Maria Rufina Karges
Died: 06/23/1977
Diocese: Diocese of Helena MT
“Mother Loyola”; “Sr. Maria Rufina”; “Sr. Mary Rufina”. From Impfinger, Germany. Arrived in the U.S. in 1927 or 1928 to join the Ursuline order. Made vows in 1931. Assigned to Holy Family in Browning for three years. Final vows in 1934. Assigned in about 1937 to St. Ignatius Mission Boarding School in MT, where she reportedly worked for 26 years. Became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1941. She also worked at Ursuline Academy in Great Falls, and the Novitiate at Santa Rosa, CA. Transferred to St. Mary’s AK in 1972. Died in 1977. Karges was accused of sexually abusing at least 24 children of the over 500 claimants included in a massive $166M settlement with the Jesuits in 2011. The abuse occurred in the 1950s and early 1960s at St. Ignatius Mission. Karges was the school’s cook and supervisor of the boys’ dorm; she would take individual boys back to her room at night for sex. Named in large lawsuit filed in 10/2011 by multiple plaintiffs.
- Flathead Courier 09.19.40
- Ronan Pioneer 04.03.41
- Ronan Pioneer 08.17.72
- Great Falls Tribune Obituary 06.25.77
- PCVA Law Firm Press Release 03.25.11
- The Missoulian 06.05.11
- The Missoulian 06.06.11
- The Missoulian 09.27.11
- John Does 1-16 et al v Ursuline Sisters, Diocese of Helena, et al, Cause No ADV-2011-936, Montana First Judicial District Court, Lewis & Clark County, 10.03.11
- The Missoulian 01.31.14
- Missoula Independent 03.27.14
- Diocese of Helena List 04.29.15
Sources:
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