Good News from Grace
Sister Julie Sewell made her First Monastic Profession on Saturday, June 21st. Her desire to further her religious commitment was witnessed by her family, friends and her Benedictine community. She promised for the next three years, stability in the monastery, fidelity to the monastic way of life, and obedience according to the Rule of Benedict.
Temporary vows are made so the sister can fully live her life as a Sister of St. Benedict. She is further incorporated in the community and engages in the daily life as a woman religious. Her studies increase in intensity and her affiliation with the sisters deepens as she prepares herself for her perpetual monastic profession.
Sr. Julie entered Our Lady of Grace Monastery September 7, 2005 and entered the Novitiate on June 17, 2006. She is the daughter Gary and Rosemary Sewell of Loveland, Ohio. Sr. Julie is the eldest of three children and has two sister Jackie and Jill.
Sr. Julie graduated from Ursuline Academy and received her bachelor’s degree from Edgcliff College of Xavier in History and Philosophy and participated in a 14 week Dale Carnegie Course in 1988. In 2004 she successfully completed the Spiritual Direction Internship Program at the Benedict Inn Retreat & Conference Center. Prior to her entrance into the community Sr. Julie was employed at Solucient, a Chicago-based firm that services the healthcare industry.
Presently, Sr. Julie is the Associate Director of Development for the Sisters of St. Benedict.
PICTURES
(Inset) The 50th Jubilee Celebration began with a Mass of Thanksgiving in the monastery chapel.
(Above) Sr. Joan MArie, Sr. Alice Marie and Sr. Anna Rose take time out before their ceremony for a group photo.
To view pictures from Sr. Julie’s First Monastic Profession click here.
PICTURES
(Inset) Fromation Director, Sr. Juliann Babcock (far left) Sr. Julie Sewell and Prioress, Sr. Carol Falkner pose for a picture prior to the ceremony.
(Above) Sr. Julie Sewell.
The Sisters of St. Benedict of Our Lady of Grace Monastery celebrated the golden jubilee of Sr. Alice Marie Gronotte, Sr. Anna Rose Lueken and Sr. Joan Marie Massura on July 20th in the monastery chapel. Family members, friends and their religious community, witnessed the renewal of vows professed 50 years ago.
Sr. Alice Marie was born in Evansville, Indiana to the late Albert and Hilda Gronotte. She attended Immaculate Conception Academy in Ferdinand, Indiana. She entered the Monastery Immaculate Conception in 1956. She attended St. Benedict’s College where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Education. Sr. Alice Marie received her Master’s Degree in Education from Indiana University Southeast. In 1960, Sr. Alice Marie began her ministry career as a second grade teacher at St. Paul, Tell City, Indiana. She also taught at St. Michael, Bradford, Indiana and St. Anthony, Clarksville, Indiana. Sr. Alice Marie spent 18 years on Cali, Columbia working in several different parishes. In 1990 she returned to the United States and work with Hispanic migrant workers at St. John Parish, Starlight, Indiana. Since 1991, she has been the Pastoral Associate and Director of Religious Education at Prince of Peace Parish, Madison, Indiana.
Sr. Anna Rose Lueken is the daughter of the late Herbert and Caroline Lueken and was born in Schnellville, Indiana. Upon graduation from the academy in Ferdinand, she entered the Monastery Immaculate Conception. She attended St. Benedict College, Catholic University, Spalding College and Indiana University Southeast where she received her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees. Sr. Anna Rose began her successful career in education at St. Anthony, Clarksville, Indiana. She also taught at Sr. Paul, Tell City, Indiana and St. Bartholomew in Columbus, Indiana. In 1968, she became the principal at St. Anthony, Clarksville, Indiana, which began her 31 years of service in that position including schools at All Saints, Columbus, Indiana, Little Flower, Indianapolis and Pope John XXIII, Madison, Indiana. For a 13-year period in the midst of her years as principal, Sr. Anna Rose served her religious community as the Administrator of the Benedict Inn Retreat & Conference Center. She currently is the principal at St. Ambrose School, Seymour, Indiana.
Both Sr. Alice Marie and Sr. Anna Rose are founding members of Our Lady of Grace Monastery. They hold the distinction of being the first sisters to profess their final vows at Our Lady of Grace.
Sr. Joan Marie Massura traveled a different road to Our Lady of Grace. She was born in Chicago, Illinois to the late Edward and Wilma Massura. She attended Slovak Girl’s Academy in Danville, Pennsylvania. In 1955 she entered the Sisters of SS. Cyril and Methodius, Danville, Pennsylvania.
Sr. Joan Marie received her Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry from St. Joseph College, Emmitsburg, Maryland, a Master’s Degree from Villanova University in Chemistry, and a Master’s in Pastoral Studies from Loyola of Chicago. She began her teaching career at Marianhill Scholasticate, Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. Sr. Joan also taught at St. Columba School, Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, Lebanon Catholic High School, Lebanon, Pennsylvania and Andrean High School, Merrillville, Indiana. In 1980 she began a new career with youth as the Director of Youth Ministry at the Catholic Youth Organization for the Gary Diocese. In 1985 she came to Indianapolis to continue her work with young people and became the Director of Youth Ministry at the Catholic Youth Organization for the Archdiocese.
Sr. Joan Marie became Benedictine after transferring her vows to Our Lady of Grace Monastery in 1990. She then became the Director of Religious Education at St. Barnabas Parish, Indianapolis, Indiana. Sr. Joan Marie was appointed to the position of Vocation Director, which she held for eight years. She then went to LaSalle Manor in Plano, Illinois, a retreat center owned and operated by the Christian Brothers where she developed and conducted retreats for the Chicago area youth.
Sr. Joan Marie presently is the Director of Programs for the Benedict Inn Retreat and Conference Center.
For individual pictures of the jubilarians please click on their names below:
