2022 Jubilarians

Nine Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph with a combined 570 years of service to God and God’s people are celebrating jubilees of religious life this year. Congratulations may be mailed to: Mount Saint Joseph, 8001 Cummings Road, Maple Mount, KY 42356. Sister Sara Marie Gomez was celebrating 60 years but went to heaven on July 24. (Obit on page 13). KSister Marie Julie Fecher, a native of Dayton, Ohio, is celebrating 80 years as an Ursuline Sister. Sister Marie Julie has brought her unbridled joy and encouragement to teach countless numbers of people to love music and play a musical instrument. She earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music from DePaul University – her bachelor’s in 1959 and her master’s in 1964.

She ministered as a music instructor at schools in Kentucky for almost 50 years. She taught at St. Edward, Jeffersontown (194452), St. Catherine, New Haven (1952-54, 1959-64), St. Francis in St. Francis (1954-55), St. Joseph, Leitchfield (1955-58), St. Bartholomew, Louisville (196468) and St. Columba, Louisville (1968-76). From 1976-94, she was a music instructor at Brescia College/University in Owensboro. She was the organist at the Ursuline Motherhouse from 1994-2013. She has been involved in prison ministry for a number of years. Today, Sister Marie Julie lives at the Motherhouse, where she is a member of the Powerhouse of Prayer. KSister Eva Marie Boone, a native of Howardstown, Ky., is celebrating 70 years as an Ursuline Sister. Her rural upbringing helped her develop a deep love of nature. Throughout her many years as an educator, she also developed a strong sense of social justice.

In 1966, Sister Eva earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Brescia College in Owensboro. In 1985, she completed her master’s degree in parish ministry from LaSalle University in Philadelphia.

She was among the first teachers at Immaculate School in Owensboro (1954-57), and taught at St. Joseph in Paul, Neb. (1957-58). She was teacher and principal at St. Elizabeth, Curdsville, Ky. (1958-64), St. John, Plattsmouth, Neb. (196467) and Sacred Heart, Poplar Bluff, Mo. (1977-82). She taught at St. Columba, Louisville (1967-68), St. Edward, Jeffersontown, Ky. (196869), Seven Holy Founders, Affton, Mo. (1969-73), St. Christopher, Radcliff, Ky. (1973-75), St. Paul, Sellersburg, Ind. (1975-76) and St. Andrew, Harrodsburg, Ky. (198284). She returned to St. Columba Parish in Louisville as a religion teacher (1976-77).

Sister Eva was director of religious education at St. Mary Parish in Hillview, Ky., in Bullitt County (1984-89). She served as a pastoral associate of two parishes in southcentral Kentucky – Holy Cross in Burkesville, and Emmanuel in Albany (1989-93) – and at St. John in Fordsville, Ky. (1993-98). She served in internal ministry at Maple Mount as a receptionist at the Retreat Center (1999-2006), as a quilter for the Quilt Club (19992017) and as the community’s Peace and Justice coordinator (2006-13). Today, Sister Eva lives at Maple Mount, where she is a member of the Powerhouse of Prayer and prays for the Mount plant administrator and maintenance staff. KSister Ruth Gehres, a native of Evansville, Ind., is celebrating 70 years as an Ursuline Sister. She is a great lover of teaching, music and languages, an excellent editor, and is devoted to telling the stories of the Sisters and the people they serve.

Jubilees From page 5 In 1962, she received her bachelor’s degree in English from Brescia College, Owensboro, and in 1968 she received her doctorate in English from St. Louis University.

Sister Ruth taught at St. Joseph School in Paul, Neb. (1954-57), was teacher and principal at Our Lady of Mercy in Hodgenville, Ky. (1957-58), and then taught and led the choir at Sts. Joseph and Paul in Owensboro (1958-62). She served as an English professor at Brescia College (now University) from 1967-86, while also serving as alumni director (1979-81). She was president of Brescia from 1986-95. She also taught English at the Gymnasium der Ursulinen in Straubing, Germany (1984-85).

Sister Ruth served at St. Meinrad (Ind.) College (199698), where she taught English and assisted in liturgy and spiritual direction. She served as an associate in communications for the Sisters of St. Benedict, Ferdinand, Ind. (1998-2000). She was director of communications for the Ursuline Sisters (2000-2002), and then associate director (2002-2007). From 2007-13, she was an assistant and website manager at Casa Ursulina, the Ursuline ministry in Chillán, Chile. She continues to serve as a liaison with Casa Ursulina. Today, she continues to serve as a proofreader and occasional writer for Ursuline publications. KSister Michael Ann Monaghan, a native of Central City, Ky., is celebrating 70 years as an Ursuline Sister. Sister Michael Ann holds with great love each student she was privileged to help and is grateful for the parents and all who trusted and supported her during her teaching ministry. She earned her bachelor’s degree in history from Brescia College, Owensboro (1965) and her master’s degree in elementary education with a concentration in reading from Western Kentucky University (1973).

She was among the first teachers at Immaculate School in Owensboro (1954-63), and also served in Owensboro at Sts. Joseph and Paul (1966-72). She also taught in Kentucky at St. Ignatius, Louisville (1963-64) and St. Romuald, Hardinsburg (1983-86). She spent one year at St. Teresa in Glennonville, Mo., (1996-97), but much of her education career was spent in New Mexico. She served three times at St. Joseph in San Fidel (1964-66, 1977-83 and 1989-96, this time as principal and teacher), twice at Sacred Heart, Farmington (197277, 1986-89 as principal and teacher) and also at Immaculate Conception, Cuba (1997-98) and St. Francis of Assisi, Gallup (1998-2001.) She ministered in outreach to St. Joseph Parish, Aztec (2005-06).

From 2007-08 and again from 2009-12, she served in family ministry in her native Central City. At Maple Mount, she was a receptionist at the Mount Saint Joseph Conference and Retreat Center (2003-05), and since 2012, she has volunteered in the Finance office. KSister Michele Morek, a native of New Mexico, is celebrating 60 years as an Ursuline Sister. Sister Michele’s zeal for science and nature and her enthusiastic support to further the cause of women have been hallmarks of her life. She earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Brescia College in Owensboro, in 1966, then completed her doctorate in developmental biology from the University of Notre Dame in 1971.

After a year of teaching at St. Margaret Mary School in Louisville , Ky. (1966-67), Sister Michele served at Brescia College/University for 34 years, mostly as a biology professor (1971-80, 1986-2004), as well as academic dean and vice president of academic affairs (1980-86) and director of career services/grants coordinator (2011). She was elected to her community’s leadership council for eight years (1992-2000), then was elected congregational leader (2004-2010). From 2011-16, she served as coalition coordinator of UNANIMA International in New York City, a nongovernmental organization associated with the United Nations. Since 2017, she has served as the North American Sister Liaison for the Global Sisters Report, in Kansas City, Mo. KSister Rose Jean Powers, a native of Cloverport, Ky., is celebrating 60 years as an Ursuline Sister. Sister Rose Jean is known for her willingness to help and listen to those in need, a role she filled for many years at Brescia College/University in Owensboro. She earned a history degree from Brescia in 1966 and a master’s degree in history from Marquette University in 1969.

After teaching for a year at St. Mary Elementary School in Nebraska City, Neb. (1966-67), Sister Rose Jean ministered for 43 years at Brescia. She was a history instructor (1968-84 and 198992), supervised the residence halls (1971-84), was campus minister (1989-97), director of residential life (1993-2008), chapel sacristan (1992-2016), and assistant in the Brescia Bookstore (2008-16). She served at the Motherhouse as local superior (1984-89), director of local community life (2016-18), and since 2018, chapel sacristan, information receptionist and as a member of the

Liturgy committee. From 201922, she also served as the Gift Shop manager. KSister Sheila Anne Smith is celebrating her 60th year as an Ursuline Sister of Mount Saint Joseph. She was born in Butler, Pa., but as a child her family moved to Farmington, N.M. Sister Sheila Anne is a prayerful person who spent 35 years often serving the poor and Native Americans in her beloved Southwest. She graduated from Brescia College in 1966 with a degree in history.

She was a teacher in Kentucky at St. Catherine, New Haven (196672), and Our Lady of Mercy in Hodgenville (1972-73). She then served at Lourdes Elementary in Nebraska City, Neb. (1973-76). She served in health care at Maple Mount (1976-79) before returning to the Southwest.

Sister Sheila Anne taught in New Mexico at St. Joseph in San Fidel (1979-80), and St. Anthony in Zuni (1980-82), then became religious education coordinator at St. Charles Borromeo School in Albuquerque (1982-85). She then turned her attention to the poor in Arizona, serving as a member of the Desert House of Prayer in St. Michaels (1985-86); a catechist and home minister for Saint Anne Mission in Klagetoh (1986-87); parish ministry at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, Greasewood (1987-92); and director of religious education for Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Holbrook (1992).

She returned to Albuquerque in 1993 as a staff member at the Dominican Retreat House (199394), then served as a tutor (19942014), a writer for various children’s magazines (1994-2010) and as a consultant for Loyola Press (19942010). She returned to Maple Mount as an assistant to the archivist (201416). She plays music during the monthly anointing services in Saint Joseph Villa, and delivered mail on the campus from 2016-21. From 2016 to the present, she crotchets filter socks for the Water With Blessings ministry. KSister Katherine Gertrude Stein, a native of St. Louis, is celebrating 60 years as an Ursuline Sister. She is known for her generous spirit and her contemplative heart. She graduated from Brescia College in 1966 with a degree in elementary education, and later earned certification as a chaplain.

She taught at Immaculate, Owensboro (1966-68), St. Teresa, Glennonville, Mo. (1969), St. Joseph, Leitchfield, Ky. (1970) and St. Leonard, Louisville (1970-72). She taught near her home at St. Angela Merici, Florissant, Mo. (1972-73), then at St. Joseph, Mayfield, Ky. (1974), St. John, Plattsmouth, Neb. (1974-75) and Precious Blood, Owensboro (1975-76). She completed her teaching career at Lourdes Elementary, Nebraska City, Neb. (1976-78), Trinity High School, Whitesville, Ky. (1980-81), St. Paul, Leitchfield (1982-83), and Holy Trinity, St. Louis (1983-84).

She provided transportation at the St. Boniface Convent, Louisville (1979-80) and at the Motherhouse intermittently over 22 years (1981, 1984-86, 1988-89, 1993-98, 19992003). She earned certification as a chaplain and served in pastoral care at Sts. Mary and Elizabeth Hospital in Louisville (1989-93). She was an English as a second language tutor for Migrant/Immigrant Shelter and Support in Owensboro from 2004 until her retirement in 2006. Today, she lives at the Motherhouse and is a member of the Powerhouse of Prayer, praying for the farm staff. KSister Sharon Sullivan is celebrating 40 years as an Ursuline Sister. She was born in Austin, Texas, raised in Houston, but her family moved to Owensboro when she was 13. Sister Sharon has a passion to serve students with special needs, to care for the earth and to help create the next generation of women leaders through her work with the Girl Scouts.

Prior to entering the community, she earned an associate degree from Christian College in Columbia, Mo. (now Columbia College) in 1967, a bachelor’s degree in history from Maryville (Tenn.) College (1969), an elementary and special education teacher certification from Brescia College (1975) and a master’s degree in education from Western Kentucky University (1982). After becoming an Ursuline, she earned her doctorate in special education from Purdue University in 1993.

Most of her ministry has been in Daviess County, Ky. She served at Brescia College/University as director of residential life (198487) and professor of education and special education (1987-90, 19932009, 2017-2022).

From 1990-93, she was missioned to study and teach at Purdue University. She returned to Brescia and became chairwoman of the Social and Behavioral Studies Division (1999-2004), chairwoman of the School of Education (20042007) and coordinator of special education (1999-2007, 2017-2022). She was academic dean and vice president for Academic Affairs (2007-2010).

From 2010-16, she served as the congregational leader for the Ursuline Sisters. Today, she has returned to serve as congregational leader until 2026.n