Born 1931; died 2010. Ruth Ann Hoffelder, later known as Sr. Margaret Hoffelder, SSJ was born August 15, 1931 in Waterloo, Indiana. In the mid 1940s Sr. Margaret attended Ashley High School in Auburn, Indiana. Upon graduation she was accepted to St. Francis College where she later completed a Masters degree in Theology. While at St. Francis College, Sr. Margaret joined the Sisters of St. Joseph, Third Order of St. Francis. It was also during her stay at St. Francis that she began teaching elementary school. In the late 1950s, while teaching Music and Religion at St. Francis High School, Sr. Margaret attended DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois. In 1963 she earned a Bachelors degree in Music Education as well as a Masters of Music in Liturgical Music. Shortly thereafter, she accepted a position as the Formation Director of St. Francis Convent where she stayed until 1970 when she began her position as a professor of theology at St. Francis College. In 1975 Sr. Margaret accepted the position of Associate Pastor at St. Andrews Church and later at Our Lady of Good Hope, where she remained for over a decade. During her tenure at Our Lady of Good Hope, Sr. Margaret and six other women founded a feminine spiritual center named Sophias Portico, in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Sr. Margaret was elected Executive Director and held the position until her death in 2010. During her time as Executive Director she conducted extensive Scripture and goddess research. Sr. Margaret presented several lecture series on matriarchs of the Bible as well as ancient goddesses and their position in Christian theology.
From the description of Margaret Hoffelder, SSJ papers 1960-2010. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 755632764
