Religious men and women who serve in the Diocese – including jubilarians – were recognized for their years of ministry and love of God during a Mass that was celebrated Feb. 3 by Bishop Dennis Sullivan.
“I want to express the gratitude of the Church to our jubilarians, gratitude for your years of consecration and your years of ministry,” he said during the annual Jubilarian Mass at Holy Family Church in Sewell.
“As your bishop, I acknowledge with fraternal gratitude who you are and all you have done,” he said to the 50 consecrated women and men in the pews.”
The Mass, which came the day after World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life, was concelebrated by about a dozen priests of the Diocese, including Father Robert Hughes, Vicar General, and Father Jason Rocks, Chancellor.
Among those recognized were three religious women celebrating jubilees this year: Sister Dolores Clerico, SSJ, 60 years; Sister Mieczyslawa Koczera, LSIC, 50 years, and Sister Joan Lorraine Kreutz, MSBT, 75 years. Not in attendance was Sister Philomena Leahy, FDNSC, who is celebrating 70 years.
During the Mass, the sisters renewed their vows and committed themselves anew to serving the Church.
Similarly, Bishop Sullivan reminded the consecrated men and women of the important work they are doing for the Church, adding, “When I say Church, I’m referring to God’s people.”
He continued, “Those in consecrated life are called to reflect the light of Jesus Christ – through their consecration, through their ministry and through their religious community. You know as well as I do that this can be a challenge in a very dark world.”
He went on to quote Bishop Earl A. Boyea, of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations, saying, “In their work, ministry and community, those in consecrated life make a direct and tangible contribution to building up the Body of Christ. Whether it be serving the poor, teaching, providing medical care or assisting with professional administration, consecrated men and women, in the rich variety of their vocations, bring the life of the Gospel into the hearts of all those they encounter.”
Sister Dolores, who lives at the Catholic Community of Christ Our Light in Cherry Hill, serves in spiritual direction and as a retreat leader, among other areas. After Mass, she reflected on what resonated with her most from the Bishop’s homily.
“That sense of asking for the grace of an understanding heart. The wisdom to really be able to live as a person of light. I think that is the role of religious life, too. We are called to be prophetic, and by that, I mean to give witness to the ways of God by the way we live.
“One of the blessings of religious life is it offers us the opportunity to continue to deepen that relationship with God and God’s people. That’s probably what I’m most grateful for,” she said.
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