Information compiled with the assistance of:
Sister Rebecca Betz, O.P., Archivist for the The Dominican Sisters of Akron;
Sister Joanne Gardner, H.M., Coordinator of Community
& Archives for The Sisters of the Humility of Mary;
Nancy Yuhasz, Chancelor at the Diocese of Youngstown;
personal contact with those who served St. Joseph;
Parish & School files; and St. Joseph parishioners.

Compassion, humble service and faithful love for
Christ and the Church has been their life's devotion.
These women in religious life are a witness
to Christ & have brought blessings to
God's people enriching the lives of many.
May those blessings return a hundredfold!

"Remembering without ceasing your work of faith,
and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord
Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father."
1 Thessalonians 1:3

ST. JOSEPH SCHOOL

In 1962, Fr. Francis Hughes enlisted the services of the Sisters of St. Dominic of Akron (1230 W. Market St., Akron, OH 44313-1708), whose pioneer spirit and dedication made St. Joseph the recognized school that it is today. They lived in The Faragher House that was purchased, renovated and used as the Convent. This was a red-brick Victorian home built around 1885 by Martin B. Sanford [son of Jason and Hannah (Ladd) Sanford]. This building still exists today as a private residence (Bill & Valerie Fosnight), 10941 Main St., on the corner of St. Rt. 44 & the entrance to Crestwood High School. Later they resided in the house at 4534 Pioneer Trail (currently used as the rectory) until 1990 when Sr. Laura Wallace retired and no other sisters resided at the parish.

Sister M. Dennis Fath (Sr. Mary), O.P. ~ Principal, Teacher & Convent Superior, 1962-1965
Born March 17, 1913, the daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Faith, Sister Mary Fath entered the convent from St. Peter Parish in Cleveland in 1931. On April 30, 1932, when she received the Dominican habit she also received the name Sister Mary Dennis. She made profession on June 17, 1933. Sister Dennis was a student at Sister College in Cleveland, Ohio for two years after she made profession. In 1935, she was assigned to St. Dominic School in Youngstown, where she taught first grade for four years. Her next assignment was at St. Vincent School, Akron for six years as a first grade teacher. In 1945, Sister Dennis was placed in our Lady of the elms Preschool as a teacher for one year, then as superior for three years. From 1949 to 1957, she became the principal of the preschool. In 1957, Sister Dennis was assigned to a new school, Regina Coeli in Alliance, where she became the principal of the elementary school and superior of the convent. In addition to those positions, she also taught grades one and two.
In 1962, Sister was asked to be principal of St. Joseph School, Mantua, as well as teacher, this time in grade two for one year and grade four for two years. In her, varied assignments, Sister Dennis was then sent to St. Paul School in Akron, teaching grade four for four years until 1969. Around that time, Sister Dennis became Sister Mary Fath when the sisters were permitted to use their baptismal names, if they wished.
In 1969, Sister Mary Fath was assigned to St. Hilary School, Akron, where she taught grade five for one year, the next year, she taught grades seven and eight math and religion. Sister loved teaching math which later on became her full-time ministry. However, in 1971, she became the grade five teacher. Another change brought Sister Mary to Our Lady of the Elms Preschool again as Directress, where she remained for four years.
In 1977, Sister Mary was assigned to Immaculate Conception School, Ravenna, Ohio as teacher of grade six until 1982. In the school years 1982-1993, Sister became the math teacher for grades six, seven and eight, and served as homeroom teacher for the sixth graders. This was a special assignment which she loved very much. She also became involved in tutoring the children in computer skills and remained in Ravenna as a volunteer teacher until 1995.
After sixty years of teaching, Sister Mary Fath returned to Our Lady of the Elms Motherhouse to retire. When her health failed, she was transferred to Regina Health Center in Richfield for special care. Sister Mary also loved history and enjoyed doing history research especially on old houses in the Ravenna area. She loved to travel, visit museums, and she enjoyed gardening and ethnic cooking in her free time. Sister Mary died at the age of 90 on Sunday, December 21, 2003. The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at Our Lady of the Elms Convent on December 24. Many of her former pupils and those who taught with her were present at her wake and funeral. She is remembered with much love.

