JubileeThis year, we are honoring one Sister who is celebrating her 25th Jubilee, five Sisters who are celebrating their 50th Jubilee and one who is celebrating 75 years of religious life! Their combined 510 years of ministry to the people of God. In addition, we also honor two Sisters who are marking their 80th year. To Donate Now in honor of a Sister listed below, please click here.
80 Years
 Sister Edwarda Biss
 Sister Mary Ann Haug
75 Years
 Sister Concepta Stanko
50 Years
 Sister Marilyn Bergt
Sister Marilyn Bergt (formerly Sister Robert Marie) entered religious life from Our Lady Queen of Peace in Harper Woods, Mi. Sister Marilyn’s vocation was inspired by the dynamic Sisters of Divine Providence who taught her at Our Lady Queen of Peace School in Harper Woods, a suburb of Detroit. “They loved life, their ministry, the community and us; I wanted to be like them,” she says. She began teaching in 1965 at SS. Peter and Paul in Beaver, Pa. and also taught at St. Mary’s High School in McKees Rocks and Canevin in Crafton. A member of the first graduation class of La Roche College (1965), Sister Marilyn completed her master’s degree in biology at St. Mary’s College in Mn. She returned to LaRoche College (1973 to 1982), where she served as assistant professor of biology, assistant to the academic dean, and registrar. Following that, she ministered through the AIDS Interfaith Network in Detroit, Mi. for ten years (1986-96). Sister Marilyn also was in campus ministry at La Roche (2000-06). She has been active in the cause of social justice through national and international outreach projects, including Hurricane Katrina and the Tsunami relief efforts. She was named La Roche College Woman of Providence in 2005 and Thomas Merton New Person Awardee in 2006. Since January 2007, she has been serving in Community leadership as a Provincial Councillor.
 Sister Maria Fest
Sister Maria Fest (formerly Sister Maria Goretti) entered religious life from St. Anne’s parish in Castle Shannon, Pa. She cites the parish community at St. Anne’s, first and foremost the Sisters of Divine Providence who taught there, and the parish priests for encouraging her vocation. Sister Maria holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from La Roche College, a master’s degree in Chemistry from the University of Notre Dame, and a Doctor of Arts degree in chemistry from Lehigh University. She ministered in education, from elementary to college, serving as teacher and principal at Divine Providence Academy from 1966-77. At La Roche College, she was director of financial aid, and adjunct faculty member for health sciences (1977-81) and associate professor in health sciences from 1984-90. She was executive director of Providence Connections, Inc. from 1999-2007. She has been in provincial administration for 13 years (1991-2001 and 2007-10), presently serving as canonical treasurer and provincial councilor for finance, property, and human resources. She states, “Even though I do not practice as a scientist, I still use my education and find that my education and the community charism fit together like hand in glove. Co-creator, quantum physics and the new science, along with health sciences, have spoken volumes to me about being a Providence Woman.”
 Sister Janet Folkl
Sister Janet Folkl (formerly Sister Helen Jean) entered the Community on June 26, 1960, in St. Louis, Missouri. She professed first vows on June 14, 1963, and final vows on June 12, 1968. Her vocation was inspired and nurtured by the women religious who were her teachers. Sister Janet was an elementary school teacher for many years, directed retreats, and served in parishes as pastoral associate in adult faith formation. One of her longest assignments was at St. John’s Parish, Imperial, Mo., where she ministered for seven years (1964 -- 1968 and 1983—1986). She also ministered in formation and leadership service within her Community. In 2003, she moved to Kingston, Massachusetts, and was novice director there. During this same time, she taught at Sacred Heart High School in Kingston. Since 2007, Sister Janet has been the General Superior of the Congregation of the Sisters of Divine Providence, which includes provinces in Germany, Korea, North America/Caribbean, and the regions of Puerto Rico/Santa Domingo and Peru. Sister Janet describes herself as “creative, generous and committed.” Living her Community’s charism of trust in Divine Providence has been, for Sister Janet, a participation in the dance of grace and freedom. Trusting that life and all that she is is gift has led her to respond to the needs of the Community and the world. In teaching, accompanying new members in their vocation discernment, being involved in retreat ministry and spiritual direction, facilitating adult faith formation in parishes, and serving in leadership, Sister Janet has experienced a rich diversity of opportunities for learning and generous giving. In her precious spare time, Sister Janet enjoys reading, movies, hand-quilting, spending time with family and friends, and dancing.
 Sister Margaretta Nussbaumer
Sister Margaretta Nussbaumer (formerly Sister John Katherine) entered religious life from St. Anne’s in Castle Shannon, Pa. The Sisters she met greatly influenced her vocation to religious life. It was a wonderful experience for her to grow up at St. Anne’s, with a very large Catholic grade school and many Sisters of Divine Providence teaching there. Most of her active ministry has been spent in pastoral work. She has been the pastoral associate at Immaculate Conception parish in Washington, Pa. since 2002. Prior to that, she was in pastoral ministry at Transfiguration Parish in Monongahela, Pa. (1989 – 2002), and previous to that at St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in Green Tree (1977 – 1989). Sister Margaretta finds it very satisfying to serve the people of God. She is afforded the unique opportunity of sharing in their real-life situations (hurts, struggles, joys) and experiencing with them how their faith in God grows and deepens.
Sister describes herself as prayerful, hard working, and fun loving. She begins each day with prayer, which is the nourishment for her life and ministry. When working with God’s people, trying to meet their needs, they feed her with their love and support. She enjoys family and Community gatherings, parties, and parish events. She also enjoys walking, which clears her mind, exercises her body, and renews her spirit.
 Sister Jean Rene Seiler
Sister Jean Rene Seiler entered the Community from St. Alphonsus parish in Springdale, Pa. She was greatly influenced in her vocation by the Sister who taught her in sixth grade, and by her mother, who always supported her decision. For the past six years (2004 – 2010), she has been a hospice chaplain with Asera Care Hospice in Pittsburgh. She was in pastoral ministry at St. Anthony’s parish in Wickenburg, Az. (1994 – 2002), and also at Nativity Parish in South Park, Pa. (1968 – 1976). Sister Jean Rene states that in all of her ministries -- teacher, pastoral associate, formation director, and now as a hospice chaplain—she has always believed that she brought a presence of God’s Providence to those with whom she ministered. She has tried to be that caring presence and listening ear. “The people, in return, have been Providence for me through their love and support,” she said. Sister Jean Rene enjoys life and invests a lot of passion into it. She loves being with people and also enjoys reading, swimming, and films.
25 Years
 Sister Veronica Gumja Kim
Sister Veronica Gumja Kim entered religious life from Banyea Parish, Busan, South Korea. She was inspired in her vocation by a Sister from another community who worked and lived with lepers. She was engaged in parish work at Shihung-dong Parish, Seoul, South Korea from 1982 to 1986. Sister Veronica moved from parish work to nursing, earning a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Chodang University and subsequently ministering at Uijeongbu St. Mary’s Hospital of the Catholic University, Uijeongbu, South Korea from 1993 to 1996. Reflecting on her years as a Sister and the importance of the spirituality of the Community, she says, “When I was younger, it was most important to me to trust in the Providence of God. As I have lived religious life, openness to the Providence of God has become most important to me. Although subtle, openness to Providence means something different from trust. With trust, I was passive in mind and attitude, however; with openness I am “being and doing,” with a more active mind and heart for others and myself.” Presently she is the coordinator of international student services at La Roche College, a ministry of the Sisters of Divine Providence.
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