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July 13, 2020, Portland, Oregon – The Adrian Dominican Congregation received Honorable Mention from the Catholic Press Association (CPA) for Best Free-standing Video Depicting Religious Life. 

The announcement was made during the CPA’s virtual awards banquet at the end of its virtual Catholic Media Conference, originally scheduled for June 29-July 2, 2020, in Portland, Oregon.

The video, Bringing Love: Espíritu Santo Fe y Alegría School, focused on the 25th anniversary of the school, founded by the Baní community in the Dominican Republic with Sisters Maurine Barzantni, OP, and the late Renee Richie, OP. Part of the Congregation’s Annual Christmas Appeal, the video was filmed and edited by Scott Miller, while Ashley LaVigne served as interviewer and production coordinator. Both are Co-workers in the Congregation’s Communications Department. The efforts were coordinated by Amy Palmer, Director of Development, and Angie Kessler, Director of Communications.

The video faced stiff competition. Other award winners in that category were America, a national magazine produced by the Jesuits, first place; Catholic News Service, a national Catholic news agency, second place; and the Archdiocese of Detroit, third place. Also earning Honorable Mention was the Grotto Network, a website and social media network begun by the University of Notre Dame to engage youth and enhance their faith.

Bringing Love was a collaborative effort of the Communications and Development Offices. Also serving in Communications are Sheila Wathen, Assistant Director; Ashley Saxton, graphic designer; and Sister Barbara Kelley, OP, writer and editor. Serving with Amy in the Office of Development are Diane Bach, Office Coordinator; Laura Brosamer, Office Assistant; Sister Kathleen Schanz, OP, Donor Relations Specialist; Catherine Witt, Development Office Coordinator; and Jolene Witt, Office Assistant. 


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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. 

Sister Rosemary Asaro, OP, places a flower – representing one of the Jubilarians – in a vase by the altar.

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 Peters, OP, left, a Diamond (60-year) Jubilarian, renews her vows in the presence of Prioress Patricia Siemen, OP.

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.


View the recording of the 2020 Jubilee Mass

Worship Aid (PDF)



 

 

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