Benedictine sisters of Ferdinand with ties to archdiocese celebrate jubilees

Benedictine Sisters Mary Agnes Sermersheim, left, Corda Trouy, Sylvia Gehlhausen and Jan Youart, each of whom have ties to the archdiocese, smile with Sisters Mary Ann Schepers and Christine Kempf on Oct. 29 as the six sisters of Monastery Immaculate Conception in Ferdinand, in the Evansville Diocese, celebrated special anniversaries of profession of their vows. (Submitted photo)

Compiled by Natalie Hoefer

Four Benedictine sisters who celebrated special anniversaries of their religious profession at Monastery Immaculate Conception in Ferdinand, Ind., in the Evansville Diocese, also have ties to the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.

At the monastery on Oct. 29, Benedictine Sister Sylvia Gehlhausen marked the 70th anniversary of her profession of monastic vows, and Benedictine Sisters Jan Youart, Mary Agnes Sermersheim and Corda Trouy celebrated their 60th anniversary.

Benedictine Sister Sylvia Gehlhausen entered the monastery in 1940 and made monastic profession in 1942. In the archdiocese, she served as a teacher at St. Mary-of-the-Knobs School in Floyd County, at the former St. Meinrad School in St. Meinrad, and at the former St. Bernard School in Cannelton. She currently serves as a minister of hospitality at the monastery.

Benedictine Sister Jan Youart, a native of Shelbyville, entered the monastery in 1955 and made her monastic profession in 1957. She served as a teacher at the former St. Meinrad School in St. Meinrad. She currently serves at the monastery in the ministry of prayer.

Benedictine Sister Mary Agnes Sermersheim entered the monastery in 1955 and made her monastic profession in 1957. She served as a teacher at the former St. Meinrad School in St. Meinrad. She currently serves as sacristan, works in the liturgy office and helps with health care at the monastery.

Benedictine Sister Corda Trouy, a native of New Albany, entered St. Joseph Monastery in St. Marys, Pa., in 1955 and made her monastic profession in 1957. She transferred to Monastery Immaculate Conception in 1998 and served as a religious education instructor at St. Martin of Tours Parish in Siberia. She currently serves in the Evansville Diocese as a religious education teacher, and at the monastery ministering to the senior sisters in Hildegard Health Center, offering hospitality at the sisters’ Kordes Hall retreat center, and working in supportive services. †