Council of Religious for Diocese of Owensboro Honors Jubilarians October 22, 2016

The Council of Religious for the Diocese of Owensboro, Ky., honored women religious celebrating jubilees of religious profession this year during its Oct. 22, 2016, prayer service at St. Martin Church, Owensboro.

Bishop William Medley said the 11 sisters being honored represented more than 600 years of consecrated life.

“How many shoe laces have you tied? How many noses have you wiped?” he asked. “How many times have you said your morning prayers? Hundreds of thousands.”

He then wondered how many times these sisters had come before the altar of the Lord.

“Maybe I should get my calculator out. Whether it’s a million times or one time, we believe it is the perfect sacrifice,” he said.

The prayer service was on the same day as the Feast of John Paul II, whose papacy was needed because there was a Church that need to be shaped, Bishop Medley said.

“There was a Church to shape because women religious have taken the Gospel to the ends of the earth,” he said. “For some of you, that may be only in Kentucky. For others, it may be why you came to Kentucky.”

Each of the sisters celebrating jubilees shook Bishop Medley’s hand and received a certificate of thanks and a gift. Not all the sisters could be present, including Ursuline Sisters Pauletta McCarty, who is celebrating 75 years, and Rita Scott, celebrating 50 years, who had a maintenance emergency at Maple Mount. A Passionist Nun, a Franciscan Sister and a Glenmary Sister were also honored.

The Council of Religious is made up of Ursuline Sisters Pat Rhoten, Julia Head and Nancy Murphy, and Sister Jeannette Fennewald, a School Sister of Notre Dame. Following the prayer service, lunch was served courtesy of the Serra Clubs of Owensboro and Henderson.

Here are some photos from the prayer service:

Ursuline Sister Julia Head welcomes all those present to the prayer service at St. Martin Parish.
Ursuline Sister Martha Keller reads from Jeremiah 29: 11-14 at the service.
The Most Rev. William Medley, Bishop of the Diocese of Owensboro, makes a point about the impact women religious have had on the diocese.
Ursuline Sister Amelia Stenger, right, led the singing of Psalm 16, “Center of My Life” for all those gathered.
Ursuline Sister Pat Rhoten introduced the jubilarians who received a gift form Bishop Medley.
Ursuline Sister Mary Irene Cecil is all smiles after receiving congratulations from Bishop William Medley. Sister Mary Irene is celebrating 70 years as an Ursuline.
Although the Ursuline Sisters do not celebrate 65 years, the Council of Religious does. Here Ursuline Sister Susanne Bauer, celebrating 65 years, is greeted by Bishop Medley.
Ursuline Sister George Mary Hagan, celebrating 60 years, shakes hands with the bishop.
Ursuline Sister Ruth Mattingly receives her gift from Bishop Medley. She is celebrating 60 years.
Ursuline Sister Martha Keller, celebrating 40 years, is congratulated by Bishop Medley.
Many Ursuline Sisters were on hand to support their jubilarians. At left, Sister Nancy Liddy shares a laugh with, from left, Ursuline Sisters Marie Joseph Coomes, Helena Fischer, Vivian Bowles, Margaret Ann Aull and Rosanne Spalding.
Singing the closing hymn “Lift Up Your Hearts” are, from left, Ursuline Sisters Mary Henning, Elaine Burke, Fran Wilhelm and Sheila Anne Smith.
Two natives of Glennonville, Mo., Ursuline Sisters Mary Celine Weidenbenner, left, and Cecelia Joseph Olinger, sing the closing hymn.
Ursuline Sisters Ruth Gehres, left, Nancy Liddy, center, and Eva Boone close out the service.
A few of the jubilarians had their picture taken with Bishop Medley after the service. From left are Sisters Martha Keller, George Mary Hagan and Ruth Mattingly.
Glenmary Sister Catherine Schoenborn, right, was honored for 65 years of service. She smiles here with the president of her community, Sister Sharon Miller.