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July 9, 2020, Adrian, Michigan – The Adrian Dominican Congregation celebrated the years of commitment and dedication to the Congregation, the Church, and the people of God of 34 Sisters celebrating their Silver (25-year), Golden (50-year) and Diamond (60- year) Jubilees. Sisters who mark 70- and 75-year Jubilees this year will celebrate at a later date.
The Jubilee celebration – normally encompassing several days of gatherings, prayers, and input culminating in the Jubilee Liturgy on Saturday for Jubilarians and guests – was condensed into a single liturgy on June 28, 2020, in St. Catherine Chapel. The liturgy was live streamed to the Jubilarians and their families and friends, who were unable to gather at the Motherhouse this year because of COVID-19.
View the recording of the Jubilee Liturgy at the bottom of this article.
The Jubilee year “is a holy year for those of us who are celebrating 60, 50, and 25 years of ministry,” said Sister Joanne Peters, OP, a Diamond Jubilarian. “It represents a total of 1,995 years of commitment and gospel ministry.”
Sister Joanne noted the “wonders of technology” that allow the Congregation to live stream the Jubilee liturgy to Jubilarians, other Sisters, family members, and colleagues from current and past ministries throughout the United States and around the world. “To know many of you are with us in spirit brings added joy to our hearts,” Sister Joanne said.
She also noted the creative ways in which the Jubilee Committee brought the Jubilarians into the celebration. In one section of the chapel, photos of the faces of the Jubilarians were fastened to the seats, making them present to those who were physically in the chapel.
In addition, as each Jubilarian’s name was called, a flower was presented and placed in a vase standing near the altar. A votive candle was lit for each of the seven deceased Diamond Jubilarians: Sisters Loretta (Mary Ronan) Broderick, OP, Helen (Mary Perpetua) Faiver, OP, Molly (Michael Maureen) Giller, OP, Carol (Rose Carolyn) Kelly, OP, Susan (Susan Marie) Ouwerkerk, OP, Gail (Peter Elaine) Singel, OP, and Monica (Monica Charles) Stankus, OP.
Father Jim Hug, OP, the presider, welcomed the assembly attending through live stream. “I’m conscious of your faithfulness to God and God’s faithfulness to you through all these years, those you’ve touched and blessed,” he said.
Prioress Patricia Siemen, OP, in her reflection, noted the bittersweetness of the occasion, since the Jubilarians could not attend the Jubilee Mass. “Just know we miss you and, in the name of all your Sisters and our Associates from across the Dominican Republic, the Philippines, and the United States, we joyfully wish you … abundant blessings.”
Reflecting on the Gospel passage in which Jesus promised a reward to those who gave even a small cup of water to a disciple, Sister Patricia noted that, over the years, the Jubilarians have given actual and symbolic cups of water to those in need – “to those who thirst for social, racial, and economic justice; to those who thirst for spiritual and physical healing; to those who thirst for solid theological foundations and spiritual depth in life; to those who thirst for quality education and agency in their lives; to those who thirst for mercy and for Earth’s healing; and especially for all those who thirst for truth.”
Sister Patricia also expressed the hope that the 2020 Jubilarians would celebrate in person at the Motherhouse in 2021.
Sister Joanne, as the only Jubilarian present in the chapel, renewed her vows in the presence Sister Patricia. Jubilarians watching from live stream or from closed circuit television were invited to join Sister Joanne in renewing their vows.
The Jubilarians include Sisters Maria Eneida Santiago, OP, Silver, and Zenaida C. Nacpil, OP, Golden. The Diamond Jubilarians are: Sisters Maurine (John Marmion) Barzantni, OP, Patricia Noreen (Mary Johnetta) Benson, OP, Mary (Catherine Robert) Carr, OP, Anita (Jean Vincent) Chiappetta, OP, Maryetta (Joseph Jean) Churches, OP, June Mary (Robert William) Deswysen, OP, Mary Ann (Maureen Thomas) Dixon, OP, Mary Katherine (John Gabriel) Drouin, OP, Kathleen (Michael Annette) Erard, OP, Patricia (Michael Dominic) Erickson, OP, Patricia (Janice Ann) Fischer, OP, Juliann (Maura Thomas) Flynn, OP, Janet Marie Fulgenzi, OP, Mary Elizabeth (Andrew Joseph) Gaiss, OP, Grace (Susan Angela) Gianella, OP, Mary Katherine (Mark Christine) Homan, OP, Helene (Dominic Louise) Kloss, OP, Jean Marie Lehtinen, OP, Marie Carleen Maly, OP, Annice Mordenski, OP, Catherine Ormond Olds, OP, Joanne (Mary Concepta) Peters, OP, Jamie (Martin Thomas) Phelps, OP, Diane (Michael David) Pitera, OP, Joann (Rose Joseph) Plumpe, OP, Barbara Jean (Cyril Therese) Quincey, OP, Ann Rena Shinkey, OP, Mary Helen (Ethel Joseph) Smolbrook, OP, Joan Lawrence Sustersic, OP, Kathleen (William Lorraine) Voss, OP, Kathleen (Charles Miriam) Walli, OP, and Joanne (James Alice) Wimmer, OP.
