Ursuline Sisters of Toledo, Ohio

Jubilees

60 Year Jubilarians - 2024

Sister Bernarda Breidenbach


“‘What do you ask of me, oh Lord?’  My response began 60 years ago when I entered this Ursuline Community.  And so my journey began.  It has been an adventure of many surprises and graces, beginning with classroom teaching, grade school administration, parish involvement, response to community needs, and presently through my presence with staff and residents at Rosary Care,” says Sister Bernarda.


Holding a special fondness for children and teachers, including parish ministry, Sister Bernarda spent her entire teaching and principalship career in the Diocese of Toledo Catholic Schools.  She taught at St. John in Point Place, St. Mary in Tiffin, Good Shepherd in Oregon, as well as St. Patrick of Heatherdowns and St. Agnes in Toledo.  Sister Bernarda then held principal positions at Queen of Peace (now known as Queen of Apostles) in Toledo, Immaculate Conception in Bellevue, and St. Richard School in Swanton. 


“All has been possible because of the love and support of family and friends,” Sister Bernarda says.  “Know you are appreciated, loved and remembered in my daily prayers.”

Sister Janice Ann Brown 


Sister Janice Ann Brown entered the Ursuline Convent on September 8, 1964, crediting her third grade teacher, Sister Annunciata, for planting the desire to serve God as a Sister. 

 

Sister Janice Ann was involved in education endeavors for 35 years as a teacher and principal.  This included teaching at Rosary Cathedral, St. Teresa, St. Patrick of Heatherdowns, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Good Shepherd, St. Jude, and Regina Coeli in Toledo.  She also taught at St. Rose, Perrysburg, Nazareth Hall, Grand Rapids, and St. Joseph, Tiffin, where she also served as principal.  After retiring from classroom education, Sister Janice Ann worked at Regina Coeli as office manager for 10 years.  


During her work years, Sister also was involved in Religious Education Classes (CCD) in many of the parishes and served as director of the programs in several parishes.  


For over 40 years, Sister Janice Ann played the guitar for community, parish and school liturgical celebrations and school musical presentations, and worked with hundreds of students who learned to play guitar and celebrate liturgies.  After retiring, Sister Janice Ann helped at the Ursuline Center with driving, and assisted as liturgical musician and receptionist, and today she continues to drive Sisters to their appointments and help wherever needed. Sister Janice Ann currently is involved in prison ministry in Toledo, providing music for Masses and prayer services at Toledo Correctional Institution.  It also is important to Sister Janice Ann to donate blood and platelets, and has given more than 12 gallons over the years.  


Sister Janice Ann looks back on her life and especially her 60 years as an Ursuline Sister with fondness and gratitude. Her younger years were filled with memories of backyard basketball, plentiful home gardens, family traditions, and more.  Her years in ministry have included teaching in various schools and at times, switching schools mid-year, to teaching guitar to students of all ages. “There have been good years and bad years and in between years,” she says.  Over the years, Sister Janice Ann has adapted to the needs of the times with courage, as St. Angela Merici encourages us to do.

70 Year Jubilarians - 2024

Sister Beth Hemminger 


In reflecting on 70 years of religious life, Sister Beth says, “I am grateful to my family and those whom I have ministered.  I especially enjoyed working with people.  I will always remember a little girl saying to her mom, ‘There is God’s friend.’”


Sister Beth entered the Ursuline Convent from St. Joseph Parish, Tiffin, Ohio, on December 31, 1954.   She began her ministry teaching primary grades and junior high at Good Shepherd, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Rosary Cathedral, St. Thomas Aquinas, Toledo; 

St. Mary’s, Tiffin; then served as principal at Good Shepherd.  She was director of religious education at St. Elizabeth Church, Tecumseh, Michigan; and pastoral minister at SS Peter and Paul Parish, Ottawa, Ohio and at St. Ignatius Parish, Oregon, Ohio, focusing on Christian formation. 


Upon retirement, Sister Beth volunteered at the Ursuline Center, sewing and visiting the residents.  She also volunteered in the surgery waiting room at St. Charles Hospital, offering comfort to those waiting to hear about a family member or loved one; and at St. Ignatius Parish by working on various committees and home visiting. 


Sister Beth embraces her gifts of compassion, friendliness, prayer, and attentiveness to people in her current ministry of prayer and presence.

