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Diocese honors women religious who celebrate jubilees in 2025

Eleven of the 14 women religious celebrating jubilees of religious profession in the Diocese of Owensboro in 2025 gathered to celebrate on Oct. 25, as Bishop William Medley thanked them for answering the call to serve.

The Diocesan Jubilee for Women Religious was held at St. Martin Catholic Church in Owensboro. The Steering Committee for the Council of Religious organizes the event each year, which is followed by lunch sponsored by the local Serra Club.

Sister Lucy Bonifas, a Franciscan Sister celebrating 70 years, read a passage from Isaiah that the Lord renews the strength of his people so that “they shall run and not be weary.” Bishop Medley said no one could look around the church at the number of years of service and have the audacity to talk about growing weary.

“We could write chapters on when we have grown weary, but here we are,” he said. The bishop reflected on the Gospel of John, Chapter 20:11-18, when Mary returns from Jesus’ tomb to the apostles and proclaims, “I have seen the Lord.”

“You could say, ‘I have seen the Lord, and that’s why I’m doing what I’m doing,’” Bishop Medley said. “The people we have served have transformed our lives. Thank you for seeing the Lord.”

Some of the jubilarians present prepare for the celebration. In the front row from left are Ursuline Sisters Elaine Burke (75 years), Mary Henning (60 years), Emma Anne Munsterman (60 years), Ann McGrew (60 years), and Barbara Jean Head (60 years), as well as Franciscan Sister Lucy Bonifas (70 years). Other Ursuline Sisters were there for support.
In the front row from left are jubilarian Ursuline Sisters Marie Joseph Coomes (60 years), Jane Falke (70 years), and Francis Louise Johnson (70 years), with Sister Julia Head joining in the second row.
Glenmary Sister Darlene Grimsley, a member of the Steering Committee for the Council of Religious, welcomes everyone and reads a letter to the sisters from Heather Greene, director of the Office of Music.
Those present join in singing the opening hymn, “As a Fire is Meant for Burning.”
The musicians for the event were Caleb Wiggins on the cello, Jacob Hein on the piano and Cecilia Lane leading the singing.
Four diocesan priests joined the sisters for the ceremony. From left are Father Jerry Riney, who is celebrating 50 years as a priest this year; Father Corey Bruns, the vocation director for the diocese; Father Daniel Dillard, pastor at St. Martin Church; and Father Pat Reynolds, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Church.
Franciscan Sister Lucy Bonifas reads a passage from Isaiah. Sister Lucy is celebrating 70 years, and has served in the Diocese of Owensboro since 1969 in Paducah.
Bishop William Medley of the Diocese of Owensboro thanks the sisters present for “seeing the Lord” and serving the Lord’s people.
The jubilarian sisters renew their vows in response to questions from Bishop Medley. From left are Franciscan Sister Consolata Ojemeh (25 years), School Sister of Notre Dame Janette Fennewald (60 years), Ursuline Sister Marie Joseph Coomes (60 years), Ursuline Sister Jane Falke (70 years), and Ursuline Sister Francis Louise Johnson (70 years).
Renewing their vows are, from left, Ursuline Sisters Elaine Burke (75 years), Mary Henning (60 years), Emma Anne Munsterman (60 years), Ann McGrew (60 years), and Barbara Jean Head (60 years), as well as Franciscan Sister Lucy Bonifas (70 years).
Each sister is called up one at a time to receive a certificate, a gift, and congratulations from Bishop Medley. Here Sister Elaine Burke is congratulated by the bishop, as Ursuline Sister Cecelia Joseph Olinger, right, prepares to hand her a gift, and Ursuline Sister Mary Celine Weidenbenner readies her certificate.
Ursuline Sister Jane Falke receives congratulations from Bishop Medley on her 70 years of service.
Ursuline Sister Barbara Jean Head is thanked by Bishop Medley for her 60 years of service. She continues to serve as a senior accountant at Brescia University.
Ursuline Sister Mary Henning receives congratulations from Bishop Medley for her 60 years of service. Sister Mary is the director of Worship at the Ursuline Motherhouse.
Ursuline Sister Ann McGrew is thanked by Bishop Medley for her 60 years of service. Sister Ann is the treasurer for the Ursuline Sisters at the Motherhouse and is an elected member of the Leadership Council.
The jubilarians present were joined by Bishop Medley following the event. In the first row from left are Franciscan Sister Lucy Bonifas, and Ursuline Sisters Emma Anne Munsterman, Marie Joseph Coomes, Elaine Burke, Francis Louise Johnson and Barbara Jean Head; in the second row from left are Ursuline Sisters Ann McGrew and Mary Henning, Bishop Medley, Ursuline Sister Jane Falke, Franciscan Sister Consolata Ojemeh, and School Sister of Notre Dame Janette Fennewald. The jubilarians who could not attend were Ursuline Sisters Marie Carol Cecil (75 years), Margaret Marie Greenwell (70 years), and Catherine Marie Lauterwasser (70 years).
The jubilarians were joined by Father Jerry Riney, left, who is celebrating 50 years since his ordination this year. In the first row from left are Franciscan Sister Lucy Bonifas, and Ursuline Sisters Emma Anne Munsterman, Marie Joseph Coomes, Elaine Burke, Francis Louise Johnson and Barbara Jean Head; in the second row from left are Ursuline Sisters Ann McGrew and Mary Henning, Bishop Medley, Ursuline Sister Jane Falke, Franciscan Sister Consolata Ojemeh, and School Sister of Notre Dame Janette Fennewald.

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