent nearly 22 years in education. She taught at St. Michael School, Schererville, from 1963-64, 1965-68 and 1980-82, and in the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend and in Peru, Ill. Pursuing the ministry of pastoral care, she has served for 37 years, presently at Ascension Saint Joseph Hospital in Joliet, Ill., as a spiritual care chaplain.
Sister Joanne Vander Heyden, 60 years, was born in Hammond, professed her first vows in 1966 and spent 19 years in education. She taught at St. Joseph School, Dyer, from 1975-77, then in the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend. In 1986, she moved to healthcare, where she ministered as a pastoral care chaplain for 28 years at United Samaritan Medical Center, Danville, Ill.
Sister Sandra Duma, 60 years, was born in Chicago, professed her first vows in 1966, spent 14 years in education, including 1981-84 at St. Michael School, Schererville, and in the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend and at schools in Illinois. She served as secretary general for the OSF congregation for 10 years, then provided secretarial services in a healthcare institution for a number of years before returning to the motherhouse and a life of prayer.
Sisters of Providence
Sister Dorothy Gartland, formerly Sister Margaret Eugene, 75 years, was born in St. Joseph, Mo., entered the congregation on Feb. 2, 1948, from Our Lady of Sorrows in Chicago, and professed perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1955. In the Diocese of Gary, she ministered as a teacher and principal at St. Joseph School in Hammond from 1963-69. She also served at other locations in Indiana as well as in Washington, D.C. and Illinois. She now ministers in residential services at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.
Sister James Michael Kesterson, 75 years, was born in Indianapolis, entered the congregation in 1948 from St. Roch Parish in Indianapolis, and professed perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1955. In the Diocese of Gary, she ministered as a teacher at St. Joseph School in Hammond from 1950-52, and in other locations in Indiana as well as in Illinois. She ministers in the archives department of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and Anna’s House, also in Indianapolis.
Sister Joan Mary Schaefer, 75 years, was born in Cicero, Ill., entered the congregation in 1948 and professed perpetual vows on Jan. 23, 1956. She served as teacher and principal at All Saints School in Hammond from 1965-66, and taught at St. Joseph School in Hammond from 1966-67. She ministered at other locations in Indiana, Massachusetts, Illinois and Missouri, and currently ministers in residential services at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.
Sister Jane Gibson, formerly Sister Dorothy Jane, 70 years, was born in Louisville, Ky., entered the congregation in 1953 from Terre Haute, and professed perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1960. In the Diocese of Gary, she taught at Sacred Heart School in Whiting from 1960-63, and also ministered at other locations in Indiana as well as in Illinois and Ohio. She ministers in prayer at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.
Adrian Dominican Sisters
Sister Mary (Michaeleen Marie) Cullen, 70 years, a native of Chicago, entered the congregation in 1953 after high school, professed her first vows in 1954, and her final (perpetual) vows on Dec. 31, 1959. After an early teaching assignment in Detroit, she primarily served as a teacher or librarian at elementary and high schools in Illinois. She ministered in the Diocese of Gary as library director for Calumet College of St. Joseph in Whiting from 1989-1995. She rounded out her ministerial career as religion teacher and campus minister at Seton Academy in South Holland, Ill., and as pastoral associate at St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish, Oak Lawn, Ill., 1998-2005, and is living in Chicago Ridge, Ill.
Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis
Sister Gloria Jean Kozlowski, 60 years, entered the congregation in 1959 from her home parish, St. Stanislaus in East Chicago. She taught for more than 50 years at schools in the Diocese of Gary, including Holy Rosary in Gary, St. John Bosco in Hammond. She also served as director of religious education at St. Mary in East Chicago, St. Mary in Michigan City, St. James the Less in Highland, and St. Peter in LaPorte. She instructed for many years in the diocese’s Catechetical Institute, training 600 catechists, and now serves as DRE at St. Stanislaus in East Chicago, where she lives.