Sister M. Victoria Frank, O.P. ~ Teacher, 1962-1964
Need Profile
Left the Community

Sister M. Dominic Schalmo, O.P. ~ Teacher, 1962-1965
Need Profile
Left the Community

Sister Jeremy Englert, O.P. ~ 1962-1963 (not on DOY records)
Left the Community

Sister Madeline Karam, O.P. ~ 1963-1964 (not on DOY records)
Deceased

Sister M. Alma Tressel, O.P. ~ Teacher, 1964-1965
Need Profile
Deceased

Sister Hyacinth Brennan, O.P. ~ 1964-1965 (not on DOY records)

Sister M. Rosaire Miller (Sr. Rose), O.P. ~ Principal, Teacher & Convent Superior, 1965-1969
Rose Miller, the daughter of Fred and Margaret Lang Miller, joined the family of six siblings on August 7, 1925. She was already blessed with four sisters and two brothers, and another younger brother came along when she was five years old. Her parents were both German and had moved to the United States from Russia in 1915. Rose was baptized at St. Bernard Church in Akron; however, shortly after that her family moved to St. Paul Parish in Akron where Rose attended elementary school and graduated in 1939. She attended Garfield High School in Akron, graduating in June, 1943. She was an office clerk for two years at Firestone Tire and Rubber Company in Akron. In 1945, she decided to enter the convent of Our Lady of the Elms in Akron. In 1945, she decided to enter the convent of Our Lady of the Elms in Akron. Her oldest sister, Sister Agatha Miller, entered the same convent when Rose was two years old.
At Reception Day, March 10, 1946, Rose became Sister Mary Rosaire and donned the white Dominican habit. A year later, April 13, 1947, Sister Rosaire pronounced her first vows. She was immediately sent to Immaculate Conception School in Ravenna, Ohio to do some student teaching. In September of 1947, she became the third grade teacher at St. Dominic School, Youngstown. After one year in third grade, she taught the fifth graders. She then assisted in Our Lady of the Elms Preschool for a while and then to St. Vincent Elementary to help in the first grade; she assisted in the preschool again for one semester and in the second semester attended St. John College of Cleveland as a student. She obtained her BSE degree in June of 1954.
Her regular assignments in education began in 1952 and continued through 1971 in the following schools: St. Matthew, Ellet; Immaculate Conception, Ravenna; St. Felicitas, Cleveland; St. Dominic, Youngstown; SS. Peter & Paul, Doylestown; and St. Joseph, Mantua, where she was principal, grade three teacher, and superior of the convent.
Sister Rosaire reverted to her baptismal name after Vatican II renewals and was then known as Sister Rose. She also began a new ministry as a receptionist and clerk at St. Thomas Hospital for four and a half years. In 1976 she helped with food service at Our Lady of the Elms Convent. Then she went back to office work and was secretary at St. Vincent Elementary School, at Our Lady of the elms Preschool and Our lady of the elms Special Education School until 1993. When the Special Education School closed, Sister rose became the portress at Or Lady of the elms Mother house, which she has managed successfully through the years until the present time. She schedules other sisters and sometimes high school student to work in the Portress Room. She helps those in need in various ways.

Sister Antoinette Greco, O.P. ~ 1965-1967 (not on DOY records)
Left the Community

