Sister Carlita Koch

Prioress from 1973-1981

Sister Carlita taught Business and Latin. Her Business degree served her well as community treasurer. In 1973, she was elected prioress and she served for twelve years. During her 12 years as Prioress, she led the community through the challenges and pains of renewal: religious community and church. Through her leadership, the Renewal Committee and Spiritual Life Committee had a strong impact on spiritual growth of the community. She also asked the sisters to refer to her as Sister Carlita rather than Mother Carlita.

It was during that time that the Federation and Community Constitutions were rewritten and updated. Sisters branched out in different directions, some to Appalachia.. After her term, she went to Mater Dei as a Latin teacher. Later she began Spirituality ministry at Kordes Enrichment Center and St. Joseph Hospital. She did pastoral ministry at Fort Wayne and St Mary’s Church in Mitchell, Indiana. Upon retirement at the Monastery, Sister Carlita began her study of the stain glass windows in church. Her work on this project, though never published, is our main source of information about the windows. At 36 years old, Sister Carlita was the youngest elected prioress since Mother Benedicta Berns.