Members of religious communities celebrating milestone anniversaries were asked to share their thoughts about what their vocations have meant to their lives. Here are their responses:
75 Years
Sr. Rosemary Creteau, IHM
“I am grateful for my 75 years as an IHM. For 65 years I was happy to be with teens and teach them the beauty and mysteries of math. But most of all, I would encourage more young women to choose such a fulfilling vocation. Now, as an elder, I pray that our young continue to lead the way and draw us all closer to Jesus.”
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Sr. Marilyn Furtaw, RSM
“Celebrating 75 years of religious life has been an adventure of love with my awesome God.”
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Sr. Dolora Neumaier, IHM
“Celebrating 75 years of religious life has been filled with challenge and gratitude. Joy too has been part of each day. What blessings!”
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Sr. Hilda Sucher, RSM
“Celebrating 75 years in religious life is another beautiful manifestation of God’s loving care. My ministry through the years was teaching in early elementary, working with the developmentally disabled, and serving in pastoral care. Serving in these areas gave me the sense of receiving more enrichment than I was able to give. I am deeply grateful to God for the experiences I had and for the support and encouragement given through others, especially my brother, community, and friends.”
70 Years
Sr. Dorothy Doyle, CSJ
“Celebrating 70 years of religious life has been a confirmation of my favorite Gospel quote: ‘You have not chosen me, I have chosen you…’ (John 15:16).”
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Sr. Elaine Hart, RSM
“Celebrating 70 years of religious life has been a time of learning to trust in the Holy Spirit. No matter what the assignment, I asked the help of the Holy Spirit to do well. Let the Holy Spirit be your guide and helper and you will succeed and be as happy a Jubilarian as I am in my 80s. I am so fortunate to be celebrating this Jubilee as a Sister of Mercy.”
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Sr. Maria Immaculata (Louy), OP
“My 70th anniversary fills me with praise and thanksgiving to God and to our Blessed Mother. To all dear friends – especially priests, religious, and family who have blessed me with their treasured friendship and support – I offer my profound gratitude and prayers. God bless each one of you richly!”
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Sr. Mary Alexander Mikolajczyk, CSSF
“Celebrating 70 years of religious life has been extremely fulfilling and rewarding! My prayer life has been enriched and deepened through community life. I am grateful for my leadership role as Reverend Mother. It offered me a chance to grow in a knowledge of my sisters and their spiritual lives. May Mary, Mother of God, pray and intercede for all those that assisted me along this journey.”
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Sr. Mary Bertha Vondruska, RSM
“I am very grateful for my vocation. I’m also grateful for my years of ministry as an elementary school teacher. I enjoyed teaching the children and working with their parents and grandparents. One of my greatest joys was instructing some of the non-Catholic children in the Catholic faith and seeing them get baptized along with their parents and family members. During this Jubilee year I am grateful for all of God’s blessings.”
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Br. Leo Wollenweber, OFM Cap
“Celebrating 70 years of religious life has been a privileged lifetime of grace, especially inspired by the holy example of Venerable Solanus Casey. For this I offer all thanks to God.”
65 Years
Sr. Agnes M. Breitenbeck, CSJ
“My journey as a member of the Congregation of St. Joseph has gifted me with many opportunities and experiences I could never have anticipated. I am grateful for the call to religious life, for the many graces God has bestowed upon me, for the love and support of family, friends, and sisters of my community.”
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Sr. Miriam Hazy, OP
“Celebrating 65 years of religious life has been a joy, love, and peace. The Holy Spirit has enlightened and filled me with grace, blessings, power, and His gifts. I am grateful for being able to use these gifts for others. I thank God for the support and prayers from my family, community, and friends.”
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Sr. M. Ruth Koralewski, CSSF
“For all the years of blessings to continue in the religious life (65), I thank the Lord! For all who the Lord has placed in my path and journeyed with me, I thank the Lord! May St. Francis and St. Clare encourage us to continue until my work is done.”
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Sr. Mary Dolores Ann Nowaczewski, CSSF
“Celebrating 65 years of religious life has been a most blessed, marvelous, and jubilant experience in the Lord’s vineyard! Thanks be to Jesus!”
