Loretta Schafer
Encyclopedia
Sister Loretta Schafer, S.P., was the Superior General
of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods
, Indiana, from 1976-1981. In 1977, she worked with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development
to develop and construct the Maryvale Retirement Complex at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.
Schafer served as Chancellor
of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, the first woman to serve in this position.
In 1978, she sold Chicago's Providence-St. Mel
school, which had been property of the Sisters of Providence, to principal Paul Adams after the Archdiocese of Chicago withdrew financial support. The story of the community's rallying spirit to keep the school open gained national attention and press, including a Readers Digest article "A School That Wouldn't Die."
Superior general
A Superior General, or General Superior, is the Superior at the head of a whole religious order or congregation.The term is mainly used as a generic term, while many orders and congregations use other specific titles, notably:* Abbot general...
of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods
Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods
The Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods are an apostolic congregation of Catholic women founded by Saint Theodora Guerin at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, in 1840...
, Indiana, from 1976-1981. In 1977, she worked with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development
United States Department of Housing and Urban Development
The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, also known as HUD, is a Cabinet department in the Executive branch of the United States federal government...
to develop and construct the Maryvale Retirement Complex at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.
Schafer served as Chancellor
Chancellor (ecclesiastical)
Two quite distinct officials of some Christian churches have the title Chancellor.*In some churches, the Chancellor of a diocese is a lawyer who represents the church in legal matters....
of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, the first woman to serve in this position.
In 1978, she sold Chicago's Providence-St. Mel
Providence-St. Mel
Providence St. Mel School is a private, coeducational K-12 school in East Garfield Park, Chicago, Illinois. The school currently has 594 students and 50 teachers.-History:...
school, which had been property of the Sisters of Providence, to principal Paul Adams after the Archdiocese of Chicago withdrew financial support. The story of the community's rallying spirit to keep the school open gained national attention and press, including a Readers Digest article "A School That Wouldn't Die."