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School Sisters mark
175 years of ministry
By Claudia I. Provencio, The Catholic Sun
December 20, 2007
Thirteen School Sisters of Notre Dame celebrated the 175th anniversary of their founding and renewed their vows at a Dec. 8 Mass at Our Lady of the Valley Parish.
“I just thought it was so appropriate because Our Lady of the Valley was the first parish in the Diocese of Phoenix where our sisters worked,” said Sr. Ruth Karnitz, who will celebrate 50 years with the congregation in July.
The congregation, known for its charism of education, came to Arizona in 1958. Rather than establish a school, the sisters opened a center for parish-centered faith formation in Coolidge and Florence.
The School Sisters have expanded their ministry in parishes and schools in the area since then.
They serve at Bourgade Catholic High School, St. Thomas the Apostle, St. Raphael, St. Vincent de Paul, St. James, St. Clement of Rome, St. Elizabeth Seton, Holy Spirit, Our Lady of the Valley, Santa Rosa Mission and the diocese’s tribunal office.
Sr. Elsa Metternich can relate to their foundress, Blessed Mary Theresa of Jesus Gerhardinger, who felt called to help destitute young women get an education.
“First of all it was sort of an innate feeling of going out to help other people in need,” the petite 90-year-old said.
“That was my idea even when I was a little girl,” she said. “When I entered the convent it was the same idea, I want to go where I can help other people either in nursing or teaching but I will be where God wants me to be.”
Sr. Ruth said being where the Lord calls you isn’t always easy but in the end obedience wins out and valuable lessons are learned.
During her eight years in the Diocese of Phoenix, Sr. Patricia Gehling, principal at St. Thomas the Apostle school, has come to value diversity.
“I come from the Midwest and Phoenix is very multicultural,” she said. “So I have learned to appreciate people from different cultures more because I am working more with them.”
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