60 Years
Sr. Joan Butkiewicz, SSJ-TOSF
“Celebrating 60 years of religious life has been a journey of faith, hope, and love. Faith in the Creator who has gifted me, the Son who has sustained me, and the Spirit who has guided and directed me. Religious life for me has been a stimulating, challenging, and satisfying journey. As I reflect back upon these 60 years of religious life, I do so with humble appreciation and gratitude, all of which have been accomplished through guidance, prayerful support, and cooperation of a loving family, community members, colleagues, and friends.”
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Sr. Barbara Celeskey, SJ
Editor’s note: Sr. Barbara Celeskey passed away in May
“Sixty years of religious life has been a grace – a gift from God given to me each day, a gift I tried to return to God through teaching, administration, and pastoral ministry. I have had many opportunities to serve the people of God in the Archdiocese of Detroit. And now I receive their ministry with patience and gratitude. Each new day I repeat ‘Thy Will Be Done.’”
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Sr. Nora Marie Duggan, IHM
“Celebrating 60 years of religious life has been an experience of great happiness. Sharing in the prayer life of my religious community and the support of co-workers in ministry has been enriching. In my early years I enjoyed teaching grades 2-8 in elementary schools. My second ministry was as a guidance counselor in high schools. It was a gift from God to work with principals, pastors, students and their parents, in such distant places as Mobile, Chicago, and West Palm Beach, as well as nearer to home in Detroit and Southgate. Each experience brought true joy.”
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Sr. Mary Joseph (Fox), OP
“Celebrating 60 years of religious life has been a challenge and a joy, but by far, a JOY! Entering a cloister in the 50s was scary for a young woman. There were no ‘come and see’ days; no ‘aspirancies.’ You just jumped in with both feet. I did and have never regretted it.”
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Sr. Bernadette Mary Frank, RSM
“Celebrating 60 years of religious life is one of gratitude to God and my parents for this vocation. Serving the poor in the nursing profession for many years, and now by volunteering, deepens my appreciation for the gifts God has given me so that I many know, love, and serve Him all my life.”
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Sr. Marillac Grabinski, DC
“Celebrating 60 years of religious life has been a joy to experience the love of God in my life and to share it with those whom I have served over the years. With a grateful heart, I ask God to continue to bless me and allow me to serve Him in love.”
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Sr. Charlotte Marie Koterba, OSF
“Celebrating 60 years of religious life has been a faith-filled and grateful journey. Deepening my own strong faith and belief in our loving God has led me to encourage all my students of all levels of learning to love and develop more fully their faith and love of God.”
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Sr. Jean McInerney, IHM
“During my preparation for First Communion the spark was lit! I knew I must give my life to Jesus who loved me so much. After 60 years as a religious, I am grateful and fulfilled by the 48 years I was able to teach so many delightful teens. Now, I am equally happy to be of service to our frail elders and to share in the deep spirituality of so many faithful IHM sisters at our motherhouse.”
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Sr. Mary Virginis Musielewicz, CSSF
“Celebrating 60 years of religious life has been a joyful and grace-filled journey. I know that the Lord called me to serve Him as a Felician Sister. I am deeply grateful for life’s many blessings – going back to my parents’ loving influence and the support of my community.”
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Sr. Mary Jonella Pieper, RSM
“From the day that I entered I have been most grateful and appreciative to have responded to the whispering call of the Lord saying “come.” From that day forward I never looked back. Sixty years seems like just a stepping stone as I continue my journey homeward. Needless to say I’ve experienced the ups and downs of life: losses, pain and suffering but also joy, friendship and heart-warming experiences. Each of these have brought me to a closer relationship with Jesus and Mary and to gratitude that I am a Sister of Mercy.”
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Sr. Marcella Regan, IHM
“Celebrating 60 years of religious life has been a beautiful gift which I treasure. During this time I’ve grown in my understanding of God’s presence in all of us and in our universe. Religious life and the education it offered brought me into contact with hundreds of young people who amazed me with their capacity to learn and grow. I thank God for every moment of these 60 years.”
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Msgr. James P. Robinson, SSE
“Celebrating 60 years of religious life has been an extraordinary personal blessing and a very special gift. I pray and hope that I can share with others the joy that this life has given to me.”
