Back to Exponent Menu Printer Friendly Page   LOCAL FEATURES Friday, July 05, 2002 ‘A great lady’ retires Ursuline Sister Gertrude Paris has served in the chancery for 22 years, but ‘it’s time’ By Susan K. Virgalitte Ursuline Sister Gertrude Paris, director of administrative services for the diocesan Department of Financial Services, is retiring after 22 years in that position. She began working at the diocesan Central Services building in downtown Youngstown in 1980. Prior to that, she had served for seven years as principal of Struthers St. Nicholas School. Sister Gertrude said she would take only good memories with her when she retires. “I think the single most important thing was the dedication of the priests, lay people and religious sisters in their positions and how they would strive very sincerely to assist anyone throughout the diocese who needed help,” she said. She added that the staff of the finance department was always very aware that they were dealing with other people’s money and wanted very much to “do the right thing.” Since 1995, one of Sister Gertrude’s primary responsibilities has been workers’ compensation and unemployment. “We have been able to assist literally hundreds of people who had a need for that kind of assistance,” she said. “It was always very satisfying to know that we could ease the minds of these people in an adverse position of illness or disability. I’m grateful for that.” As for her plans after “retirement,” Sister Gertrude expects to stay as active as ever in different capacities. “I’m not comfortable just relaxing,” she said. “I enjoy a lot of different things. I will probably intensify my wood carving, which I enjoy very much. I’m an amateur, but it’s still fun. Whatever responsibilities I am given at the Motherhouse I will do with all the ability that is required.” As for her retirement from the diocesan offices, she said, “It’s time. I have been here 22 years. It’s time to move on and give a younger person the opportunity. I have always felt it was a privilege to work here, particularly with Bishop [Benedict] Franzetta and Msgr. [John] DeMarinis. I consider these people a very important part of my life.” Sister Gertrude entered the Ursuline community in June of 1949. She has served in various positions in her order, including as Motherhouse treasurer and member of the administrative council. She has two sisters and two brothers: Rose Perry of Poland, Helen Flauto of Struthers, Paul Paris of Boardman, and Joe Paris of Struthers. Msgr. DeMarinis, former treasurer of the Youngstown Diocese and pastor of Youngstown St. Anthony of Padua Parish, told the Exponent, “I most admired Sister Gertrude for the way she had the proper proportion of being a religious and being a professional. She was always a religious first, and her professionalism followed.” Bishop Franzetta, retired auxiliary bishop of Youngstown, said, “In the ambience of consecrated life for religious women, Sister Gertrude Paris is an icon of stability. In a variety of positions in her religious community, in the diocesan school system and in diocesan administration, she has brought honor and respect to the mission of service of the Ursuline sisters and to the Church. Giving witness to that is her spirit of dedication and cooperation, her innate sense of responsibility, her conscientiousness in performance, her applied intelligence and her steadfastness in her calling to the religious life. I thank her personally, as I am sure many others would wish to do, joining me in a spirit of gratitude. In my estimation, she’s a great lady.”   Back to Exponent Menu Printer Friendly Page   Other Articles of 2002   Christmas letter from El Salvador missions thanks diocesan Catholics   Bishop shares views, discussion with Central students   ETC slates Christmas specials throughout the season   My Favorite Christmas Memories   Guidelines on religious ed homeschooling are issued   Local Catholic radio station targets Feb. 1 date   HMs end 98-years of service to Salem St. Paul Parish   Learn ‘language’ of young, youth meet speaker urges   Bishop Tobin: Meeting in D.C. on norms was ‘anxious, tense, difficult’   Priests must ask one another the tough questions, speaker says   Catholic death and funeral rites   Deacons mark 25th