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Community celebrates Jubilarians Five Sisters of Providence celebrated milestone anniversaries of their entrances into religious life during June. Sister of Providence Mary Catherine Kirchner entered the Congregation 70 years ago, Sisters Geraldine Noonan, Vivienne Viens, and Joan Mullen, 50 years ago, and Sister Senga Fulton 25 years ago.
A Registered Nurse, she served locally as Supervisor of Surgery at Providence Hospital and Farren Memorial Hospital, and at Providence Hospital in Murphy, NC. She also held various nursing assignments at St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester, Mercy Hospital, and St. Luke’s Hospital. Following her retirement, she spent seven years as a full-time driver for Sisters living at Providence Mother House and also volunteered at Broderick House, Genesis Spiritual Life Center and in the SHARE food distribution program.
Currently serving as a member of the Congregation’s Executive Council, she previously served as a Councilor for two, consecutive, four-year terms from 1989–1997. Sister Geraldine is now an Ombudsman for residents living at Country Estates in Agawam. In this role, she volunteers for the State of Massachusetts through the Executive Office of Elder Affairs in Boston. Prior to her present ministries, she was Administrator of St. Luke’s Home in Springfield from 1997–2003. Following a sabbatical at Genesis Farm in Blairstown, NJ, in 2005, she conducted and subsequently wrote an extensive bioregional study of Southwick for that town’s Conservation Commission. Sister Geraldine’s contributions as an SP include her service as Director of the Congregation’s Life Development Office and as Retirement Coordinator for Senior Sisters. In 1993, she fulfilled a six-month employment assignment writing a research document on living arrangements for women religious for the Retirement Collaborative Planning Committee of Worcester. Of her life as a Sister of Providence, Sister Geraldine says: “I have been blessed all my life with a great trust in Providence. I cherish all the moments of active ministry to elders, my Congregation and the Earth. I delight in great expectations of further service as a Providence woman.” |
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Now retired, Sister Mary Catherine Kirchner’s joyful and accommodating attitude made her a favorite among the co-workers she served with and the patients she ministered to while in active ministry. A native of Dalton, she is the daughter of the late Jacob and Frances (Seckler) Kirchner. Known earlier in religious life as Sister Frances Marie, she entered the Congregation as a member of Saint Agnes Parish.
Sister Geraldine Noonan is well known for her unstinting loyalty to her Community and her wholehearted response to ministry service. The daughter of the late John and Geraldine (O’Rourke) Noonan, she entered the SPs from St. Andrew the Apostle Church in her native city of Worcester. Her earlier religious name was Sister Mary John Berchmans. |
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