By Jason Moon
SAINT MARY-OF-THE-WOODS, Ind. – One Sister of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, with ties to the Diocese of Jackson is celebrating a jubilee this year.
Sister Kathleen Dede, formerly Sister Marie Arthur, was born in Terre Haute, Indiana. Currently, her ministry is prayer at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. She is celebrating 70 years with the Congregation this year.
Sister Kathleen entered the Congregation on Feb. 2, 1954, from St. Ann Parish in Terre Haute. She professed first vows on Aug. 15, 1956, and final vows on Aug. 15, 1961.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and a master’s of social work from St. Louis University. She also has a master’s of theological studies from the Franciscan School of Theology.
During her time in the Diocese of Jackson, Sister Kathleen ministered as the resident pastoral minister for St. Francis of Assisi/St. Mary Mission in Boonville from 1990-1994.
Sister Kathleen has also ministered in Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, California and Florida.
The Sisters of Providence, a congregation of nearly 200 women religious, with more than 300 Providence Associates, collaborate with others to create a more just and hope-filled world through prayer, education, service and advocacy. The Sisters of Providence have their motherhouse at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, located just northwest of downtown Terre Haute, Ind., which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Saint Mother Theodore Guerin founded the Sisters of Providence at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods in 1840. Today, Sisters of Providence minister in 13 states, the District of Columbia and Asia, through works of love, mercy and justice. More information about the Sisters of Providence and their ministries can be found at SistersofProvidence.org.
Sister Yolanda (Paul Marie) Pomante, OP celebrates jubilee
By Barbara Kelley, OP
ADRIAN, Mich. – The Adrian Dominican Congregation celebrates the dedication and commitment of 43 Sisters who, in 2024, mark their jubilees, their milestone years of service and dedication to the church and the congregation. The 2024 jubilee class includes one sister celebrating 80 years, three sisters celebrating 75 years, 23 sisters celebrating 70 years, 15 sisters celebrating 60 years, and one sister celebrating 25 years. The following jubilarian has connections to the Diocese of Jackson.
Sister Yolanda (Paul Marie) Pomante, OP, a native of Roseville, Michigan, is celebrating 70 years as an Adrian Dominican sister. She graduated from Annunciation High School in Detroit and entered the congregation on Oct. 3, 1953.
Sister Yolanda’s earliest assignments – from 1955 to 1971 – took her to schools in Illinois, New York and Michigan. She spent much of her life in Florida, beginning at Rosarian Academy in West Palm Beach as a teacher and treasurer (1971-1974) and treasurer (1974-1986). She ended her sabbatical year at Barry University in 1986. She remained there to serve in various capacities: office manager (April to November 1987), director of housekeeping and grounds (1987-1990), and coordinator of space utilization (1990-1994).
Sister Yolanda moved to Marks, Mississippi, to serve as assistant office manager at DePorres Health Center from 1994 to 2002. From there, she returned to Barry University as a secretary and typist from 2003 to 2004. Her last years of formal ministry were as an office assistant at Coggin Motor Mall in Fort Pierce, Florida, from 2004 to 2009. She retired in 2009 and resides in Port Saint Lucy, Florida. She was inspired to enter religious life by the quotation from St. Augustine: “My heart was made for Thee, O Lord, and will be restless until it rests in Thee.”
(The Dominican Sisters of Adrian is a Congregation of about 400 vowed women religious and nearly 180 Associates whose roots go back to St. Dominic in the 13th century. The Sisters minister in 21 states, the Dominican Republic, Norway, and the Philippines. The Vision of the Adrian Dominican Sisters is to “seek truth, make peace, reverence life.”)