Read the full list of living and deceased Jubilarians.
Members of the Jubilee Committee are: Sister Marie Joy Finfera, OP, Chair; Sisters Virginia Corley, OP, and Joan Sustersic, OP; Krystal Baker, Weber Center; Jan Bourg, Office of Information; Jeanette Desgrange, Office Support Services; Susan Kremski, Food Services; Jill Maria Murdy, Liturgical Ministries; and Ashley Saxton, Communications.
Photos of the 2020 Silver, Golden, and Diamond Jubilarians – fastened to the chairs – brought the presence of the Jubilarians to St. Catherine Chapel during the Jubilee Mass.
Worship Aid (PDF)
April 29, 2020, Adrian, Michigan – For many people around the world, 2020 will mark the year of the COVID-19 virus and the many fears and challenges that it brought about. But 2020 is also a special year for 69 Adrian Dominican Sisters. It marks their Jubilee in religious life, whether 25, 50, 60, 70, or 75 years.
In the midst of sheltering in place and physical distancing, Sisters have found creative ways to celebrate their Jubilees this year.
Before most areas imposed shelter-in-place orders, Sister Patricia (Michael Dominic) Erickson, OP, celebrated her Diamond (60-year) Jubilee with nine other Sisters from the Diocese of San Diego, California. The diocese’s 21st Annual Appreciation and Jubilee Celebration for Women Religious included Mass and dinner. Bishop Robert W. McElroy and Auxiliary Bishop John P. Dolan presided over the celebration.
Sister Pat, a nurse practitioner, came to San Diego to offer her medical services to migrants who had applied for asylum in the United States but were forced to stay in Mexico while awaiting their hearing. “I miss going to the shelters and wonder every day how the migrants in Tijuana are,” she said.
Before this ministry in San Diego, Sister Pat had served as a nurse in Florida, caring for unaccompanied children from Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras who were awaiting sponsors in the United States while staying at a specially designated Air Reserve Base in Florida.
At the Jubilee Celebration of the Diocese of San Diego are, back row, from left, Bishop Robert W. McElroy; Sisters Judith Sheridan, SMSM, Lilia Vega, SJS, Rosemary Nicholson, RJM, and Kathleen Warren, OSF, and Auxiliary Bishop John P. Dolan; and front row, from left, Sisters Maureen Kelley, RSM, Patricia Erickson, OP, Katharina Contreras, TM, Angelina Robles Larios, HCJS, Maria Luisa Pelayo, SJS, and Guadalupe Jimenez, TM. Photo by Denis Grasska, The Southern Cross Newspaper
In the Detroit area, Sister Mary Kay (Mark Christine) Homan, OP, received an impromptu, heart-warming Jubilee celebration when Adrian Dominican Sisters and Associates drove through the parking lot of her apartment complex in Warren, Michigan, A Mass and dinner scheduled for Friday, April 24, was postponed.
“COVID-19 can take away a lot of things, but it can’t ever take away our spirit, love, and care for each other,” said Sister Mariane Fahlman, OP, who coordinated the event. “Seventeen cars processed through the Burg apartment complex, horns blaring and faces covered in masks, with broad smiles.”
In her 60 years in religious life, Sister Mary Kay ministered as a teacher, principal, high school president, pastoral associate, and member of the Congregation’s General Council. Now she brings Communion to the homebound, visits hospital patients, and tutors weekly at the Dominican Literacy Center in Detroit.
“I made the decision to enter at a young age but I found I had to keep making the decision,” she said. “It has been a good decision for me, one I never regretted. I have made dear friends and have felt great support throughout my life.”
The Congregation’s celebration of the 2020 Adrian Dominican Jubilarians is suspended until 2021. The Adrian Dominican Congregation also honors the memory of the 2020 deceased Jubilarians, who would have celebrated 80, 75, 70, 60, and 50 years of religious life.
From left: Sisters Pat Magee, OP, left, and Mary Kay Homan, OP, enjoy the celebration. Associate Carol Hofer participates in the drive-by Jubilee celebration.
Feature photo (top): From left, Sister Patricia Erickson, OP, Sister Rosemary Nicholson, RJM, and Bishop Robert McElroy at Jubilee Mass. Sister Pat reads intercessions in Spanish and Sister Rosemary in English. Photo by Denis Grasska, The Southern Cross Newspaper