Sister M. Jude Baltrinic, O.P. (Sr. Bernadine) ~ Teacher, 1965-1966
Bernadine Baltrinic was born on January 28, 1932, in Empire, Ohio, the eighth in a family of eleven children born to Mike and Mary (Pozderac) Baltrinic. She was first generation Croatian since her parents were born in Croatia, Yugoslavia (they met and married in the United States). Being part of a close-knit, religious family helped her to better understand those in her home town who showed their dislike of Catholics, foreigners, poor people, and those with large families. This experience seemed to draw her in her adult years to helping the less fortunate and working for peace and justice.
The family moved to Firestone Park in Akron in 1944 where she was enrolled in the seventh grade at St. Paul School and was taught by Dominican Sisters. As with other family members, music was a part of her life (she took piano, saxophone and oboe lessons and also played in the orchestra and band in school). Once she entered the convent she played the organ for Eucharistic liturgies at her various missions and directed the school choir. Bernadine graduated from Garfield High School in 1950 and began working at the Bell Telephone Company until she entered the Dominican sisters of Akron on September 8, 1951. She believes that the Spirit used her mother and Sister Celine in having her respond to the call to religious life. She attended St. John College as a postulant and lived at St. Agatha Student House. She received the habit and the name Sister Mary Jude on August 4, 1952. After her profession of vows on August 4, 1953, she was assigned to teach at Immaculate Conception School in Ravenna, St. Agatha in Cleveland, and St. Joseph in Mantua until 1966.
After leaving St. Joe's, Sister Jude served in El Salvador working with two Dominican sisters from her congregation, a lay woman and four priests from the Cleveland Diocese. Her work has led her down the path of justice which has energized her life and ministry. She has been involved wide variety of positions and projects within the Akron Dominicans community and Crown Point, the Cleveland Diocese, local communities and committees, and Dominican Sisters International. In 2001, after completing her term as President of the Congregation, Sister Bernie took a sabbatical at Berakah in Pittsfield, New Hampshire. In May 2002, she returned to Crown Point to live and was appointed Vocation Director with an office at Our Lady of the Elms Convent. Her great joy was to celebrate her Golden Jubilee on July 27, 20022 at St. Hilary Church.

Sister M. dePorres Schimmoeler, O.P. ~ Teacher, 1965-1967
Need Profile
Left the Community

Sister M. Sebastian Ricciardi, O.P. ~ Teacher, 1966-1969
Need Profile
Left the Community

Sister M. Sebastian Ricciardi, O.P. ~ Teacher, 1966-1969
Need Profile

Sister M. Conrad Roth, O.P. ~ Teacher, 1967-1968
Need Profile

Sister M. Kevin Howley, O.P. (Sr. Lin) ~ Teacher, 1968-1969
Sister Lin's background is a mixture of Irishness, Dominicanism, and Firsts. Born September 22, 1923, she was the first daughter born to her father, who arrived at Ellis Island aboard the Lusitania in 1911, and her mother, who arrived a few years later - both of them coming from the Emerald Isle. Her birth year (1923) was the same year Our Lady of the Elms Convent was dedicated in Akron. Sister started first grade the same year that the new congregation was officially established (1929). She graduated in the first ninth grade class of St. Dominic School, Youngstown. The earliest college courses she took as a newly professed sister were at Siena Heights in Adrian, Michigan, and St. Mary of the Springs in Columbus, Ohio - both Dominican colleges.
Heartfelt gratitude goes out to her congregation for the many opportunities afforded her over the years which have enhanced her ministries: teacher and elementary school principal. She received the name Sister Mary Kevin when she received the Dominican habit on July 13, 1941. Sister was one of the first sisters assigned to open Regina Coeli School in Alliance, Ohio; the first sister, Director of Religious Education in St. Joseph Parish, Alliance; the first sister to serve in Cassiday-Turkle Christian Funeral Home, Alliance; the first Co-Pastor of All Saints Parish, Canton; the first sister receptionist at St. Mary Magdalene Parish, Willowick.
Sister Kevin went back to her baptismal name after Vatican II changes occurred, shortening Elinor Catherine to Sister Lin Howley. In addition to her teaching and other assignments, she served the congregation as a member of the Admission and Formation Commission, a member of the Elms School Board for two terms, and was appointed a member of the Constitution Committee in 1983. Sister Lin loves visiting the Elms Motherhouse in her "spare" time and enjoys a good cup of coffee. She also loves visiting her family in Youngstown, Ohio. She currently resides at the rectory of St. Patrick Parish in Leetonia (since June 28, 2007).

