Sisters mark golden jubilee

A liturgy and reception was at St. Charles Borromeo Church.

YOUNGS-TOWN — The Ursuline Sisters celebrated jubilees with six members who have been Ursulines for 50 years. They are Sisters Nancy Dawson, Mary Ann Diersing, Mary Dunn, Elizabeth Anne Freidhoff, Dorothy Kundracik and Bridget Nolan.

A liturgy took place July 26 at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Boardman, where the Rev. Edward P. Noga, pastor of St. Patrick Church, presided at the Eucharist. A reception followed in the parish hall.

Sister Nancy Dawson, formerly known as Sister Anne Francis, is the daughter of the late Francis and Hannah Curley Dawson. She entered the Ursulines from Immaculate Conception Church after graduating from Ursuline High School and beginning studies at Youngstown State University. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Youngstown State University, a master of arts degree in communications from the University of Notre Dame and a master’s in religious studies at the Catholic University of America.

Her ministries have included teacher and principal at St. Charles, Cardinal Mooney and Ursuline high schools, the communication department of the Diocese of Youngstown, parish ministry at St. Paul the Apostle in New Middletown and director of The Ursuline Center in Canfield. Currently, she is an adjunct instructor of world religions at YSU and serving her third term as general superior of the Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown.

Sister Mary Ann Diersing, formerly known as Sister Robert Marie, is the daughter of the late Robert and Mary Rose Klempay Diersing. She entered the Ursulines from St. Edward Church after graduating from Ursuline High. She earned a bachelor’s in education from YSU and a master’s in education in community counseling from Kent State University.

Her ministries have included teaching at St. Patrick and Sacred Heart schools, St. Rose in Girard and Our Lady of Lourdes in East Palestine. Serving in pastoral ministry, she spent five years in Peru, South America, and three years at Our Lady of Perpetual Church in McDonald. Since 1979, she has served as a chaplain in the spiritual-care departments of several health-care facilities and is a chaplain at St. Joseph Health Center in Warren.

Sister Mary Dunn is the daughter of the late Elverton and Nellie Gallagher Dunn. She entered the Ursuline Sisters from St. Nicholas Church in Struthers after graduating from Ursuline High. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from YSU and a master of special education from St. John College in Cleveland. All of her years in ministry have been in elementary education. She taught at St. Charles and St. Luke schools; she then served as principal at St. Luke and St. Patrick. After working at the Mill Creek Children’s Center for two years, she became one of the founders of Youngstown Community School and is serving as principal.

Sister Elizabeth Anne Freidhoff is the daughter of the late John and Elizabeth Calpin Freidhoff. She entered the Ursuline Sisters from St. Patrick Church after graduating from Ursuline High. She earned a bachelor’s in education from YSU, a master’s in education from the University of Dayton and pursued graduate studies at Ursuline College in Cleveland.

She has taught at various levels and schools including St. Nicholas in Struthers, St. Rose, Sacred Heart, St. Columba and St. Charles in Boardman, where she also served in pastoral ministry, and Holy Family in Poland, the Ursuline preschool and kindergarten and Cardinal Mooney High School. Currently, she is secretary for the Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown.

Sister Dorothy Kundracik is the daugher of the late Michael and Margaret Martinko Kundracik. She entered the Ursuline Sisters from St. Patrick Church after graduating from Ursuline High. She earned a bachelor’s in education from YSU and a master’s in education from Indiana University in Pennsylvania.

She has taught at St. Rose, St. John in Campbell, St. Nicholas in Struthers, Immaculate Conception in Wellsville, St. Joan of Arc in Canton, and Immaculate Conception, Sacred Heart, Sts. Cyril and Methodius. St. Labre Indian School in Ashland, Mont., and Little Big Horn College, Crow Agency, Mont. She served in parish ministry at Our Lady of Lourdes in East Palestine, St. Aloysius in East Liverpool, and St. Dennis Parish at Crow Agency. She has worked in the Motherhouse community Healthcare Center and as a caregiver for Home Care Alternatives. Currently, she works at the SCOPE Senior Center in Lordstown.

Sister Bridget Nolan is the daughter of the late Donald and Lucille Barton Nolan. She entered the Ursuline Sisters from St. Paul the Apostle Church in New Middletown, after graduating from Cardinal Mooney High School. She earned a bachelor’s in education from YSU and a master’s in education from Loyola University, Chicago. She taught at St. Nicholas, St. Rose, Immaculate Conception, Sacred Heart and Holy Family as teacher and principal and St. Charles as teacher and assistant principal.

She served in parish ministry at Immaculate Conception in Ravenna, and St. Charles. She was past director at The Ursuline Center. For several years, she has worked in the Ursuline Sisters’ community archives and as director of the Company of Angela. She was an adjunct teacher for the Sisters of St. Joseph, Rocky River, and the Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland at their Spirituality Center. Currently, she serves as the Ursuline Motherhouse administrator.

Sister Nancy Dawson said, “This celebration of jubilee is not only for me and my classmates. The Ursuline Sisters have been in the greater Mahoning Valley for 135 years. Each day the Ursulines meet the critical needs of the people of God here. Jubilee is a time for all the Ursulines, especially the jubilarians, to recommit themselves to a life of prayer, service and community.”