Contact Information:

  For opportunities to spend time
      with us in our monastery,
          please contact:

      Sacred Heart Monastery
             1005 W. 8th
       Yankton, SD 57078
           (605) 668-6000

     monastery@mtmc.edu

Community News Stories

Three Benedictine Sisters To Be Honored
At MMC Commencement
Press & Dakotan
Yankton Daily
Thursday, April 21, 2005

by Dr. James T. Barry, MMC President

We live in a world today where the word commitment doesn't mean all that it used to.  If anyone is searching for role models that illustrate the meaning of dedication and faithfulness, those kinds of examples are certainly found at Sacred Heart Monastery (SHM).  Virtually all of the Benedictine Sisters in the Monastery have already spent a lifetime in service to others.

During Mount Marty College's 6 (MMC's) 9th Commencement ceremony on May 7, the College will be recognizing three of the Benedictine Sisters who have given so much to their monastic community, MMC, and the Yankton and surrounding region through their years of service.  Those honorees, who will receive an Honorary Doctorate of Human Letters, include Sister Jacquelyn Ernster, Sister Evangeline Anderson, and the late Sister Julia Hunhoff.

S. Evangeline Anderson completed her B.A. in Economics and Business Administration at Mt. St. Scholastica College in 1949.  She received her M.A. in Philosophy in 1951 from the Catholic University of America.  In 1953, she completed a Ph.D. in Philosophy at the Catholic University of America.

She has been listed in "Community Leaders of America," "Personalities of the West and Midwest," "Directory of American Scholars, "Leaders in Education," "Library of Human Resources," and various "Who's Who" publications, and was awarded 1974 Mount Marty College Alumna of the Year.

S. Evangeline began her active professional experience as an elementary teacher at St. Mary's School in Aberdeen and also taught at Mount Marty High School.  She later taught Philosophy at MMC.  At MMC she has served as President, Dean of Women, Director of Development/Financial Assistance, and VP of Financial Affairs.  She participated in the Religious Leaders Program at the University of Notre Dame and served as Administrative Assistant to the Parish Project of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops.  She was a former assistant to the SHM prioress and is currently the Public Relations director for SHM.  She has also been active on many civic committees and a board member of Avera Sacred Heart Hospital and MMC. 

S. Jacquelyn Ernster received her B.A. in history from MMC in 1965.  She graduated from Indiana University in 1970 with her M.A. in History.  Her Ph.D. was earned in 1976 from Ohio State University in Education and History.

Her teaching career included adjunct professor at MMC and a visiting professor at Australia Catholic University.  At MMC she taught in the Social Science program as well as courses in World Cultures, East Asian History, African History, Methods of Teaching History, and Modern United States History.  She has served as Co-Director of Non-Western Cultures Institutes at MMC, Director of Freshman Studies, and VP of Academic Affairs.  She was President of MMC from 1983-1996, and has been serving as Prioress of SHM from 1997 to the present. 

She has been very involved with community service that includes Yankton Press and Dakotan Editorial Board member and Yankton Manufacturing Association member.  A member of Kiwanis since 1986, S. Jacquelyn has served that organization as past president and vice president, lieutenant governor and board member.  Other board memberships include junior Achievement and Consultant, Yankton Area Chamber of commerce, Interchange, Madonna Professional Care Center, Corporate Board for the Sisters of SHM, and MMC.

S. Julia Hunhoff received her B.A. in Education and Math in 1956 from MMC.  She attended the School of Commerce in Omaha, NE, and received a diploma in Accounting in 1975.  In 1982, she was awarded a diploma in Theology and Ministry from the Corporate Ministry Program in St. Louis, MO.

S. Julia began her career at MMC as a Lecturer and then Business Office Assistant.  She was involved with Pastoral Ministry at St. Michael's Parish in Sioux Falls and at St. Thomas More Parish in Brookings.  She was also the Liturgy Coordinator for SHM and was a volunteer since 2000 at the Good Shepherd Parish in Centerville, SD. 

S. Julia served as Sub-prioress at SHM from 1954-1961 and Prioress from 1961-1973.  She taught Algebra at Mount Marty High School and also taught at St. Wenceslaus in Tabor.  We were all saddened by Sister Julia's death on Tuesday, April 12, 2005.

The Yankton and surrounding community is welcome to join us during our commencement ceremony to recognize and honor these women who have contributed so much of their time and talents to our community.  It will be an honor to celebrate their dedication and success.

As always, I welcome your thoughts and suggestions in regard to my comments.  I can be reached at my office in Bede Hall, office #234, at 605-668-1514, or at jbarry@mtmc.edu.