Sister M. Mildred Cook, O.P. ~ Principal & Teacher, 1969-1977
Mary Angela Cook was born of Leo and Frances Hahn Cook on January 7, 1912, and was the oldest of eight children. She attended St. Bernard Grade School and then Sacred Heart Academy (1926-1927). Although her mother felt she could use Mary at home, she offered no objection when Mary entered Our Lady of the Elms Convent on September 15, 1928. Mary graduated from Our Lady of the Elms High School on June 7, 1929. In the Novitiate, when Mother Ambrose taught German, Mary sometimes dozed because she already knew German very well. Earlier, when she was ten years old, Mildred, her little sister, at the age of three, had died. Mary was deeply moved. Consequently, she took the name Sister Mildred in religious life.
In 1930, Sister began her teaching career at St. Augustine School, Barberton. Then, from 1933 to 1935, she taught at SS. Peter and Paul School, Doylestown, and at Immaculate Conception, Wooster, the following year. From 1937 to 1939, Sister taught at St. Dominic, Youngstown, and finally at St. Vincent Elementary School, Akron. For the next nine years, she taught grades 4, 7 and 8, 1 and 2, and 3. She was a very good storyteller, and the children loved her.
A short time after she was given charge of the Elms school cafeteria, she was asked to be Novice Mistress at Our Lady of the elms convent, a position she held from 1948 until 1959. It is said that she rendered invaluable service to the community by permanently implanting in her novices a true spirit of the Dominican life and an intense love for the traditions of the community. Some of the 87 novices she trained mention some of her sayings: "We are all useful but not necessary" and "I am teaching you for the future." She had an exceptionally good vocabulary. She was also very compassionate.
Then in 1959 until 1963, Sister taught at St. Dominic, Youngstown. From 1963 to 1969, Sister Mildred returned to SS. Peter & Paul, Doylestown, to be principal and second grade teacher. In 1969, Sister served as principal and third grade teacher at St. Joseph, Mantua, where she remained until 1977. Sister then returned to Immaculate Conception, Ravenna, for two years as a teacher-assistant. After this long career in teaching, Sister spent two more years in parish ministry at St. Peter Parish, Loudonville, where she had the great joy of having a dog.
Eventually sister retired because of poor health and lived at the Elms Motherhouse. She divided her time in various ways: Crocheting and crewel work, playing cards, watching TV game shows, listening to classical music and light opera, writing letters, and visiting the sick. She especially like to have one of her brothers visit or take her out to eat. Over the years, many benefited from her skills as a seamstress. She lightened many people's burdens through her cheerfulness. She had devotion to the Stations of the Cross and often made the Way of the Cross before being incapacitated by arthritis. As her illness grew worse, Sister said her ministry was one of prayer and suffering. Despite a more and more debilitating illness, she carried on with remarkable courage and perseverance. She died at St. Thomas Hospital on May 11, 1987.

Sister M. Laura Wallace, O.P. ~ Teacher, 1969-1990
Sister Laura entered the convent from St. Joseph Parish in Maximo, Ohio. Born February 8, 1922, she was the oldest in the family with two sisters and one brother. She went to a Catholic school in grades one through four. In the fifth and sixth grades she went to a one-room country school. In seventh and eighth grade she went back to Catholic school. When she was a freshman, she attended a public high school. Sister Laura first thought about being a sister when she was in the eighth grade. Her teacher (a sister) gave a talk on vocations and she began to think about what she wanted to be. When she was a sophomore she went to Our Lady of the Elms and lived in the Juniorate because she wanted to be a sister. When she was a junior and sixteen years of age, she was permitted to enter the novitiate as a postulant. When Sister Laura was a senior, she graduated from high school as a novice.
Sister's ministries in the convent included being a music teacher, a grade school teacher (first grade teacher at St. Joseph's in Mantua from 1969 to 1990)), a principal, president of a garden club (St. Joseph's Garden Club, 1986-1987), and now on the staff at Crown Point Ecology Center in Bath, Ohio, which is a ministry of the Akron Dominican community. Her involvement consists in gardening, giving workshops, basket weaving, quilting, and making cards, pictures, and wreaths using dried flowers. She also helps with the farm work which includes planting seeds and plants, harvesting and preparing the vegetables grown there to sell. Her main job is raising flowers and preparing them to sell. During the winter months she makes blankets which are given to the poor. She is also involved with the Friend of the Elms as one of their advisors. Sister Laura enjoys gardening, sewing and making all kinds of crafts which she hopes to continue doing as long as she is able.

