Four Sisters’ Celebrate Their Golden Jubilee
On Sunday, October 10, 2021, four Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand, Indiana celebrated their Golden Jubilee of Monastic Profession at Monastery Immaculate Conception. Sisters Rose Mary Rexing, Agnes Marie Dauby, Ann Marie Howard, and Karen Joseph all celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their Monastic Profession at the monastery church in Ferdinand. If you missed our livestream of the event, you can watch it on our Facebook page.
A native of Evansville, IN, Sister Rose Mary Rexing holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics with a minor in Chemistry from Indiana State University, a Master’s degree in Systematic Theology from St. John’s University in Collegeville, MN, and Certification in Fundraising from the School of Philanthropy at IUPUI. From 1972-1980 she taught math and chemistry at Forest Park High School. She was first pastoral associate of St. Ferdinand Parish from 1980-1987, then served as Vocation Director for the Sisters of St. Benedict from 1987-1999 and as Director of Mission Advancement from 1999-2009. Presently, Sister Rose Mary serves as the Director of Mission Integration at Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center.
Sister Agnes Marie Dauby, a native of Jeffersonville, IN, attended St. Benedict College in Ferdinand, earned an Associate degree from Vincennes University in Jasper, a Bachelor’s degree from Indiana State University in Evansville, and a Master’s degree in Pastoral Ministry from St. Joseph College in West Hartford, CT. Sister Agnes Marie served as a Pastoral Associate with St. Anthony Parish and St. Joseph Parish in Evansville, and St. Mary Parish in Washington, IN. In 1980, she was able to take part in the Ministry Program at St. Louis University in St. Louis, MO, for a year, after which she served as Director of Knox County Catholic School Ministry, Secretary/Bookkeeper at Mater Dei High School, Co-Director of Vocations for the Sisters of St. Benedict and Activity Director for Hildegard Health Center. She is currently serving in the Monastery Immaculate Conception Business Office.
Sister Ann Marie Howard entered the Monastery from St. Mary of the Woods Parish in Whitesville, KY. She attended St. Benedict College in Ferdinand, earned an Associate degree from Vincennes University in Jasper, IN, a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Indiana State University in Evansville, and a Master’s degree in Pastoral Ministry from St. Joseph College in West Hartford, CT. She taught at Resurrection and Holy Redeemer Schools in Evansville, IN. She served as Pastoral Associate at St. Joseph in Jasper and St. Anthony Parish in Evansville, and as a Caseworker at Sister Visitor in Louisville, KY. She was also Pastoral Associate and Director of Religious Education at St. Joseph in Corydon and at St. Lawrence Parish in Louisville. She currently assists in the monastery archives and in Mission Advancement.
Sister Karen Joseph is from Olean, NY, and formerly a member of the Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration who transferred to the Sisters of St. Benedict in 2005. She studied Monastic Studies at St. John’s University in Collegeville, MN, and has served in Monastic leadership. Sister Karen has been involved in committees on the international level within the Benedictine Order and has given retreats and workshops in Benedictine spirituality to Benedictines throughout North America and the Philippines. She has served as a staff member of the Benedictine Women’s Rome Renewal Program and has also served as a board member of the AIM – USA. She currently serves at the monastery as a Spiritual Director and assists with retreat work.
The Sisters of St. Benedict in Ferdinand make up one of the largest Benedictine communities of women in the United States — over 120 members strong and thriving. They seek God through the Benedictine tradition of community life, prayer, hospitality, and service to others. By their life and work, they commit themselves to be a presence of peace as they join their sisters and brothers in the common search for God. The Monastery Immaculate Conception was founded in 1867 by four young Benedictine sisters who came to Ferdinand to teach the children of area settlers. Since then, more than 1,000 women have entered this community. Their ministries extend both beyond education and beyond Ferdinand, with members of their community serving as teachers, social workers, parish ministers, counselors, nurses, youth ministers, chaplains, librarians, and more.