On this day we pause to rejoice in God's
graced presence in each of you,
our jubilarians!

by Sr. Mary Persico, IHM
July 29, 2007

I, in the name of our congregation leadership and all of you, congratulate and honor our forty-four jubilarians whose lives individually and collectively, have brought light and joy and goodness and love to the world in countless and uniquely beautiful ways for 2,525 years collectively.

For twenty-five, fifty, sixty, seventy-five, and even eighty years, God's grace has been abundantly alive in the women we celebrate today.

Eighty years! Sister Basil, your life has embraced many generations. Humble, gentle, always a lady, the twinkle in your eye and your knowing smile help us to experience what it's like to see the face of God.

Sisters Wilhelmina and Gerard, for one hundred fifty years combined, you have shared with the world your unique gifts as individuals. And so, like the harmony of a long practiced duet, your spirit and love for the congregation, your uncanny grasp of reality, your joy in community, and your prayerful spirit all teach us the marvels of the diversity of God.

And our Sisters who delight in seventy-years of joyful, loving, service! Sisters Paula and Gillet, Mary Earley and Edmunda, Aloisa and Helaine, Wilma and Joanella, Virgilius and Edwardine, you have been our companions on a lifelong journey to holiness. You stay the course, day in and day out; you have the wisdom we all still seek and in you we see the faithfulness of God.

Rosalian and St. Paul, Eleanor and Bernardus, Alexius and Fidelis, Anne Fulwiler and Dolora, St. Gerard and Anne Pickard, Kathryn and Celesta, we thank you for the friendships we share with you, the still vibrant memories of ministry and community lived in joy these sixty years. You are the lovers of the dream – summoning us, empowering us, encouraging us, and in you we hear the spirit of God calling us to goodness.

And imagine fifty years, Sisters Christina and Lois, Maureen and Vincentia, Lillian Marie and Catherine Ann, Michael Marie and Ann Newell, Mariam and Ann Marie, Mary Schoberg and Ellen, Marie Lourdes and Louis Marie, Regina and Eva! Your lives proclaim the greatness of our God in far away places or right at home. You are faithful in matters of justice and loyal to those you serve, wherever they are, wherever you are. Because of you, the lowly are lifted up and in you we find the compassion of God.

And Ruth, Donna, and Annmarie, the vitality of your lives given in love for twenty-five years inspires in us the courage to dream new dreams for the life of the world. You enliven us with your energy and give us passion for the future. In you we touch the hope of God.

And with tender remembrance we bring into our hearts and minds our Sisters Faith and Maristella who were born to new life in this year of jubilee. In you we see the promise of God fulfilled.

On this day we pause to rejoice in God's graced presence in each of you, our jubilarians. Your quest for God has brought you to this moment - healers, peace-makers, teachers, lovers, friends. We, who have shared this IHM journey with you, now ask God to bless you as we renew our commitment of prayerful support in community. You have touched our lives and changed us, and with all our hearts, we thank you.

---

Eighty Years
Sister M. Basil McLane

Sisters Basil McLane and Mary Persico, president

Seventy-Five Years
Sister M. Wilhelmina Hill
Sister M. Gerard Manning

Seventy Years
Sister M. Paula Baier
Sister M. Gillet Beach
Sister Mary Earley
Sister M. Edmunda McAndrew
Sister M. Aloisa McHugh
Sister M. Helaine O’Dea
Sister M. Wilma Rooney
Sister M. Joanella Ryan
Sister M. Virgilius Smith
Sister M. Edwardine Travers

 

Front Row, L-R: Sisters Wilma Rooney, Jonella Ryan, Gillet Beach
Back Row, L-R: Sisters Mary Persico, president, Mary Earley, Helaine O'Dea

Sixty Years
Sister M. Rosalian Armbruster
Sister M. St. Paul Cafferty
Sister Eleanor Desaulniers
Sister M. Bernardus Dwyer
Sister M. Alexius Fitzgerald
Sister M. Fidelis Flannery
Sister Anne Fulwiler
Sister M. Dolora Mullarkey
Sister M. St. Gerard Myers
Sister Anne Pickard
Sister Kathryn Rolley
Sister M. Celesta Sinisi

 
Front Row, L-R: Sisters Anne Pickard, Anne Fulwiler, Celesta Sinisi, Rosalian Armbruster
Back Row, L-R: Sisters Alexius Fitzgerald, Mary Persico, president, Eleanor Desaulniers, Fidelis Flannery 

Fifty Years
Sister Christina Aldarelli
Sister Lois Buckley
Sister Maureen Dailey
Sister Vincentia Dorsey
Sister Lillian Marie Farrell
Sister Catherine Ann Gilvary
Sister Michael Marie Hartman
Sister Ann Newell
Sister Mariam Pfeifer
Sister Ann Marie Pierce
Sister Mary Schoberg
Sister Ellen Smith
Sister Marie Lourdes Vanston
Sister Louis Marie Verchick
Sister Regina Marie Wilson
Sister Eva Marie Zlotucha

 
Front Row, L-R: Sisters Vincentia Dorsey, Marie Lourdes Vanston, Ann Marie Pierce, Louis Marie Verchick, Mariam Pfeifer, Christina Aldarelli
Back Row, L-R: Sisters Maureen Dailey, Ellen Smith, Regina Marie Wilson, Lois Buckley, Ann Newell, Mary Schoberg, Catherine Ann Gilvary, Lillian Farrell, Michael Marie Hartman, Eva Marie Zlotucha, Mary Persico, president

Twenty-Five Years
Sister Ruth Anne Harkins
Sister Donna Marie Korba
Sister Annmarie Sanders

L-R: Sisters Donna Korba, Mary Persico, president, Ruth Harkins