ST. JOSEPH PARISH

The Parish Community of St. Joseph's has been blessed by the service of a number of sisters from The Sisters of the Humility of Mary, The Dominican Sisters of Akron, and the Sisters of Divine Providence. It is our hope that they know that their faith in Christ and love for God's people make a wonderful difference in the lives of so many.

Sister Jenni Skerk, H.M. ~ DRE, 1977-1979
Originally from Youngstown, Sister Jenni Skerk (formerly Sister M. Davidica) entered the Sisters of the Humility of Mary from St. Francis Parish, Youngstown, and is a graduate of North High School. The daughter of the late John and Rose (Baleskie) Skerkavich, she received her BSE and M.O.. in Religious Education from St. John College, Cleveland. She has been a teacher, pastoral minister, director of religious education and hospital chaplain in the Cleveland and Youngstown dioceses. Her ministries in the Diocese of Youngstown include St. Joseph Parish, Ashtabula; Mercy Medical Center, Canton; St. Mary School, Conneaut; St. Patrick School, Hubbard; St. Louis Parish, Louisville; St. Joseph Parish, Mantua; and St. Joseph Parish, Suffield. Sister Jenni celebrated her Golden Jubilee October 22, 2006 and is currently a chaplain volunteer at St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown.

Sister Mary Chad, H.M. (Sister Mary Catherine Blooming) ~ Pastoral Minister, 1982-?
Serving the parish as Pastoral Minister, Sister Mary Chad was originally from Parma, Ohio, and the daughter of the late Thomas M. Blooming and Cornelia (Fodor) Blooming Histen. She received her BA from Notre Dame College, Cleveland, and her M. Ed. in Library Science from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh. She has served as a teacher, librarian, director of religious education and pastoral minister in the Cleveland, Greensburg, Pittsburgh and Youngstown dioceses. Her ministries in Youngstown include St. John High School, Youngstown; Central Catholic High School, Canton; St. Benedict Parish, Canton; St. Joseph Parish, Mantua; Holy Spirit Parish, Uniontown; and St. Pius X Parish, Warren. She was a staff member of the House of Prayer in Youngstown and a librarian at Youngstown State University and also served in the diocesan Religious Education Office. Sister Mary Catherine celebrated her Golden Jubilee October 22, 2006 and is currently teaching religion at St. Joseph High School, Natrona Heights, Pa.

Sister Jean Gillespie, O.P. ~ Parish Ministry, 1979-1981
Need profile
Deceased

Sister Evangeline Doyle, O.P. - Creator of the image of the Risen Christ, 1983
In March of 1983 Sister Evangeline Doyle, a well-known sculptor from the Sisters of St. Dominic in Akron, created the Risen Christ piece that has a prominent place behind the altar of St. Joseph Church. The wood for the sculpture was cut from a black walnut tree on the property of St. Joseph's and carved in the image of the Risen Christ. To view images of the entire process, click here.
Sr. Evangeline, formerly Lucille Doyle, entered the Sisters of St. Dominic from St. Augustine Parish, Barberton in 1945. She graduated from Barberton High School and received her BSE from St. John College in Cleveland and her master's degree in Fine Arts from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. She had been commissioned to complete many works of art and has exhibited stone carvings in limestone, alabaster and marble and in various choices of wood. She was also skilled in oil painting, copper enameling, silver smithing, the lost wax process, ceramics and welding. She taught on the elementary level at St. Joseph and Regina Coeli Schools, Alliance (1947; 1957-1961); in Akron at St. Paul (1947-1057), St. Matthew (161-1964), and St. Vincent (1964-1966); and Immaculate Conception in Ravenna (1966-1969). Sister Evangeline taught fine arts at Our Lady of the Elms High School from 1969-1976. In 1076 she became artist-in-residence at the motherhouse doing much of her work in her studio entitled "Cashel" which is across from the Elms High School students' entrance.
Sister Evangeline received the Women's History Project Woman of the Year Award for Creative Arts in 1983. She had memberships in the Akron Art Institute, the Women's Caucus for Art and Artists of Rubber City, and of Co-Act, a social action committee within her congregation. In 1999 Sister Evangeline became of residence of Regina Health Center in Richfield, Ohio due to illness. She died on October 15, 2000 at the age of 73 and is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Akron.

