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celebrate Jubilees
Six Sisters from the Monastery of St. Gertrude in Cottonwood celebrated a total of 400 years of religious profession on Monday, November 16, 2009. Sr. Catherine Manderfeld was born in Genesee and was taught by the Cottonwood Benedictines for eight years before she entered St. Gertrude’s at age 13. After she was professed in 1934, she taught in Catholic elementary schools for 14 years. Sr. Catherine then spent 30 years teaching physics, chemistry and biology at St. Gertrude’s Academy and Prairie High School. After retiring from teaching, she worked as Curator of the Historical Museum at St. Gertrude. Sr. Louise Olberding came to the monastery from Emmett, Idaho and was professed in 1949. She worked as a lab technician at St. Benedicts Family Medical Center in Jerome and St. Mary’s Hospital in Cottonwood and taught biology at St. Gertrude’s Academy. She served in administration and chaplaincy in hospitals and nursing homes in Oregon for over 30 years. Sr. Theresa Dvorak was born in Nampa, Idaho. After her profession in 1949, she ministered as a cook to the Sisters on mission. Sr. Theresa taught elementary school in most of the schools that the Cottonwood Sisters staffed. When she returned to the monastery, she worked as the community baker, made soap and salve and studied the benefits of essential oils. A celebration of these Sisters’ years of service to St. Gertrude’s and the Church was held during Mass in the monastery chapel. Each Sister renewed her monastic profession and together with the community sang the Suscipe, the ancient monastic hymn of praise taken from the psalms, a hymn of self-offering and of acclamation. A reception was held in the afternoon where the Sisters visited with many community members and employees. Learn more about the Monastery of St. Gertrude at www.StGertrudes.org, or contact monastery@stgertrudes.org or 208-962-3224. 
From left to right: Sisters Theresa Dvorak, Louise Olberding, Bernard Lieser, Wilma Schlangen, Catherine Manderfeld and Josie Vincke sing the Suscipe during the celebration of their Jubilee Mass at Monastery of St. Gertrude, Cottonwood, Idaho, on November 16, 2009. These Sisters’ years of services to St. Gertrude’s and the Church total 400 years. |
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