November 13, 2009
Ferdinand Benedictine sisters celebrate jubilees
Five Benedictine sisters celebrated special anniversaries of their religious profession on Sunday, October 25, at Monastery Immaculate Conception in Ferdinand. Sisters Helen Maurer, Benita Biever, and Dolorita Libs observed the 70th anniversary of their monastic profession and Sisters Victoria Pohl and Benedicta Clauss marked their 60th anniversary. These sisters have served a total of 330 years in ministries in Indiana, Louisiana, Virginia, North Carolina, Italy and Guatemala.
Sister Helen (formerly Mary Pierre), a native of Haubstadt, entered the monastery from Sts. Peter and Paul Church in 1937. She made her first profession of monastic vows in 1939 and her final profession in 1942. She currently gives music lessons and does supportive services and music ministry at the monastery. She has been teaching music for 67 years, beginning in 1942 at the former Academy in Ferdinand. She also taught at St. Benedict School and Mater Dei in Evansville, Christ the King in Indianapolis, the former St. Benedict College and Marian Heights Academy in Ferdi-nand, and Grambling State University in Louisiana. She also served as director of liturgy at the monastery.
Sister Benita, a native of Tell City, entered the monastery from St. Paul Church in 1937. She made her first profession of monastic vows in 1939 and her final profession in 1942. She currently resides in the monastery’s Hildegard Health Center and serves in the ministry of prayer. She taught or served as principal for 46 years, beginning in 1941. She served in Washington, Columbus, Evansville (St. Joseph, Christ the King, Nativity, St. Benedict), St. Anthony in Fulda, Rockport and Jasper Holy Family. She also taught religious education at St. Meinrad. She was director of the sisters in initial formation and worked in the bakery, infirmary, vestments department and sacristy at the monastery.
Sister Dolorita, a native of Floyds Knobs, entered the monastery from St. Mary of the Knobs in 1937. She made her first profession of monastic vows in 1939 and her final profession in 1942. She began teaching at St. Anthony in 1943 and continued at Bradford, Tell City and Evansville (Mater Dei and Christ the King). She served as a missionary in Coban, Guatemala. She worked in pastoral care at the former St. Joseph Hospital, Huntingburg, and as activities director at Professional Care Nursing Cen-ter in Dale. She was a receptionist at the former Marian Heights Academy, Ferdinand. She currently works in supportive services at the monastery.
Sister Victoria, a native of Haubstadt, entered the monastery from Sts. Peter and Paul Church in 1947. She made her first monastic profession in 1949 and her final profession in 1952. She began teaching at St. Theresa, Evansville, in 1950 and continued at Mater Dei, the former St. Benedict College in Ferdinand and University of Southern Indiana, Evansville. She served as coordinator of St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry and Emergency Services in Evansville for 13 years. Currently she works as the mail clerk, assistant in the Business Office, and in other supportive services at the monastery.
Sister Benedicta, a native of Vincennes, entered the monastery from St. Thomas Church in 1947. She made her first monastic profession in 1949 and her final profession in 1952. She currently resides in the monastery’s Hildegard Health Cen-ter and serves in the ministry of prayer. She ministered in teaching for more than 50 years. Beginning in 1950, she taught in Evansville (St. Joseph and Mater Dei), at the former St. Benedict College in Ferdinand, where she also served as dean of students, Benedict College, N.C., Norfolk State University, Va., and North American College in Rome, Italy. She also tutored in English as a Second Language at North Spencer Alternative Education Center in Dale.