Sister Marilyn Ruflin, H.M. ~ Pastoral Minister, Sept., 1984-June, 1985
Serving the parish as Pastoral Minister, Sister Marilyn earned her BSE at St. John College in Cleveland, a BSA at Siena Heights College in Adrian, Michigan, and did her Master's work at Notre Dame University and St. John College. She taught elementary grades at St. Cecelia School in Cleveland, 1962-1965, St. Martha School in Akron, 1965-1970, and St. Louis School in Louisville, 1970-1977. From 1977 through 1981 she was the Facilitator of Parish Liturgy at St. Louis and then went on to serve as Pastoral Minister at St. Pius X in Warren (1981-1984). During her brief time at St. Joseph's (Sept., 1984-late June, 1985) Sister Marilyn's main responsibilities were RCIA, Liturgy and Environment, and the Adult Education Team. Then she went on to work for the Diocese of Youngstown as Coordinator of RCIA (1985-1987) and Director of Worship (1987-1992). From there she returned to her order, the Sisters of the Humility of Mary, to serve as Director of Pastoral Planning (1992-1993) and on the Leadership Team (1993-2001). Following a year-long sabbatical (2001-2002), Sister became the Director of Worship for Adrian Dominican Sisters in Michigan (2003-2005) and currently works with the Spiritual Environment for Humility of Mary Healthcare Partners (2006).

Sister Mary Ann Wieseman-Mills, O.P. ~ Pastoral Ministry, 1982-1984
Mary Ann Wiesemann was born on April 17, 1940 in Akron, Ohio. The firstborn child of William Carl Wiesemann and Mary Eugenia Mills Wiesemann along with three brothers. Her father was a gifted artist who, in the early 1940's, opened a commercial art studio called Repro-Art. Mary Ann attended kindergarten at Jackson School & grades one through four at St. Martha School in Akron. In 1949, the family moved to Northampton Township were the children attended St. Joseph School in Cuyahoga Falls. In 1954 she began her freshman year at Our Lady of the Elms High School as a prep, living in the Juniorate (preparatory step for entrance into the Sisters of St. Dominic Convent). From fourth grade on, Mary Ann thought of being a sister so when the opportunity for attending the Elms coupled with living with other girls who aspired to religious life was offered, she willingly took it. She finished her senior year at the Elms as a postulant and became a novice in August of 1958, taking the name Sister Petrina. She professed first vows in August of the following year.
From 1960 through 1965, Sister Petrina studied for a BS in Education while teaching primary grades at St. Paul School in Akron. In 1966, her congregation assumed responsibility for opening Notre Dame Elementary School in Denver, Colorado. Sister Petrina, along with other sisters were chosen to staff the new school. While serving in Denver, she earned an MA in Education from the University of Colorado, attended an internship in the a textbook series & became a teacher trainer in the Denver area, and enjoyed a new skill of downhill skiing and tent camping in the mountains with several other sisters.
In 1970, Sister Petrina had become Sister Mary Ann, because of the option of changing to her baptismal name. In 1973, Sister Mary Ann returned to Ohio and from 1973 to 1975, she taught at the congregation's Crown Point Preschool in Bath. The next four years (1975-1979) she taught third grade at Our Lady of the Elms Elementary School and then, returning to Colorado in 1979, she taught at St. Mary Elementary School in Littleton, and at Holy Trinity Elementary School in Westminster for one year.
After forty years of teaching elementary grades, Sister Mary Ann interned for retreat work and spiritual direction at the Jesuit Renewal Center in Cincinnati (Sept.-Dec., 1981). Upon completion of the internship, she was hired to serve as Associate Pastor at St. Joseph Parish in Mantua, Ohio, serving seven years in the parish. Invited by pastor Fr. Joseph Fata to assume the co-responsibility for preaching, she discovered a natural talent in this area. Besides preaching at St. Joseph's, she also served the parish through Homebound Ministry & Outreach to the Homebound & Hospitalized as well as serving on the RCIA team. While at St. Joseph, Sister Mary Ann traded her downhill skis for cross-country skis, since Mantua lies in the secondary snow belt of northeastern Ohio.
In 1989, Sister Mary Ann was called by her congregation to serve as Vocation Director, and, in 1990, she also became Formation Director. She moved into an apartment in Middleburg Heights, Ohio with Sister Maria Beesing, O.P. who was involved in Enneagram Workshop ministry. Besides serving as Vocation/Formation Director, Sister worked part-time as pastoral minister to the homebound for St. Bartholomew Parish. In 1992, Sister Mary Ann was contacted to consider enrolling in the new Doctor of Ministry in Preaching degree program soon to be launched by Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, Missouri. At her congregation's approval, she applied and was accepted into the program, beginning her studies in September, 1993, finishing her doctoral studies in the fall of 1996. She remained in St. Louis teaching for a semester as Adjunct Professor of Homiletics at Aquinas. She returned to Akron in 1997 to assume the newly-created congregational role as Promoter of the Charism, serving in this capacity through 2003. She was hired as Adjunct Professor of Homiletics at St. Mary Seminary and Graduate School of Theology & also taught in the newly inaugurated Doctor of Ministry program at St. Mary Seminary.
In December, 2000, Sister Mary Ann was elected as Second Councillor on the Congregational Leadership Team for a four -year term (2001-2005). On December, 23, 2003, the current Prioress, Sister Elizabeth Ann Schaefer, died and Sister Mary Ann was elected on January 17, 2004 to finish out the 18 months left vacant by Sister Libby. In March 2005, Sister Mary Ann was reelected Prioress of the Congregation for the term 2005-2009 and continues as Adjunct Professor of Homiletics at St. Mary Seminary in Cleveland. Besides cross-country skiing, her other interests include reading, live theater and hiking. Sister Mary Ann is a daily aerobic walker as well. She is partial to birds of all sorts and has a pet cockatiel, Gabriella.

