Doris Kretzler, CDP

Sister Doris Kretzler entered religious life from St. Joseph (now Our Lady of the Valley parish) in New Brighton, PA. She credits her mother with influencing her decision to become a Sister. "My dad died very early in my life, and my mother, who had a deep Irish faith, felt responsible for passing this faith on to her children. Keeping the Commandments, attending Sunday Mass, showing love for others, and being with family were top priorities."

Sister Doris devoted the early part of her ministry to teaching primary school (more than 40 years). She also ministered as a certified nurse aid at Vincentian Assisted Living (1998-2009); co-director of Providence Heights in Allison Park, PA (2007-2016) and administrative assistant to the administrator at Providence Heights (2016-2019). Since 2019, Sister Doris has been an office volunteer for the Community. She said, "Daily, I ask the Lord to help me meet the day and all it entails in the manner He knows best."

She says of how she sees herself living our her charism, "Living out Providence in my life is and has been very deep in relationship to my everyday living. For example, as each day begins, God's Providence permits situations and circumstances to surface that allows me to respond in my own individual and unique way. So many times my question to why the elements of a plan worked out the way it did was no other than Providence. This, I believe, is a real means of making Providence more visible in our world."

Sister Doris shared a story about the way God works. She said, "In 1935, at 5 years old, my sister and I spent some months at the boarding school of the Sisters of Divine Providence in Allison Park, PA, due to a medical situation of my mother who was unable to oversee our care at home. The principal assigned me to the first grade classroom, which was taught by Sister Victoria Baldauf, who graciously accepted my presence. After this experience, my grade school years continued at St. Joseph's and finished in 1949 at New Brighton High School. Inspired to follow the call to religious life, I applied and was accepted as a postulant to the Sisters of Divine Providence. I entered at the age of 21. Little did I know that my first grade teacher Sister Victoria would be my postulant mistress. I knew then that Providence was smiling on me."

Describing herself as loyal, compassionate, and caring, Sister Doris enjoys listening to music, playing card games and word search puzzles. People might be surprised to know that on a visit to Ireland, she climbed the 133 steps to kiss the Blarney Stone!

CLICK HERE to make a gift in honor of Sister Doris' 70th Jubilee.