Four Benedictine sisters celebrate 50-year jubilees

Criterion staff report

Four Benedictine Sisters of Our Lady of Grace Monastery in Beech Grove are celebrating their 50th jubilees this year.

They are Sisters Anita Eberle, Carol Falkner, Heidi Marie Krack and Sharon Kuhn.
 

Sister Anita Eberle, a native of New Albany, entered the monastery in 1963, made her first monastic profession in 1965, and made her perpetual monastic profession in 1970.

She graduated from the former Our Lady of Grace Academy in Beech Grove and received her bachelor’s degree in education from the former St. Benedict College in Ferdinand, Ind., her master’s degree in religious studies from Marygrove College in Detroit, Mich., and completed the spiritual direction training program at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash.

In the archdiocese, she taught at St. Pius X School in Indianapolis and St. Anthony of Padua School in Clarksville. She served as director of religious education at St. Barnabas Parish in Indianapolis, and as director of religious education and pastoral associate at the former St. Joseph Parish in Dearborn County; the former St. Joseph Parish in Clark County; and the former Holy Trinity, St. Catherine and St. James parishes, and St. Matthew the Apostle Parish, all in Indianapolis.

She has worked as an assistant physical therapist and licensed massage therapist at St. Paul Hermitage in Beech Grove.

She currently works as the receptionist in the monastery.

Sister Carol Falkner, a native of Indianapolis, entered the monastery in 1963, made her first monastic profession in 1965, and made her perpetual monastic profession in 1970.

She graduated from the former Our Lady of Grace Academy in Beech Grove and received a bachelor’s degree in education from the former St. Benedict College in Ferdinand, Ind., and a master’s degree in education from Ball State University in Muncie, Ind.

In the archdiocese, she taught at St. Ambrose School in Seymour and was principal of St. Bartholomew School in Columbus. She also taught in Missouri.

At the monastery in Beech Grove, Sister Carol helped establish the Benedictine Center (now the Benedict Inn Retreat & Conference Center), served as assistant administrator then administrator of the retreat center, worked in the community’s development office, was elected to serve as the community’s subprioress and twice as its prioress, and now serves as administrator of the retreat and conference center.

Sister Heidi Marie Krack, a native of Jackson, Mich., entered the monastery in 1963, made her first monastic profession in 1965, and made her perpetual monastic profession in 1970.

She graduated from the former Our Lady of Grace Academy in Beech Grove. She received a bachelor’s degree in education from the former St. Benedict College in Ferdinand, Ind., a master’s degree in elementary education and music from the University of Indianapolis, and a master’s degree in religious education from Saint Meinrad School of Theology in St. Meinrad.

In the archdiocese, Sister Heidi Marie taught at the former Our Lady of Grace Academy and Holy Name School in Beech Grove; at St. Anthony of Padua School in Clarkesville; and at Christ the King School and St. Matthew the Apostle School, both in Indianapolis. In 2003, she received the Blessed Mother Theodore Guérin Award presented by the Archdiocese of Indianapolis for excellence in teaching.

Sister Sharon Kuhn, a native of Moscow, Idaho, entered the Monastery of St. Gertrude in Cottonwood, Idaho, in 1962, made her first monastic profession in 1965 and her perpetual monastic profession in 1970.

She received her bachelor’s degree in accounting from Boise State College in Boise, Idaho.

Sister Sharon served the Benedictine community in Cottonwood as treasurer for more than 25 years, and as business administrator of St. Joseph Counseling Center in Spokane, Wash.

She came to Beech Grove to work at the Benedict Inn as the director of facilities. In 2006, Sister Sharon transferred her vow of stability to Our Lady of Grace Monastery. She has served in the community as subprioress and for the archdiocese in the offices of clergy and parish life coordinators, vocations and deacon formation. She now serves in the business office at St. Paul Hermitage in Beech Grove. †