Sister Mary Joanne Keppler
Sister Mary Susan Kurth
formerly Sister Mary Josephanne) When she entered the SND order from Our Lady of Peace Church, Cleveland, Sister Joanne felt compelled to do so because she wanted to bring others to the love of Christ.
(formerly Sister Mary Wilhelma) Taught by Sisters of Notre Dame at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Cleveland, Sister Susan wanted to be a teacher for as long as she can remember.
“What compelled me to join the order is that I might enable people to find meaning in their lives by knowing and loving God; that I could make a difference far greater than if I were trying to achieve this alone,” reflects Sister Joanne. For 14 years, Sister taught high school at Notre Dame Academy, Chardon; she spent another 14 years teaching at Elyria Catholic High School. At Cleveland Central Catholic, Sister Joanne was academic dean and vice principal. She taught at Notre Dame Academy, Middleburg, VA, for four years and, at Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin School, Chardon, she was assistant principal for 12 years. She is the current director of professional learning at Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin and Notre Dame Elementary schools, Chardon. One life lesson that Sister Joanne embraces: “Life is very short. Make God known and loved in a meaningful way every day.” She is inspired by the Gospel of John, specifically, “I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)
“I probably associated being a teacher and being a Sister,” she says. “I sensed a spirit of joy and happiness in the Sisters who taught me and that attracted me to the community. More directly, the voice of God spoke to me through my eighth grade teacher who asked me if I was interested in becoming a Sister. I said yes.” Sister Susan taught junior high and intermediate grades in Florida, Virginia and Warren. In the Cleveland Diocese, she taught at St. Mary, Elyria; St. Peter, North Ridgeville; Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (East); and St. Michael, Independence. For 19 years, Sister taught junior high classes at St. Anselm, Chesterland. She worked in community service/ renewal at the SND Chardon location, and dedicated eight years as a tutor in the Notre Dame Skills Lab, Chardon and Euclid sites. In addition, Sister Susan ministers as the junior high math assistant at St. Helen School, Newbury. “I believe my life is guided by the scriptural theme ‘trust in God,’” she says. “That is also part of our charism as Sisters of Notre Dame. Every situation I find myself in and all the people who are in my life at any particular time are there as part of God’s plan. At the beginning of every school year, I remind myself
that each student is in my class for a reason. I pray that I will be the person each one needs me to be.”
Sister Mary Jo Ludwig (formerly Sister Mary Lucis) Sister Mary Jo attended St. Gregory the Great grade school and Regina High School in South Euclid, OH. Most of her teachers were Sisters of Notre Dame. “They attracted me by their caring ways and being happy with their chosen way of life,” she says. “The Sisters were fun and I enjoyed being around them.” Sister spent many of the next 40 years as a primary and intermediate grade teacher, teaching at St. Benedict, St. Stephen, and Metro Catholic schools, all in Cleveland. She also taught at St. Peter, North Ridgeville, and St. Helen, Newbury. She spent 10 years at St. Joseph, Amherst, three as principal. She taught at schools in Washington, D.C., Warren, Canton, and Virginia. She served as a dietetic technician at several Ohio locations. At the Sisters of Notre Dame Health Care Center, Sister Mary Jo was dietary coordinator. “Being in the present is important to me,” she says. “To be aware of what I see and hear and respond to the present in a positive manner. The present is all we have, yesterday is gone and tomorrow is yet to come.” Sister Mary Jo ministers in community service, including driving, for the Sisters of Notre Dame, Chardon. continued on page 22
Sisters of Notre Dame | Network
Summer 2015
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