Ferdinand Benedictine Sisters Celebrate Jubilees

Eleven Benedictine sisters celebrated special anniversaries of their religious profession on Sunday, October 30, at Monastery Immaculate Conception in Ferdinand, Indiana. Sister Corita Hoffman, Sister Mary Carmel Spayd, Sister Mary Carmen Spayd, and Sister Beata Mehling marked the 70th anniversary of their profession of monastic vows. They entered the monastery in 1944 and made monastic profession in 1946.  Sister Joella Kidwell, Sister Diane Fischer, Sister Madonna Helmer, Sister Jacqueline Shively, Sister Helen Jean Kormelink, Sister Leona Schlachter, and Sister Doris Market celebrated their 60th anniversary.  They entered the community in 1954 and made monastic profession in 1956. These sisters have served a total of 700 years in ministries in Indiana, Illinois, California, Kentucky, and Tennessee.

• Benedictine Sister Corita Hoffman is a native of Schnellville, Indiana. She served as a teacher at St. Mary School in Huntingburg, St. Joseph School and Mater Dei High School in Evansville, St. Mary of the Knobs School in Floyd Knobs, St. Joseph Hill School in Borden, Mariah Hill Elementary School in Mariah Hill, Fulda Elementary School in Fulda, St. Anthony School in St. Anthony, St. Philip School in St. Philip, and at Marian Heights Academy in Ferdinand.  She served as a religious education teacher for the Ferdinand area parishes, and coordinated religious education at Sacred Heart Parish in Schnellville and at St. Henry Parish in St. Henry.   In addition, she worked in supportive services at the monastery.  She currently serves in the ministry of prayer.

• Benedictine Sister Mary Carmel Spayd is a native of Mariah Hill, Indiana. She taught at Christ the King School in Indianapolis, Academy Immaculate Conception and later Marian Heights Academy in Ferdinand.  She taught and served as principal at Mater Dei High School in Evansville.  At the monastery, she served as administrative secretary, director of development, and sacristan.  She currently serves in supportive services at the monastery.

• Benedictine Sister Mary Carmen Spayd is a native of Mariah Hill, Indiana. She taught at St. Benedict School and Mater Dei High School in Evansville and at Vincennes University in Jasper.  She served as teacher and principal at St. Ferdinand High School in Ferdinand. She served as director of special projects at Marian Heights Academy and as development director, assistant development director, and secretary to the vocation director at the monastery.  She currently serves in supportive services at the monastery.

• Benedictine Sister Beata Mehling is a native of Ferdinand, Indiana. She taught at St. John School in Starlight, St. Theresa School and Marian Day School in Evansville, and Madonna Day School in Memphis, Tennessee.  She later served as principal at Marian Day School in Evansville.  She was the director of summer camp for the handicapped at Anderson Woods, and was the supervisor of adult handicapped living at Lark House in Siberia, Dove House and Owl House, both in Jasper.  Currently, she works in supportive services and coordinates the altar bread ministry at the monastery.

• Benedictine Sister Joella Kidwell is a native of Washington, Indiana. She taught at St. Theresa School and Mater Dei High School, both in Evansville, and at Academy Immaculate Conception in Ferdinand.  She served as vocation director for the Diocese of Evansville.  She served as director of ongoing formation, director of Kordes Enrichment Center, coordinator of special projects, coordinator of planning, and coordinator of spirituality ministry at the monastery.  She was the director of the Renewal summer program in Rome.  She served as prioress of the Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand from 1998 to 2002.  She currently serves as president of the Federation of St. Gertrude.

• Benedictine Sister Diane Fischer is a native of French Lick, Indiana.  She taught at Christ the King School and Holy Redeemer School, both in Evansville, Dubois Elementary School in Dubois, St. Thomas School in Vincennes, St. Anthony School in St. Anthony, and at Pine Ridge Elementary School in Birdseye.   She served as vocation director for the Ferdinand Benedictine community.  She worked in parish ministry at Holy Angels in New Harmony, St. Matthew in Mount Vernon, Holy Name in Bloomfield, at St. Celestine in Celestine and at St. Raphael in Dubois.  She worked as a teacher’s aide and office worker at Sacred Heart Model School in Louisville, Kentucky.  She served as a hospitality assistant at Kordes Enrichment Center in Ferdinand and currently works as an assistant to the administration at the monastery.

• Benedictine Sister Madonna Helmer is a native of Evansville, Indiana.  For over 50 years, she served in music ministry.  She taught music and played organ at Assumption School in Indianapolis, Our Lady of Grace Academy in Beech Grove, St. Matthew School in Mount Vernon, Holy Cross School in Fort Branch, St. Theresa School in Evansville, Sts. Peter and Paul School and St. James School, both in Haubstadt, Sacred Heart School in Vincennes, Holy Spirit, Holy Rosary, and Christ the King Schools, all in Evansville, and at Marian Heights Academy in Ferdinand.  At the monastery, she served as the administrative secretary to administration, worked in the vestment department, worked in the bakery, and gave private music lessons.  She currently serves in supportive services, including playing the organ for community prayer.

• Benedictine Sister Jacqueline Shively is a native of Evansville, Indiana.  She taught at St. Bartholomew School in Columbus, St. Francis Xavier School in Poseyville, Holy Spirit and Holy Redeemer Schools in Evansville, and St. Mary School in Washington.  She served as assistant director of the diocesan vocation office for the Diocese of Evansville and as assistant vocation director at the monastery.  She served as business manager for Marian Heights Academy in Ferdinand, and as an assistant in the monastery’s business office.  She currently serves as an assistant to the administration of the monastery.

• Benedictine Sister Helen Jean Kormelink is a native of Evansville, Indiana.  She spent over 50 years working in the educational field.  She taught at Christ the King School in Indianapolis, Sts. Peter and Paul School in Haubstadt, Christ the King School and Nativity School, both in Evansville, Ferdinand Consolidated Grade School in Ferdinand, and St. Henry School in St. Henry.  She served as assistant superintendent of schools in Evansville, Indianapolis, and Joliet, Illinois.  She was superintendent of schools in Peoria and Romeoville, Illinois.  She was co-director of educational services for the Diocese of Peoria and director of catechetical ministries for the Diocese of Lafayette.  She currently serves in supportive services at the monastery.

• Benedictine Sister Leona Schlachter is a native of Ferdinand, Indiana.  She taught at schools throughout the Diocese of Evansville, including Holy Rosary, St. Benedict, and St. Joseph School, all in Evansville,; Ireland Elementary School in Ireland, Holy Cross School in Fort Branch, St. James School in Haubstadt, and Holy Family School in Jasper.  At the monastery, she served as the kitchen manager at Kordes Enrichment Center, and currently works in activities and pastoral care for the senior sisters.

• Benedictine Sister Doris Market is a native of Evansville, Indiana.  She taught at St. Matthew School in Mount Vernon, Holy Spirit School and St. Benedict School in Evansville, St. Philip School in St. Philip, and Mariah Hill Elementary School in Mariah Hill.  After being sent to California, Sister Doris taught at St. Catherine School in Rialto, St. Francis School in Huntington Beach, and St. Mary’s School in Apple Valley.  She served as director of formation at Holy Spirit Monastery in Sunnymead, in parish ministry at Assumption Parish in San Bernardino, and in religious education at St. Anthony Parish in Riverside and at St. Frances X. Cabrini in Yucaipa.  Since returning to Indiana in 2010, Sister Doris has been working in the bakery, Monastery Baked Goods, and serving as a monastery artist.