Aging with grace: St. Paul Hermitage has been a home for the elderly for 50 years

Benedictine Sister Sharon Bierman, center, the eighth administrator of St. Paul Hermitage in Beech Grove, talks with residents Clare Bosler, left, and Jane Marshall, right, on Nov. 17 in the hermitage lobby. (Photo by Mary Ann Wyand)

By Mary Ann Wyand

BEECH GROVE—As the new year begins, the Sisters of St. Benedict of Our Lady of Grace Monastery in Beech Grove are looking ahead to future plans for their ministry to the elderly at St. Paul Hermitage.

Last year marked the 50th anniversary of the Hermitage, which the Benedictine sisters built in 1959 at 501 N. 17th Ave., adjacent to their monastery and former girls’ academy, at the request of then Archbishop Paul C. Schulte.

Archbishop Schulte provided 30 acres of land in Beech Grove, and asked the Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand, Ind., to construct a monastery, girls’ school and retirement home there.

“Not to take anything away from Archbishop Schulte, but I truly believe St. Paul Hermitage was actually God’s plan for us,” Benedictine Sister Juliann Babcock, the prioress of Our Lady of Grace Monastery, said in her reflection for the sisters’ chapter meeting on Nov. 8.

“It all began with the dream of one man and the fulfillment of that dream by a group of women,” she said. “At the same time [that] Archbishop Schulte had a dream, the Ferdinand community was considering the establishment of new foundations. I don’t think it was just a coincidence. I think it was the exact direction God had intended for our community.

“Fifty years later, St. Paul Hermitage continues to be one of the finest retirement facilities, not only in the city or the state, but possibly even in the country,” Sister Juliann said. “The respect people have for this institution is a testimony to the quality care given to the residents, and dedication of our sisters and staff.”

Chapter 37 of the Rule of St. Benedict instructs Benedictine monks and sisters throughout the world to always be “compassionate toward the old.”

During the past half century, she said, the Beech Grove Benedictines have provided a loving home and quality health care for 1,042 senior citizens at the Hermitage, including a number of retired diocesan priests who reside in apartments in the clergy wing on the third floor.

“We have had the honor of caring for these wonderful people in their golden years until they achieved their heavenly reward,” Sister Juliann said. “… The addition of the new health care wing nearly 15 years ago was a huge undertaking for our community. … Because of this wing, we were able to offer even more comprehensive care for our residents. That is the beauty of St. Paul Hermitage. We continually seek ways to enhance the lives of our residents. Our care for the elderly is second to none and, God willing, we will be able to continue this outstanding care long into the future.”

Resident James McNulty is thankful for the loving care provided by Benedictine Sister Sharon Bierman, a licensed health facility administrator and the eighth sister to direct the Hermitage, and other staff members.

James and Juanita McNulty moved to the Hermitage on May 15, 2004. When she died on Feb. 8, 2008, he was grateful that he did not have to face her death alone.

“My family was here except for a son, who was in Chicago,” he said. “I had tremendous support from Sister Sharon and all the employees. They came on the morning following her death, knocked on the door and extended their sympathies.”

It was a comfort to share the last years of their married life at the hermitage, McNulty said. “We were very happy for the 60-plus years of our marriage.”

Now that he is widowed, McNulty finds companionship with other residents and attends daily Mass at the Hermitage chapel. He also participates in a group exercise class.

“There are a lot of special things happening, a lot of different activities going on, so we keep fairly busy,” McNulty said. “I try to take a walk every afternoon. I still have my automobile so I can go out occasionally. There’s enough going on every day that we keep pretty active. It really is a family here.”

Katherine Svarczkopf, the mother of Msgr. Mark Svarczkopf, has lived at the hermitage for three and a half years.

The Mass of Thanksgiving for the conclusion of the golden anniversary year on Nov. 1 was especially memorable, she said, and the chapel was filled to capacity.

“It was a beautiful evening, a perfect one, with almost a full moon, just delightful,” Katherine Svarczkopf said. “We had a wonderful Mass, and then the Roncalli [High School] students were outside getting over 1,000 luminarias ready for us. What a production that was.”

Seven priests concelebrated the liturgy with Father Gerald Kirkhoff, the principal celebrant. He is the pastor of St. Pius X Parish in Indianapolis and archdiocesan vicar for advocacy for priests.

Father Thomas Murphy, a retired diocesan priest and hermitage resident, preached the homily.

“St. Paul Hermitage is a shining example of what can happen when energy combines with a religious orientation centered on Christ,” Father Murphy told the residents, sisters and guests.

Father Gerald Burkert is the retirement facility’s chaplain and Father Herman Lutz assists him. Both priests are retired from full-time diocesan ministry and live at the Hermitage.

Daily life at the Hermitage is happy and holy, Katherine Svarczkopf said. “The calendar of the Church directs our days. We have Mass and pray the rosary. We have our routine, and I look forward to that. The sisters and staff are so good to us. I’ve known some of the sisters for about 20 years now since my mother-in-law was living here.”

Sister Sharon began her ministry at the Hermitage as a physical therapist in 1978 then served as the director of the

rehabilitation department before her appointment as administrator in 2000.

“We have 105 residents and 108 employees,” she said. “We offer independent living and skilled care for our residents. We are licensed with the state for 70 residential beds, and those residents are fairly independent. … In addition, we have a skilled care wing with 52 comprehensive care beds. We are currently providing 24-hour nursing care for 48 residents there.”

The comprehensive care unit was made possible by a $4 million campaign to relocate the residents in need of skilled health care to a new addition constructed on the first floor in 1992.

“It is wonderful for me, as the administrator, when we get a new resident because we inherit their family, and keep building more and more relationships,” Sister Sharon said. “The support that our residents have from their families is phenomenal. They visit them often and on holidays many of our residents go to a family member’s home. We also have excellent Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners here for those residents who no longer have families.”

Fifteen efficiency apartments on the third floor are reserved for retired priests.

Msgr. Richard Kavanagh, who at 98 was the oldest diocesan priest until his death on Jan. 20, helped plan the priests’ retirement home and had lived there since it opened in 1998.

“Archbishop [Edward T.] O’Meara asked the sisters to provide a home for our retired priests,” Sister Sharon said. “We have six retired priests living with us, and we love having them here.”

More than 85 percent of the residents attend daily Mass at 11 a.m. in the chapel. Morning, afternoon and evening hours are filled with a variety of fitness activities, arts and crafts, card games, special entertainment and social time with friends.

“It’s been a wonderful experience helping the residents and their families,” Sister Sharon said. “People always comment on how clean our facility is, how friendly all the residents, staff and volunteers are, and how they can feel the Spirit of love here. We welcome each person as we would Christ. Our residents and staff care about one another. We are a family. This is a ministry of love.” †