Sister Maria Fest (formerly Sister Maria Goretti), is a living example of what it means to be a Woman of Providence for the world. She entered religious life 50 years ago from St. Anne’s parish in Castle Shannon, Pennsylvania, and she cites the parish community at St. Anne’s, first and foremost the Sisters of Divine Providence who taught there, and the parish priests for encouraging her vocation. As she prepared for ministry in education, she earned a bachelor of science degree in biology from La Roche College, a master’s degree in chemistry from the University of Notre Dame, and a doctor of arts degree in chemistry from Lehigh University. Her dissertation, Chemistry Curriculum to Support a Master’s Level Nurse Anesthesia Program, was the basis for the College’s current Master of Health Sciences program.
She began her ministry as a teacher, teaching students from elementary school through college. She was both a teacher and principal at Divine Providence Academy from 1966-1977. At La Roche College, she was director of financial aid, and adjunct faculty member for health sciences (1977-1981) and associate professor in health sciences (1984-1990). Sister Maria was executive director of Providence Connections, Inc. from 1999-2007 (the umbrella ministry for the Providence Family Support Center and Amelia House). She has been in provincial administration for her religious community for 13 years (1991-2001 and 2007-2010), presently serving as canonical treasurer and provincial councilor for finance, property, and human resources.
In addition to her numerous educational and ministry pursuits, Sister Maria held several volunteer positions. In 1995 she was elected to the La Roche College Board of Trustees and served through 2006. She chaired the Academic Affairs Board Committee, served on the Human Resources Committee, and worked with the College to develop the Human Resources relationship that exists today between the Sisters and the College. Since 2007 she has been the Community’s leadership liaison for the Founders’ Scholarship and the Divine Providence Scholarship programs. Sister Maria has been recognized with the Alumni Achievement Award (1987), and the President’s Award (1997). The annual Sister Maria Fest Award for Scholarship in Service in the Sciences was named in recognition of her contribution to the College.
A life-long learner, Sister Maria is blessed with passion, curiosity, and seemingly boundless energy, which she brings to all that she does. Even though she does not practice in her field, science, she uses her education and love of science to define herself in relation to her community’s mission and spirituality. “They fit together like hand in glove,” she says. “Co-creation, quantum physics and the new science, along with health sciences, have spoken volumes to me about being a Providence Woman.”