website watertownhistory.org
ebook History of Watertown, Wisconsin
Sister Mary Honore
(Joan Kaul)
Joan
Kaul, daughter of Michael Kaul and Helen Kreuziger as
well as a daughter of the parish, was invested with the habit of the order of
the Sisters of Notre Dame in Milwaukee.
Joan graduated from the parish school and was an honor member of the
Watertown High School class of 1943. In
the 1945 ceremony, the postulant received the religious garb, a breviary and
rosary, a crown of lilies and roses, a lighted candle, and, to make the
transformation complete, a new name. At
the time, Joan Kaul selected Sister Mary Honore. She was an elementary school teacher for 34
years in a variety of locations, has worked with retired sisters at Elm Grove,
did secretarial work for the religious education programs, and is liturgist at
Beaver Dam.
The end of an era
Sister Joan
Emily Kaul, Retirement of
Portions
derived from Beaver Dam Daily Citizen,
05 22 2003
For more than 140 years
the School Sisters of Notre Dame maintained a presence in Beaver Dam. But after July, when Sister Joan Emily Kaul
and Sister Mary DeCleene depart for retirement homes
in other communities, the chapter will close on a group of women that has
touched countless lives and has carried on service with religious fever.
Sister Joan Emily will
retire to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Convent in Mount Calvary. As part of an independent living community,
she will join 40 other nuns.
After a brief respite,
she plans to help less fortunate religious at the center and expects to
volunteer some time with students at the nearby Catholic school.
The SSND appeared with
little fanfare in 1862 following a request from the Rev. Deberge. When the three nuns arrived they were greeted
by 100 students of German, Irish and French heritage, students at the newly
organized St. Peter’s School.
Every few years, they’d
receive notice, letters called “blue birds” in the order, and would learn of
assignments to their next parishes.
Sacrifices demonstrated
their dedication to religious life.
Early morning wakeup calls, tight schedules and confining garb set the
women apart.
According to rules,
they were allowed only two home visits during their lifetimes, upon the deaths
of their mother and father. There were
two exceptions: the ordination of a
brother and the golden wedding anniversary of their parents.
Today’s relaxed standards
include greater contact with family members, fewer restrictions on attire and
more freedom in choosing career assignments.
The nun’s habit
underwent several changes in a three decade span, going from a tightly bound,
heavily starched look to a casual appearance.
No longer could misbehaving children call their teachers “penguins.”
Nuns were also allowed
to become more socially active in their communities. Sister Joan Emily lived in Milwaukee during
the 1960s unrest.
Special
family friend of the late Carol A. Lesch of Beaver Dam