Sister Regina Smith


“There have been so many blessings in those years,” says Sister Regina when reflecting on her years in ministry.  “Being a teacher in elementary schools each age level brought challenges and joys.  Parish work challenged my own faith journey, especially in sharing faiths in RCIA.  So many adults brought me appreciation of my own life as a religious and as a woman in today’s church.”


Sister Regina entered the Ursuline Convent on September 8, 1954 from St. Joseph Parish, Tiffin, Ohio.  Knowing that she wanted to become a Sister since grade school, Sister Regina cites the Sisters in her community and her own sister, Sister Bonaventure Smith, OSU, who influenced her decision to enter the Convent.  


Sister Regina taught in parishes in Toledo, Perrysburg, Tiffin, and Puerto Rico. Sister Regina did pastoral work at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Temperance, Michigan; St. Mary’s Church in Vermilion, Ohio; St. Michael Church in Kalida, Ohio; and St. Patrick Church in Bryan, Ohio.  Following teaching and pastoral ministry, Sister Regina volunteered at Hospice of Northwest Ohio.  Her current ministry is one of prayer and presence.

65 Year Jubilarians - 2023

Sister Mary Angela Gaietto

After graduating from Tiffin, Ohio’s Calvert High School and working two years at the GE plant there as a secretary, Sister Mary Angela Gaietto realized she instead desired to teach little ones. She entered the Ursuline Convent from St. Mary’s Parish in 1958, following in the footsteps of her sister, Sister Merici.


Going wherever the need was, Sister Angela taught elementary children at St. John the Baptist School, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Patrick of Heatherdowns, and St. Angela Hall in Toledo, and also at St. Mary, Tiffin; St. Gerard, Lima; and St. Rose, Perrysburg. Sister Angela says at that time, it wasn’t unusual for her to have up to 50 children in one classroom.

Following her long ministry in teaching, Sister Angela became part of the Development Office staff at St. Ursula Academy for six years and served her community as office assistant at the Ursuline Convent offices until her retirement.  Today, Sister Angela’s ministry is one of prayer and presence.

With a beautiful smile, Sister Angela says, “I am very happy with my decision to enter the Convent. I have wonderful memories teaching primary grade children. It was meant to be and I’ve been blessed in many ways.”

Sister Nancy Mathias

“I remember it very clearly, even after 65 years. It happened at the daily school Mass at St. Joseph School, Tiffin, Ohio where I was an eighth grader. A voice said to me, “I want you to serve me as an Ursuline nun.” No one around me seemed to hear the voice. I took the call seriously, asking my grandmother to allow me to go to Toledo and attend the Ursuline prep school at St. Ursula. I received a resounding no. I continued to carry the call in my heart. In my senior year at Calvert I told her I wanted to enter the Ursuline Convent. Her refusal was even a more adamant no. That summer I was able to get six college credits at Mary Manse College and in the Fall I began teaching second graders at St. Mary School in Tiffin. The Sisters in the school knew of my desire to become of them. They helped me get what I needed. And on February 2, 1959 I caught a Greyhound Bus to Toledo and became a postulant in the Ursuline Community. 


“It has been a blessed journey with Christ and the Ursuline Community. It is hard to believe it has been 65 years. Christ and I have had a wonderful journey together. He has provided so many opportunities to serve Him in the Church, from teaching school in east Toledo, serving as a principal for St. Teresa School in the central city, serving on the Ursuline Leadership team and then becoming the superior of the Community, serving in the diocesan schools office, and then finally serving as a Delegate for Consecrated Life for 16 years. What an adventure Christ has given me! I have met and worked with so many wonderful people who serve the Church in numerous ways. They have inspired me and helped me to be a better person.

“I know Christ continues to call me to be His and to serve Him. He will make it known how as we travel the years to come together.

“How blessed I am to know, love and serve my Spouse, Jesus Christ!”

Sister Kenwyn Steger

Sister Kenwyn Steger entered the Ursuline Convent from Rosary Cathedral Parish, Toledo in 1959.

Sister Kenwyn’s ministries included teaching and library science. Her teaching assignments began at St. John the Baptist School in Point Place and continued at Rosary Cathedral, St. Agnes, Good Shepherd, St. Angela Hall, Toledo, and at St. Joseph, Tiffin and St. Gerard, Lima. “I always enjoyed teaching,” says Sister Kenwyn. “I enjoyed getting to know the kids and their parents. Now I appreciate hearing from former students.”

