5,100 years of dedication to God: Religious jubilarians mark anniversaries of service

Archbishop Vigneron recognizes years of devotion with 2020 and 2021 religious jubilarians

DETROIT –– On Saturday, September 18, at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, the Archdiocese of Detroit celebrated the combined 9,955 years of consecrated life and service of 158 jubilarians.

Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron celebrated Mass with a small congregation of mainly religious sisters, acknowledging not only the 2021 jubilarians but those from 2020 whose official archdiocesan celebration was canceled last year due to the pandemic.

“It is right that we can have this, that I can lead in this celebration because for many who are observing the jubilee this is home, this is the local Church from within which the call to consecrated life was heard,” Archbishop Vigneron said. “This is the context where you have lived the consecrated life and has been the place of your service –– the service of your apostolic work and your prayer.”

Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron celebrated the Eucharist with a small congregation of mainly religious sisters, acknowledging not only the 2021 jubilarians but those from 2020 whose official archdiocesan celebration was canceled due to the pandemic.

The Archbishop noted that all the jubilarians’ particular gifts and charisms come together to form one body in communion with Christ. The recognition of more than 9,000 years of faithful living in consecrated life is an acknowledgment of the word of God that bore great fruit, he said.

“What we are recognizing are seeds that fell on good ground, a word that has borne great fruit,” the Archbishop said. “In some cases, it is the fruit of 25 years, and for many, for 75 or 80 years this seed has born great fruit.”

For Sr. Marie Gayda, OSF, sixty 60 years of consecrated life blossomed from a seed sown in the fourth grade.

For Sr. Marie Gayda, OSF, her 60 years of consecrated life blossomed from a seed sewn when she was in fourth grade.

“The sisters that taught me at that particular time inspired me with their kindness by looking out for each other and being considerate of each other,” Sr. Gayda said. “I teach fourth grade now and I keep thinking to myself that I hope I am inspiring some individual to follow in the footsteps of Christ.”

Sr. Eileen Lynch, a Marist Sister, remembers being inspired by the priests who came to her hometown in Ireland in the 1950s and preached at church about their missionary work in China.

Sr. Eileen Lynch, SM, remembers being impressed by the missionary priests who visited her home in Ireland when she was a girl. She also believes that her parents and their deep love for the faith and commitment to prayer inspired her to consider consecrated life.

“I was impressed by what they told of their stories and their work,” Sr. Lynch said. “I never got as far as China, but I got as far as here. That set the seed, but the seed was first set at home with my family, with my own parents and their great love and faith and prayer. We always prayed the Rosary as a family, faithfully every night.”

Sr. Rose Marie Kujawa, who celebrated her 60th jubilee in 2020, reflected on how her consecrated life has allowed her many opportunities to serve in various capacities, including as academic vice president and president at Madonna and, as the highlight of her career, serving as delegate for consecrated life in the archdiocese.

“It has been a glorious life, certainly full of brambles along the way,” Sr. Kujawa said. “But for those who are called, there couldn’t be a better life.”

Below is a list of those celebrating milestone jubilees in 2021. The list of 2020 jubilarians can be found here.

25 Years

Sr. Mary Brunetta, MC
Fr. Phillip Cooke, SJ
Fr. Damien Gjonaj, OSB
Fr. John Martin Shimkus, OSB
Sr. Clara Marie Therrien, OP

30 Years

Fr. Barnabas Kiss, OFM
Fr. Angelus Ligeti, OFM

40 Years

Bro. Joseph Monachino, OFM Cap.

50 Years

Fr. Keith J. Esenther, SJ
Fr. Joseph D. Folzenlogen, SJ
Fr. James Hast, OFM Cap.
Fr. John McDermott, SJ (ordination)
Fr. Theodore Munz, SJ
Sr. Adele Stommel, IHM

60 Years

Fr. Carl Bonk, SJ
Sr. Anne Crimmins, IHM
Bro. Robert Deary, FSC
Sr. Grace Dennis, OP
Sr. Marie Gayda, OSF
Sr. Karen Hawver, SC
Sr. Angela Hibbard, IHM
Sr. Mary James Hickey, OP
Sr. Mary Eloise Hirlemann, RSM
Sr. Nancy Jones, RSM
Sr. Judith Kaiser, IHM
Sr. Rose Ange Leddy, IHM
Sr. Eileen Lynch, SM
Fr. John McDermott, SJ (profession)
Sr. Mary Annelle Mehling, IHM
Fr. Joseph Moffatt, CSB
Sr. Cecilia Marie Morton, SSJ-TOSF
Fr. G. Paul Peterson, SJ
Sr. Elaine Ann Robleski, SSJ-TOSF
Sr. Adrienne Schaffer, OP
Sr. Kathleen Schultz, IHM
Sr. Marian Schultz, RSM
Sr. Marie Rebecca Vonderhaar, IHM
Sr. Mary Louise Yurik, RSM
Sr. Barbara Zimmer, IHM

65 Years

Sr. Mary Barbara Burzynski, CSSF
Sr. Jeanne Gamache, CSJ
Sr. Elizabeth (Betty) Granger, CSJ
Sr. Mary Margaret Kijek, CSSF
Sr. Helen Susalla, CSJ
Sr. Jacqueline Wetherholt, CSJ

70 Years

Sr. Margaret Babcock, IHM
Sr. Joan Butkiewicz, SSJ-TOSF
Sr. Bernadette Mary Frank, RSM
Fr. Jeremy Harrington, OFM
Sr. Jean McInerney, IHM
Sr. Ann Ozog, SJ
Sr. Marcella Regan, IHM
Sr. James Marian Sarchet, IHM
Bro. Jerome Stevens, FSC
Sr. Mary Augusta Stratz, RSM
Sr. Helen Marie Strawa, CSSF
Sr. Mary Alan Stuart, OP
Sr. Mary Alfonsa Van Overberghe, CSSF
Sr. Joan Weitz, OP

75 Years

Sr. Patricia Aseltyne, IHM
Sr. Harriet Booms, IHM
Sr. Elizabeth Mary Burns, RSM
Sr. Lois Burroughs, RSM
Sr. Shirley Ann Cushing, OP
Fr. Eugene Dwyer, SJ
Sr. Jane Arthur Duffy, IHM
Sr. Eveleen Forkin, SM
Sr. Carola Keffler, IHM
Sr. Donna Kerr, IHM
Sr. Ann Gabriel Kilsdonk, IHM
Sr. Mary Ruth Koralewski, CSSF
Sr. Josephine McNamara, IHM
Sr. Madonna Oswald, IHM
Sr. Laura Pesick, OP
Sr. Patrice Selby, IHM
Fr. Benjamin Urmston, SJ

80 Years

Sr. Mary Magdalen Braun, OP
Sr. Marie Gatza, IHM
Sr. Jean Ann Gorman, IHM
Sr. Eileen Houlihan, IHM
Sr. Mary Annelle Krych, CSSF
Sr. Mary Presentine Ugorowski, CSSF