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Sr. James Marian Sarchet, IHM
“Celebrating 60 years of religious life has been a lot like fishing. There is time to reflect and time to cast your gifts out to those in need. My life has been doing just that – time for prayer and many years of teaching science, math, and music. Now I am of service to our IHM senior sisters. God be praised.”
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Sr. Mary Rita Sayers, CSJ
“Celebrating 60 years of religious life with others in ministry has empowered me to love all God’s people. This has been a marvelous gift of witnessing God’s transforming love in our world. In gratitude I give thanks to my religious order, the Congregation of St. Joseph, and for all people in my life, walking in the name of love, this wonderful journey of serving our God of great surprises.”
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Sr. Helen Marie Strawa, CSSF
“Celebrating 60 years of religious life has been filled with deep gratitude to our awesome God and those who have touched my life while on this journey of faith. His grace has led me through challenges and victories in the service of His people and I look forward to continue dedicating my life giving His most perfect gift – the gift of love.”
50 Years
Sr. Marie Gayda, OSF
“Celebrating 50 years of religious life has been a journey of enriching my relationship with my Spouse as well as fulfilling my daily “fiat,” “Yes, Lord.” It has, and continues to be, a journey of serving God’s special people, a journey of surprises, of challenges, and of commitment in being a faithful follower of Jesus.”
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Sr. Marie Judith Haupt, DC
“Celebrating 50 years of religious life, I am grateful to God for my call as a Daughter of Charity and for the privilege to participate in living out the rich Vincentian legacy which I nurture by my commitment to prayer, community, and service.”
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Sr. Angela M. Hibbard, IHM
“Celebrating 50 years of religious life has been a journey of going deeper and deeper into the mystery of God and God’s presence in this world. I’m very grateful to the IHM congregation for my formation, for my education, and for their encouragement in ministry. I also feel immensely privileged to have worked with people who trusted me with their stories, especially in RCIA.”
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Sr. Nancy Jones, RSM
“Celebrating 50 years of religious life has been a time of special gratitude: for God’s faithfulness in journeying with me these 50 years as a Sister of Mercy, for my Mercy community, my family and friends, and for all those who have been a part of my ministries and my life’s journey.”
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Sr. Judith Ann Lieder, OP
“I have lived 60 years as a vowed member of a religious congregation, a life that presented joy, peace, challenges, rewards, heartaches, and betrayal but believing in and feeling my Lord Jesus’ presence, embrace, and support, and love and understanding from family, my sisters, and friends through all of it. Amazing.”
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Fr. John M. McDermott, SJ
“Celebrating 50 years of religious life has been a new experience. Only by God’s grace have I been able to survive the upheavals in the Church and religious life since Vatican II. But where else can one find salvation except in loyalty to Christ’s Church, and he fulfills His promise in giving a cross along with His joy to Him be praise.”
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Sr. Elaine Ann Robleski, SSJ-TOSF
“I thank God for his many gifts throughout these 50 years, for all those who have encouraged and supported me and have enriched my life with their presence. Praise God for His continuous blessings!”
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Bro. Luke D. Simon, OFM
“Celebrating 50 years of religious life has been with the grace from God a lifetime of ups and downs but thank God for his grace to perceiver in this wonderful vocation.”
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Sr. Mary Raymond Syjut, FSSJ
“Celebrating 50 years of religious life has been a life to behold, a life filled with blessings galore, a life of holiness and service, a life of joy and happiness. I always wanted to be worthy of His calling. My heart is ever grateful. With Mary, my grateful heart sings out Magnificat!”
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Sr. Marie Rebecca Vonderhaar, IHM
“‘Blessed is she who believes in God’s promises’ (Lk 2). Truly God has blessed my life.”
25 Years
Sr. Mary of the Savior Going, OP
“So much happiness! And blessed is anyone living with people who love God with all their hearts, whose one earthly concern is to love and serve others. For this especially, ‘I take my place around your altar, singing a song of thanksgiving…’ (Ps. 26).”
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Sr. Anne Mamienski, IHM
“As an IHM I have found that there is always a new opportunity to grow in faith. And when life’s challenges abound there are always faith-filled persons to radiate the goodness of God.”
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Sr. Mary Victoria Richardson, CSSF
“Each year was a gift from God. It is also a time of gratitude to the Felician community for the opportunity to minister to God’s people through education and a time of thanksgiving to God for the blessed journey.”
