Sister Rosanne Spalding busy at her desk.
Sister Rosanne Spalding served at Precious Blood Church in Owensboro until 2023, when a cancer diagnosis caused her to step down. She went to heaven on May 16, 2023.
Sister Rosanne Spalding, OSU, is pastoral associate and director of religious education at Precious Blood parish in Owensboro, a job that finds her involved in a wide range of projects in her office in the church rectory. Her duties include supervising the parish RCIA and religious education programs and the parish’s ministry to the sick.
“But what I enjoy the most,” admits Sister Rosanne, “is preparing the children and adults to receive the sacraments of the Eucharist, confirmation, reconciliation, and baptism. That’s what I really like.”
And those she ministers to really like her: “I think she’s wonderful. She’s taught me to be willing to help other people, to pray for them, to do the right thing.” – Scott Norris (RCIA catechumen).
“She’s a great role model. I try to follow her ways and her teachings.” – Renee Shultz (First Penance Catechist).
Sister Rosanne distributes the Holy Eucharist to Heritage Manor resident Fern Thompson.
“Oh, goodness, her visits are wonderful. I always look forward to them because we always have some good chats that I really enjoy.” – Fern Thompson (Heritage Manor resident)
“She has been a very big, steady influence in my RCIA training and has been special to my wife and kids.” – Ron Paul (RCIA candidate).
A native of Springfield, Kentucky, Sister Rosanne ranks fourth among the nine children born to Pete and Alice Spalding, a farming couple in Washington County.
Her first eight years of schooling were at the hands of Dominican sisters, two in the two-room Saint Agnes School in Washington County, six at Saint Rose grade school in Springfield.
Young Betty Rose Spalding’s first contact with Ursuline Sisters from Mount Saint Joseph was at Fredericktown High School, where they were on that public school faculty. After three years at F.H.S., she finished her senior year at Mount Saint Joseph as a postulant, completing two classes for her high school diploma and then began college at Brescia.
Sister Rosanne’s teaching career began at Saint Bernard School in Clementsville and Mary Carrico in Knottsville before she attainted her master’s degree through Western Kentucky University.