with Mass, dinner, memories   Diocesan Ministry Convocation Speaker: Global solidarity, not globalization, should be aim   Jusseaume inaugurated as sixth Walsh president   Diaconate marks 25th anniversary with Oct. 27 fete   New norms sent to priests, deacons on Communion under both kinds   Ashtabula parishes are ‘one Catholic community’   Jusseaume to become Walsh’s sixth president   Charismatic speaker: ‘Church being tested in faithfulness’   Lutheran/Catholic covenant event draws 140 to Walsh   Canton St. Joseph Parish observes centennial celebration   HMHP CEO Michael Rowan   Stewardship speaker: It’s about gratitude and thanking God first   Imagination is key to resolving crisis, priests told   War with Iraq? Expo readers opposed by 81-19%   Newspaper columns didn’t give complete story, official says   Diocesan Ministry Convocation set Oct. 26 at YSU’s Kilcawley   New year brings new faculty, changes at diocesan high schools   Mont St. Michel, Avignon’s papal palace are treasures   Preparing for the priesthood   Entering well-earned retirement, Sr. Marcella’s not slowing down   Warren St. Mary observes 100th year for church building   Lay Ministry Formation program attracting new audience   The cathedrals of France: Monuments of faith in stone   Executive summary of the ad hoc commission on athletics in diocesan high schools   ‘No widespread abuse’ found   Milburn leaving pro-life post to pursue grad studies   Return to France yields history, memories, surprises   Two new members appointed for Diocesan Finance Council   Former SS. C&M school razed, but memories remain   Pastor, 80, keeps busy with ‘lots of interests’   Ravenna IC boasts 5 high school valedictorians for ‘02   Humility Sister Sandy Pedone to profess perpetual vows July 21   NRLC convention filled with good news   ‘Capture the Romance’ is theme for NFP Week   Question of moral evil discussed at Walsh symposium   Notre Dame Sisters will celebrate jubilees July 14   ‘A great lady’ retires   Statement of Bishop Tobin on the meeting of the U. S. Conference   Haladej, Celuch ordained to priesthood, diaconate in Slovakia   Bishop plans implementation of norms on sexual abuse   Kevin McCaffrey, Robert Miller are newest priests   Theologian: ‘Behave toward others as though God were there’   Fr. Bonnot: Use good judgment for TV, movie viewing   MOMS: ‘A place to claim yourself’   Storm ‘changed lives forever’ for Jackson Twp. family   Bishop will ordain Miller, McCaffrey at May 25 ceremony   Update on child abuse   Vicar general addresses issue of not giving priest names to media   New Middletown St. Paul youth — called to be ‘witnesses’ for Christ   New Ursuline Sisters leadership team elected to 6-year term   Two receive first pastorates; two pastors change parishes   Abuse coverage   Walsh University dedicates new ‘David’ campus center   Sisters’ HIV/AIDS ministry critical, heartbreaking   Bishop visits St. Peter’s as rebuilding process begins   Chrism Mass theme: Priests can’t afford discouragement   Bishop’s Appeal stresses meeting needs, funding ministries   Diocese OKs closing Conneaut St. Frances Cabrini K-8; preschool stays   St. Stan’s marks 100th year   Canton St. Joseph choir enjoys ‘incredible trip’   New schools superintendent   Four journeys of faith among hundreds marked here   DPC considers direction, importance of youth ministry   Richard Jusseaume named as Walsh University’s sixth president   Pro-life dinner heralds new beginning in Stark County   Kids at church   Religious day studies resurrection amid culture of violence   Richard Jusseaume named as Walsh University’s sixth president   Keynoter: Eucharist should change us   Speaker: ‘Truth’ key concept in Gospel of John   Parishes offer Lenten missions for spiritual enrichment   Parishes offer Lenten missions, speakers series   Working in Medjugorje   TV anchorman finds faith not incompatible with journalism   Action alert on cloning set in diocese for Feb. 2-3   Austintown parishioner finds fulfillment in El Salvador   ‘Where Faith and Knowledge Meet’   Resisting TEMPTATION: It’s worth the effort, teens say   4th annual Diocesan Pro-life Mass set Jan. 26   Catholic/Lutheran dialogue, death of Walsh president top news   Diocese helping Afghanistan relief   Past Articles From 2001