Following graduate work at Villanova University and Bowling Green State University, Sister Kenwyn became a librarian at St. Angela Hall and continued her library work at St. Patrick of Heatherdowns, substituted at Toledo Lucas County Libraries and assisted in the library at St. Ursula Academy for many years. She also assumed care of the library at Ursuline Center and enjoyed volunteering in the ICU Waiting Room at Mercy Health - St. Anne Hospital, Toledo, where she would be available for anyone who wished to talk, visit or pray. Today, Sister Kenwyn says she enjoys her times of prayer and being present to others in many different ways.

70 Year Jubilarians - 2022

Sister Stephanie Helfrich

“I would not give up one day of my life to be any younger because of all the wonderful experiences I’ve had, through all my different ministries. Each offered great opportunities with God’s people.”


As Vicar for Religious, Sister Stephanie learned about various communities and their charisms. Her personal mission was to help the members exhibit and appreciate the spirit of their own community. As, Formation Director, she saw her ministry as a privilege to assist those seeking a religious vocation, supporting their discernment by walking the journey with them.


After serving in Leadership, she attended the Ursuline Institute in Brescia, Italy, home of the foundress of the Ursulines, Angela Merici. Spiritual direction, the most constant of her many ministries gave her the privilege to hear one’s story using her gift of gentle listening.  Vatican II, a time of experiencing the Spirit at work in the Church, was both blessing and gift.


Key words used in putting this together were gift and privilege. She offers: “If you deny the gift, you deny the Giver.” “Ask for the grace to know God’s will.” “Ministry is a privilege.”


Sister Coletta McAllister

Seventy years ago I left my home and family to join the Ursuline Community for a new home, the first of many to follow. It was the most important decision of my life.


Through the years, I served in a variety of ministries. My first fifteen years was teaching in various grade schools in the Toledo Diocese, after which I became a student myself. In 1970 I received an MASL in library science. This opened the door for my wonderful serving in four libraries - Lime Public, Mary Manse College, St. Vincent School of Nursing, and twenty years at St. Ursula Academy. I then retired to join a group of volunteers as a spiritual visitor to residents at the Ursuline Center. In 2012 I became a resident myself at the Center until its closing in 2021. I found my final home at the Woodlands location across from the Center.


Yes, it has been a very full, busy seventy years. In my new home and life style I have had the time for reflection and to increase my spiritual life and make new friends. I am so grateful for all the blessings I’ve received being an Ursuline Sister. The Lord has directed my life, and indeed, He has saved the best for last.

65 Year Jubilarians

Sister Mary Katherine Garvin

 “I have made a difference in children’s lives through my work in special education. When they became adults they achieved. I especially remember one who graduated from the University of Findlay in Electrical engineering. And another, developmentally delayed student who became a licensed nurse.x


After I left teaching, I went into home health care to assist people to stay in their own homes with dignity and respect. With patience and understanding, there are many things you can do even if you are disabled in some way. I had a close, personal friend, we prayed together, we laughed together and we cried together. It was a privilege, when her family asked me, to care for her.


Currently I am visiting a gentleman in my neighborhood whom I visit a couple times a week. I am the young one of the two of us. Also, of importance is my faith-sharing group that meets weekly.



I am grateful to my Ursuline Sisters and pleased to be a member of this community. I appreciate the love and support of each other and how we have grown in our openness to each other.”

Sister Mary Alice Henkel


“Nothing is precious, save what is yourself in others and others in yourself.” Teilhard de Chardin


From Sister Mary Alice: These words of Teilhard mirror the blessings of being Ursuline for low these many years.




60 Year Jubilarians

Sister Margaret Manion

God has blessed me with good health so that I can continue my service. Therefore, I’m doing volunteer work at my parish and at area nursing homes. I experience God’s presence in my life, in my service, in unique ways now. 

God has graced me with gracious and marvelous people to learn many things. These companions are the salt of the earth.


The wonders of children’s eyes - straight from God. I was blessed with trying to teach them. The high school group – both adults and teens so full of energy and wonder about what the future holds. These past few years full of daily adventures - taking people to appointments or talking to whomever needs a word or two.


The slower pace of life has been most enjoyable and a blessing. Daily liturgy - not so early, and the daily study of God’s and St. Angela’s words. Work in the archives finds me in awe of the past and grateful for the women who, through their dedication and love of God and St Angela, have shown us examples of dedicated service.


Through good times and bad I found there is always present the warm-hearted support of my sisters in religion. Now, if we could attract today’s women to join us in the mission of spreading God’s word, that would be the ultimate blessing. Soli Deo Gloria! 

Share by: