Eight Ursuline Sisters with ties to Marion County are among 13 Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph celebrating anniversaries of religious profession in 2023, including two who are Marion County natives.
Sister Marie Bosco Wathen, a native of St. Joseph, is celebrating 80 years. She was baptized at St. Joseph Church in Raywick. (Her older sister, the late Sister George Marie Wathen, also became an Ursuline Sister). She was involved in educational ministry in Kentucky and Missouri for 59 years. This includes teaching at St. Catherine School, New Haven (1945-53) and in Louisville and Owensboro. She was a professor of education at Brescia College (now University) in Owensboro from 1974-1997 and institutional research assistant from 1997-2005. Also during that time, she was co-director of the Ursuline Associate program for seven years. She became a resident of Saint Joseph Villa at the Motherhouse in 2012, where she visited and helped the Sisters until 2017. She is retired and active in the Powerhouse of Prayer.
Sister Naomi Aull, a native of Knottsville, is celebrating 80 years. Formerly Sister Mary Benigna, she taught at St. Charles School, Lebanon, 1957-58, and Holy Cross School, Loretto, 1961-62. She was a teacher for 32 years, primarily in Kentucky but also in Missouri, Nebraska and New Mexico. She served in outreach ministry, primarily to the poor, in Louisville for 25 years. After she retired to Mount Saint Joseph in 2002, she became a volunteer caregiver for the Ursulines in Saint Joseph Villa. Today, she is retired and active in the Powerhouse of Prayer.
Sister Clarita Browning is celebrating her 75th year of religious life. She is a native of Calvary, where she was baptized at Holy Name of Mary Church. Sister Clarita was a teacher for 39 years in Kentucky. She also served as a pastoral associate for 12 years in or near Owensboro. From 2002-2009, she was co-director of pastoral care at Saint Joseph Villa, at the Mount Saint Joseph Motherhouse. Her younger sister is also an Ursuline, Sister Marie Goretti Browning. Sister Clarita is retired at the Motherhouse and active in the Powerhouse of Prayer.
Sister Catherine Therese Barber, a native of Springfield, is celebrating 70 years. She taught at St. Francis School, St. Francis (1959-64). She also served elsewhere in Kentucky. She is retired at the Motherhouse and is active in the Powerhouse of Prayer.
Sister Mary Gerald Payne, a native of Knottsville, is celebrating 70 years. She taught at Holy Cross School, Loretto, and ministered in faith formation (1968-72). She also served elsewhere in Kentucky, New Mexico and Missouri. She is retired at the Motherhouse and is active in the Powerhouse of Prayer.
Sister Patricia Rhoten, a native of Palmyra, Neb., is celebrating 60 years. She was formerly Sister David Clare. She taught at St. Francis of Assisi School, 1968-69. She was involved in education for over 40 years in Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska and Louisiana as a teacher, vice principal, principal and assistant to the president of Brescia College in Owensboro (1993-96). Sister Pat is retired and active in the Powerhouse of Prayer.
Sister Mary Celine Weidenbenner, a native of Glennonville, Mo., is celebrating 60 years. She was a teacher at Holy Cross School (1971-73) and Calvary School (1973-76). She has also served elsewhere in Kentucky. Since 2007, she has been a teacher at Mary Carrico Memorial School, Knottsville.
Sister Jacinta Powers, a native of Curdsville, is celebrating 50 years. She taught at St. Augustine School, Lebanon (1979-80). She also taught in Owensboro and Nebraska before becoming a nurse in Louisville, Tennessee, and Owensboro. She was most recently director of nursing at the Ursuline Motherhouse and is discerning her next ministry.
Jubilarian congratulations may be sent to Mount Saint Joseph, 8001 Cummings Road, Maple Mount, KY 42356.
Founded at Maple Mount in Daviess County, Ky., in 1874, the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph currently minister throughout Kentucky and in Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, and Chile, South America. Visit us online at ursulinesmsj.org.
