Celebrating Our Jubilarians – S. Carol Bauer

“As I look back over nearly 60 years, the first thing that strikes me is the incredible spectrum of opportunities and adventures that have filled those years,” said Sister of Charity of Cincinnati Carol Bauer on the occasion of her diamond jubilee.

Entering the Congregation on Sept. 8, 1960, Sister Carol said she has been both delighted and challenged by the medley of ministry experiences that have spanned the years. With a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the College of Mount St. Joseph (Cincinnati) and a master’s degree in theology from the University of Dayton, Ohio, Sister’s early years of ministry were spent teaching religion and math at St. Pius X in Albuquerque, New Mexico (1965-’66); St. Mary in Albuquerque (1966-’67); and St. Joseph Commercial in Dayton, Ohio (1967-’74).

Sister Carol transitioned to pastoral ministry in 1974, serving at St. Francis of Assisi in Centerville, Ohio, for the next 14 years. She began with the high school religious education program and expanded into an array of adult classes in faith development. Eventually her responsibilities led to the role of pastoral administrator. During those years Sister became part of many community volunteer roles available on committees and boards for the nonprofit and social service sector in Dayton, including Catholic Social Services and the United Way Public Policy.

“The knowledge and exposure provided through these experiences, I believe, were instrumental in the skill development that led to my ministry at Good Samaritan Hospital in Dayton,” Sister Carol said.

For 30 years Sister Carol served as the vice president of mission effectiveness and operations at Good Samaritan Hospital in Dayton; she retired from the position in December 2019.

Sister Carol has received numerous awards, including being named the 2005 Dayton Business Journal Healthcare Hero, the 2009 Dayton Woman of Influence, and most recently in 2013, she was the first-ever recipient of Catholic Social Services’ Community Leader of the Year honor, receiving a personal letter from former First Lady Rosalyn Carter acknowledging her decades of advocacy and service to those living with mental illness.

Of all her accomplishments and successes, though, Sister Carol said community board involvement has been a significantly enriching element in her life. She has served the boards of a number of local and national agencies, including the AIDS Resource Center Ohio, the Catholic Education Collaborative, National Conference for Community and Justice, and Seton High School. Sister also is a regional and national lecturer and program designer on Faith, Spiritual Development, Ethics and Theological issues. Currently Sister Carol serves the boards and committees of Catholic Social Service, Brunner Literacy Center and the Phoenix Project, which focuses on the enhancement and redevelopment of the Northwest Sector of Dayton.

“As I look back over my years of ministry, I am grateful for an incredible diversity of opportunities and adventures that enriched my perspective and challenged my skills for service. The richness of persons whom I have come to know, the challenges of needs within our communities, and the care and concern exhibited by others to respond to human need have been enriching inspiration,” Sister Carol concluded.