Benedictine sisters in Beech Grove celebrate monastic jubilees

Criterion staff report

Seven Sisters of St. Benedict of Our Lady of Grace Monastery in Beech Grove are celebrating their monastic jubilees this year.

The celebrations of two of them were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic from when they would ordinarily have occurred in 2020.

Benedictines ordinarily determine their anniversary date from the date on which they professed first vows.

60-year jubilees

Benedictine Sister Sharon Bierman, born in Starlight, entered Our Lady of Grace in 1960. She professed first vows on July 11, 1962, and perpetual vows on July 6, 1967.

Sister Sharon earned an associate degree in physical therapy at Vincennes University in Vincennes, Ind., a bachelor’s degree in elementary education at the former St. Benedict College in Ferdinand, Ind., a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy at Indiana University, and a master’s degree in health science at the University of Indianapolis.

In the archdiocese, Sister Sharon served as a teacher at St. Columba School (now St. Bartholomew School) in Columbus from 1964-66 and 1967-74, and at St. Anthony of Padua School in Clarksville from 1966-67.

Beginning in 1978, Sister Sharon began ministry in health care. She ministered at the former St. Paul Hermitage in Beech Grove as a physical therapist from 1978-99 and as administrator from 2000-13. She served in the monastery as director of formation from 1984-89, as director of health care from 1992-2002 and as a physical therapist from 1974-2013.

Sister Sharon currently lives in retirement at the monastery.
 

Benedictine Sister Dolores Fritz, born in Cincinnati, entered Our Lady of Grace in 1960. She professed first vows on July 11, 1962, and perpetual vows on July 6, 1967.

Sister Dolores earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education at the former St. Benedict College in Ferdinand, Ind., and a master’s degree in elementary education and special education at the University of Cincinnati.

In the archdiocese, Sister Dolores served in food service at the former St. Paul Hermitage in Beech Grove from 1965-66, at the monastery from 1966-69 and 1976-79. She ministered in Catholic education in Indianapolis at the former Assumption School from 1969-70 and at the former All Saints School (now St. Anthony School) from 1970-76.

Sister Dolores currently lives in retirement in Dayton, Ohio, where she volunteers as a tutor.
 

Benedictine Sister Joann Hunt, born in Seymour, entered Our Lady of Grace in 1960. She professed first vows on July 11, 1962, and perpetual vows on July 6, 1967.

Sister Joann earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education at the former St. Benedict College in Ferdinand, Ind., and a master’s degree in education at Indiana University.

In the archdiocese, Sister Joann ministered in Catholic education in Indianapolis at St. Pius X School from 1964-65, Christ the King School from 1965-66, the former St. Patrick School from 1972-74, and Central Catholic School from 1974-76 and 1977-78.

She also served at St. Anthony of Padua School in Clarksville from 1966-69 and 1978-82, the former St. Paul School in Tell City from 1969-70, St. Ambrose School in Seymour from 1970-71, and Our Lady of the Greenwood School in Greenwood from 1971-72.

Sister Joann ministered as an administrative assistant for the archdiocese from 1976-77 and as a director of religious education in Indianapolis at St. Christopher Parish from 1983-90 and at Holy Spirit Parish from 1990-2014.

She currently lives in retirement at the monastery.

50-year jubilees

Benedictine Sister Karen Byerley, born in New Albany, entered Our Lady of Grace in 1968. She professed first vows on June 20, 1970, and professed perpetual vows on July 13, 1975.

Sister Karen earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education at Indiana University Southeast in New Albany and a master’s degree in education at Indiana University.

In the archdiocese, Sister Karen served in Catholic education at Christ the King School in Indianapolis from 1972-73, at St. Anthony of Padua School in Clarksville from 1973-76, 1976-77 and 1985-2004, and at the former St. Paul School in Tell City from 1977-85.

Sister Karen currently serves in the monastery as its archivist and as a spiritual director.

25-year jubilees

Benedictine Sister Ann Patrice Papesh, born in Indianapolis, entered Our Lady of Grace in 1993. She professed first vows on July 23, 1995, and perpetual vows on June 11, 2000.

Sister Ann Patrice earned a bachelor’s degree in theology at Marian University in Indianapolis.

Prior to entering the monastery, she ministered in the archdiocesan Catholic Youth Organization in youth ministry and as director of retreats from 1978-92. After entering the monastery, she ministered at Central Catholic School in Indianapolis as director of development from 1995-2001, at the monastery as an administrative assistant in the development office from 1992-96, as director of development from 2001-14 and as director of technology and an administrative assistant from 2014 to the present.
 

Benedictine Sister Cathy Ann Lepore, born in Marlbrough, Mass., entered Our Lady of Grace in 1995. She professed first vows on Aug. 2, 1997, and perpetual vows on June 16, 2002.

Sister Cathy Ann earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education at Westfield College in Westfield, Mass., and a master’s degree in athletic training at Indiana University.

In the archdiocese, Sister Cathy Ann ministered as a teacher at Roncalli High School in Indianapolis from 1997-2019. She has served in the monastery as director of physical therapy since 2003 and as director of health care since 2019.
 

Benedictine Sister Sheila Marie Fitzpatrick, born in Salem, Ill., entered Our Lady of Grace in 1995. She professed first vows on Aug. 2, 1997, and perpetual vows on June 16, 2002.

Sister Sheila Marie earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry at the University of Illinois and a master’s degree in information science at the University of Pittsburgh.

In the archdiocese, Sister Sheila Marie worked as a data analyst for Eli Lilly and Company from 1989-2002, and as director of facilities for the Benedict Inn Retreat and Conference Center in Beech Grove since 2002.
 

(For more information about Our Lady of Grace Monastery in Beech Grove, visit www.benedictine.com.) †