Holy Name Sister Louise Bond, Former Diocesan Chancellor
The Message has learned that Holy Name Sister Louise Bond, who served the Diocese of Evansville as Chancellor from October 1991 to March 1995, died Jan. 26 at the Marie Rose Center at Marys Woods at Lake Oswego, Ore. She was 77.
Cheryl Louise Bond was born in Los Angeles on June 28, 1938, the only child of Robert Leslie and Eugenia (Jeanne) Agnes Bond. Always known as Louise, she grew up in Southern California, and in the fifth grade decided on her own that she wanted to become a Catholic. When she was in high school she grew to know the Holy Name sisters in the parish sodality and after graduation entered the Holy Names novitiate in 1955.
She received a degree in Music Education from Holy Names College and taught seventh- and eighth-grade classes, always with music and seeing this as a special way to praise God, and encouraging others to this form of prayer.
Sister Louise went on to earn a Master’s Degree in theology from St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minn., and a Doctorate of Ministry from the Catholic University in Washington D.C. She put these degrees to work in far corners of the world.
For six years she served in Lesotho, Africa, in positions as varied as a high school principal, director of formation for the Holy Names sisters, coordinator for the Ministry of Education in Religious Education for primary and secondary schools, and chairperson of the Religious Studies Department of the National Teacher Training College. At that time she travelled through Europe, eastern Africa, and Israel.
Back in the United States she travelled the country giving workshops and conferences, writing articles and making videos – many of them designed for use in lay ministry. She cared about the plight of the illiterate, undereducated and underdeveloped people everywhere.
She addressed large crowds at convocations, and received awards from such diverse groups as Habitat for Humanity and the national Association for Lay Ministry. She founded programs at Holy Names College, seeking ways to make significant contribution to the Church she loved so well.
In addition to serving as Chancellor of the Diocese of Evansville, Sister Louise served as Ministry Consultant for the Diocese of Indianapolis; as Director of the office of Spirituality in the Diocese of Lexington, Ky., and Vicar of Religious in the Diocese of San Bernardino, Calif.
She served 58 years as a member of the Sisters of the Holy Names. Survivors include members of her religious community, former pupils and friends. Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Feb. 9 in the order’s Provincial House Chapel followed by interment at Holy Names Cemetery in Marylhurst, Ore.
Memorials may be made to the Sisters of the Holy Names Retirement Fund, P.O. Box 411, Marylhurst, OR 97036.
