Sister Joella Kidwell

Prioress from 1998-2003

A native of Washington, Indiana, Sister Joella is the daughter of the Basis and Irene Kidwell. She has two sisters. Patricia Nalker and Joella Mischler. When she was three her mother died leaving her father with three very young daughters. “People said he could not raise three girls, but he was determined.” He told his young daughters, “Turn out to be good.” When she graduated from high school and entered the monastery in 1954 and made her final vows in 1959. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Dayton, Ohio, a master’s degree in biology and chemistry from Indiana University, Bloomington, and a diploma in theology from Regis College, Toronoto. Using her education, she spent 18 years in the classroom. She left teachin the the early 1970s and began work in the diocesan vocations office. In 1984, she became director of Kordes Enrichment Center in Ferdinand. And in 1998, she was elected as Prioress for the Sisters of Saint Benedict in Ferdinand, Indiana.

When she completed her term 2003, she was given a sabbatical, which she spent with Sister Jane Becker in Rome, giving classes to the seminarians and enjoying travel in Europe. Returning to the U.S. the President of the Federation of Saint Gertrude tagged her to develop and lead a summer program for Federation sisters, called the Renewal Program in Rome. It seemed as soon as she got that program under way, she was elected at President of the Federation of Saint Gertrude and served two terms. Her leadership skills in the area of Discernment were on call from other religious communities and she spent her time traveling throughout the United States assisting other religious communities. Finally, Sister Joella has earned her retirement. But religious women don’t retire, they recycle and currently her ministry is working in the bakery, driving and kitchen duties. Her love of hiking has never left her, but today it is mostly walking. If you are up early enough you will see her briskly walking the halls daily.