Sister Linda Valasik, H.M. ~ Pastoral Minister, 1989-1992
Director of RCIA

[More details coming soon]

Sister Mary Slick, H.M. ~ Director of Religious Education, 1998-June 30, 2006
Sister Mary Slick ministered as Director of Religious Education at St. Joseph Parish from 1998 through June, 2006 handling the Parish School of Religion, Vacation Bible School, sacramental preparation and RCIA programs. The daughter of Ellen (Plummer) Slick of Niles, Ohio, Sister Mary entered the Sisters of the Humility of Mary from Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish, Ashtabula. Sister Mary has taught in the Cleveland diocese and at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Ashtabula, and St. Stephen, Niles. She also served as DRE for six years at St. Clement Parish, Navarre. A native of Youngstown, Sister Mary graduated from Ursuline High School, and earned her B.S.E. from St. John College, Cleveland. She earned her M.P.S. in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University, New Orleans. She celebrated her 25th year of religious life in 2004. In May of 2006, Sr. Mary announced that she would be taking a year's sabbatical from her ministries to pursue studies in areas that she has been interested in for some time. She currently works as DRE at St. Camillus Church in New Castle, PA and resides in Hubbard, Ohio.

Sister Rose Anne Krantz, CDP ~ Pastoral Minister, Sept. 1, 2006-to date
Born in Dover, Ohio, one of five children, Rose Anne Krantz grew up on a farm outside of Dover. She entered the Sisters of Divine Providence in 1962. Her first years of ministry were spent in the Catholic School System in Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania where she worked both as teacher and principal. The next 17 years she ministered in West Virginia as a Pastoral Associate and Religious Ed Director. From 2001 until she came to St. Joseph's in 2006, she served as Co-director of her Community’s Retirement House in Pittsburgh, PA. Sister Rose Anne's professional education includes a Bachelor’s Degree from La Roche College, a Masters in the Arts of Teaching from Duquesne University and extended work at Mt. St. Joseph in Cincinnati in Family Religious Studies. When not engaged in ministry her passions include quilting, camping, bike riding and hiking. Sister Rose Anne enjoys working at St. Joseph and meeting the many people who make up the community.

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