January 30, 2009
People We Care About
Following is a feature in the Message, designed to help draw together the People of God in southwestern Indiana. Readers are invited to submit information about people who may benefit by some extra prayers and attention.
•Bishop Gerald A. Gettelfinger writes in a Jan. 22 e-mail, “Earlier this evening Father Dave Fleck, dean of the Vincennes Deanery, called to inform me that Father John Schipp is in recovery from successful quadruple cardiac bypass surgery. He is alert and relating to his family. The next 72 hours are always critical.
“Father Ray Reising has left St. Mary’s Hospital and has returned to St. Mary’s Rehabilitation Center on the St. Mary’s Campus (former Regina Home).
“Deacon Bill Heberling continues to be in St. Vincent’s Heart Center in Carmel, Ind.”
Daughter of Charity Sister Esther Diaz, 108, died Jan. 19.
In 2008, Sister celebrated her ninetieth jubilee after her 108th birthday, which made her the oldest Daughter of Char-ity in the world.
Sister Esther joined the Daughters in 1918 in St. Louis, Mo., and completed her secondary education at St. Joseph High School in New Orleans, La. Her first mission was at St. Vincent School in San Francisco, Calif. In 1925, Sister Esther went to Poyang, China, to care for orphaned children at Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Mission. Be-cause of political conditions in China, she had to return to the States in 1927 and was sent to teach at St. Joseph School in New Orleans.
Sister Esther left the country again to teach at Immaculate Conception Academy in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, from 1931 to 1933. After returning to the U.S., she resumed teaching at St. Joseph in New Orleans and completed a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Spanish and English in 1936. Beginning in 1942, Sister Esther taught at St. Vincent High School, San Francisco; St. Patrick High School, Chicago, and Cathedral School in Natchez. In 1971, Sister was appointed Assistant Provincial Treasurer, serving first in Chicago and later at Evansville.
In September of 1972, Sister Esther was missioned to St. Patrick Center in Chicago, where she served as the local superior, until she went into semi-retirement in 1975. At that time, Sister came back to Mater Dei Provincial House in Evansville. She moved to Seton Residence in 1991, where she took part in the ministry of prayer until the time of her death.
Mass of the Resurrection was celebrated in Seton Chapel Jan. 23.
Please send information for PEOPLE WE CARE ABOUT to Mary Ann Hughes, The Message, P.O. Box 4169, Evansville, IN 47724. The e-mail address is mhughes@evansville-diocese.org.