Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati / Features

2012 Silver Jubilarians

S. Monica Gundler

Born in Hamilton, Ohio, Sister Monica attended St. Peter in Chains School and Stephen T. Badin High School, graduating in 1979.

“I remember the Sisters being very passionate and joyful,” Sister Monica said of her Sisters of Charity educators at St. Peter in Chains. “I thought they really ‘walked the talk’ about God loving us and that if we loved as Jesus loved we would care for others.”

Sister received her bachelor’s degree in sociology from the College of Mount St. Joseph in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1983, and her master’s degree in social work from the University of Denver in Colorado in 1993.

Sister Monica began her years in ministry as a program specialist and social worker for Reading Youth Services in Reading, Ohio, in 1986. From 1988-’89, she served as an education specialist for Catholic Social Services in Cincinnati.

Moving West, Sister Monica served as youth minister at Divine Redeemer in Colorado Springs, Colo., from 1989-’92. She then became the coordinator of youth evangelization for the Colorado Springs Diocese for one year before ministering in campus ministry at St. Mary’s High School, also in Colorado Springs, from 1993-’95.

Sister returned to Ohio in 1996 to serve as the coordinator of retreats at the University of Dayton for two years. She returned to the College of Mount St. Joseph in 1998; this time on staff as director of campus ministry for the next nine years.

In 2007, Sister Monica began ministering as her Community’s director of initial formation. Currently, she serves in vocation ministry for the Congregation and lives and ministers at the House of Charity in New Orleans, La. The House of Charity, an initiative of the Sisters of Charity Federation, is an intentional community committed to hospitality and living the Charity Charism by welcoming volunteers for prayer, community and service to the poor. The house hosts groups of volunteers from the Sisters of Charity Federation, including young adults, college groups and Sisters and Associates. The volunteers help to rebuild the city following Hurricane Katrina.

In addition, since 2010, Sister Monica has served as crisis counselor to fishing communities affected by the Gulf oil spill through Catholic Charities.

“As a Sister of Charity, I am always called beyond myself to remember my connection to all people,” Sister Monica said. “I hope to be a person who will bring God’s healing and light to others.”

S. Marguerite Kloos

As she reflects on her decision to enter religious life 25 years ago, Sister of Charity of Cincinnati Marge Kloos says, “Working with those who worked with a purpose on behalf of a better world felt good, and women religious were very active in such things as anti-nuclear marches, third-world poverty, education and health care. All the women religious I met (in many communities) were among my favorite people, so the decision to enter was really an easy one.”

A native of Chicago, Ill., Sister Marge attended St. Walter Grade School in Chicago and later graduated from St. Anthony Parish in Frankfort, Ill. She received her bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from Regis University in Denver, Colo., in 1980; a master’s degree in theology studies from the University of Dayton in Ohio in 1994; and later, the Doctor of Ministry from United Theology Seminary, also in Dayton, in 2000.

After entering religious life, Sister taught at Archbishop Alter High School in Kettering, Ohio, from 1986-’87. In 1989, she became the communications director for the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati until 1994.

Sister Marge served as campus minister for the College of Mount St. Joseph in Cincinnati, Ohio, from 1994-’98; four years later, she transitioned to the academic side and has remained there since. Currently, she serves as the dean of the Division of Arts and Humanities at the College of Mount St. Joseph as well as continuing to serve as associate professor of religious and pastoral studies, teaching such courses as Theology of Pastoral Care, Feminist Theology and Spiritual Care of Women.

“As a member of the Congregation, there have been some very wonderful opportunities. Being companioned by women of deep faith and courage has been truly a privilege and a source of grace,” Sister reflected. “Belonging is often mysterious, but tangible in the sense that there is no identity I can imagine apart from the Congregation. Why? I am not really able to express why; I am just grateful that it is so.”

In her spare time, Sister Marge serves on several local boards including the board of the Campbell Lodge Boys Home in Newport, Ky.; she also conducts retreat work for various groups in the Midwest.

S. Montiel Rosenthal

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Sister Montiel attended St. Aloysius-on-the-Ohio and Seton High School, graduating in 1977. Sister says it was her Sisters of Charity teachers at Seton that played a significant role in her decision to enter religious life in 1986.

Sister received her bachelor’s degree in biology from Thomas More College in Fort Mitchell, Ky., in 1981, and the Doctor of Medicine from the University of Cincinnati in 1986.

Following completion of her medical degree, Sister Montiel served a residency in family practice at University Hospital in Cincinnati, and a fellowship at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Covington, Ky. From 1991 until 1997, Sister ministered to the working poor of Elliott County, Ky., as a family practitioner. She received the 1994 Award for Teaching Clinical Medicine from the Northeastern Kentucky Area Health Education Center for teaching doctors, midwives, nurse practitioners and physician assistants in training.

From 1997 until 2002, Sister served as a missionary in Gyumri, Shirak, Armenia. There she ministered to the people, caring for patients and working with physicians to improve the level of care given to patients.

Currently, Sister Montiel is an associate clinical professor in the University of Cincinnati’s Department of Family and Community Medicine. She teaches family medicine residents in the university’s training program, based at The Christ Hospital. She also is director of maternity services, overseeing prenatal care, and serves as the medical director for The Christ Hospital Medical Associates’ Family Medicine Office.

“[Our founder] Elizabeth Seton had a soft spot for pregnant women and children being a mom herself, and I consider it a pleasure to be able to provide that care for women, and their babies, to stay as healthy as possible – and to teach the next generation of doctors to do the same,” S. Montiel said in an interview in 2010.

In addition, for the last seven years, Sister has provided care to racetrack employees and their family members at the Riverdowns Racetrack, Cincinnati, free health-care clinic.

S. Carol Wirtz

Born and raised in Plentywood, Mont., Sister Carol attended Outlook elementary and high schools, graduating in 1979. Sister Carol received her bachelor’s degree in special education from Carroll College in Helena, Mont., in 1984. She entered the Sisters of Charity Community two years later, and made her religious profession in 1994.

Following graduation, Sister Carol volunteered teaching second grade at St. Anthony Zuni Indian Mission in New Mexico. It was there that she met the Sisters of Charity and discerned a call to enter the Community in 1986. She continued teaching at schools in Ohio and New Mexico until 1990.

In 1990, Sister studied massage therapy at the New Mexico Academy of Natural Healing Arts. Since then her ministry has been in alternative health care. In 1991, she moved to El Paso, Texas, to minister with other Sisters of Charity at the U.S./Mexico border.

“I have served in various locations, directing my practice toward the medically underserved,” Sister Carol said. “I continue to develop strategies for healing with the particular focus on care for women with cancer and children with special needs.”

Currently, Sister Carol is living in southern New Mexico. She ministers at the Santa Niño Project in Anapra, Mexico, a clinic that provides care for children with special needs and their families. There Sister Carol performs lymphatic drainage and craniosacral therapy as well as massage therapy and energy work. In addition, she teaches the children’s mothers to do these techniques and coordinate their efforts as a team.

“I love seeing the smiles on the faces of our mothers and the children as they tumble out of the van when they arrive at the clinic,” Sister Carol said. “I love hearing their laughter and seeing the moms who have never had any formal schooling provide wonderful healing therapies to their own and other children…

“What motivates me in these ministries is the spirit of our founder, Saint Elizabeth Seton – mother and teacher,” she concluded.

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