Ninety-three women and men religious will be recognized on Saturday, April 23, for their commitment to God as they celebrate their silver, golden and diamond jubilees. Bishop Richard J. Malone, bishop of Buffalo, will be the main celebrant and homilist at this special 10 a.m. Mass at St. Joseph Cathedral, 50 Franklin St., Buffalo.
More than 80 religious women from the Carmelite Nuns, Dominican Nuns of the Perpetual Rosary, Felician Sisters, Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph, Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, Franciscan Sisters of Penance & Christian Charity, Sisters of St. Joseph, Sisters of St. Mary of Namur, Franciscan Sisters of the Neumann Communities, Missionary Sisters of St. Columban, Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, and the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul will all be honored. Nine men from the Franciscan Friars, Jesuit Fathers, Brothers of Mercy, Conventual Franciscan Friars and the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales will also be recognized.
Among the jubilarians in attendance (all honorees will not be present) will be Father Ronald W. Sams, SJ, who will celebrate 70 years and Sister Mary Eugenia Vastola, RSM, who celebrates 75 years. Father Sams will proclaim the gospel and Sister Mary Eugenia will be part of the procession with the gifts during Mass.
Following the jubilee Mass, there will be a reception for jubilarians and their invited guests at the Catholic Center, 795 Main St., Buffalo.
Sixty-four religious men and women will celebrate diamond jubilees, 26 will be honored for golden jubilees and three will celebrate silver jubilees.
DIAMOND JUBILIARIANS
85 Years
Felician Sisters - Sister Harriet Marie Bialobreski, CSSF
80 Years
Felician Sisters - Sister Mary Fedelma Kakol, CSSF
Franciscan Sisters of Allegany - Sister Jeanette Burke, OSF
Franciscan Sisters of the Neumann Communities - Sister Dolores Neunder, OSF
75 Years
Felician Sisters - Sister Mary Dennis Buziak, CSSF; Sister Mary Charitine Stankiewicz, CSSF
Franciscan Sisters of Allegany - Sister M. Concilia Flaherty, OSF; Sister Therese Joyce, OSF; Sister Eileen Rynne, OSF
Sisters of Mercy of the Americas - Sister Mary Eugeniz Vastola, RSM
Franciscan Sisters of Penance & Christian Charity - Sister Marilyn Archer, OSF; Sister Marina Matracia, OSF
70 Years
Franciscan Sisters of Allegany - Sister Catherine Michael Brady, OSF; Sister James Christopher Keady, OSF; Sister Veronica Mary Louis, OSF; Sister Mary Clare McMaster, OSF
Franciscan Sisters of the Neumann Communities - Sister Grace Knauber, OSF; Sister Beatrice Venditti, OSF
Sisters of Mercy of the Americas - Sister Marie Bernarde Prockna, RSM
Franciscan Sisters of Penance & Christian Charity - Sister Anthony Reichmuth, OSF
Sisters of St. Mary of Namur - Sister Jean Marie Leuer, SSMN
Sisters of St. Joseph - Sister Marion Zimmer, SSJ
Jesuits - Father Ronald W. Sams, SJ
65 Years
Franciscan Sisters of Allegany - Sister Alma Robert Glenn, OSF; Sister Mary Carleen Rooney, OSF
Franciscan Sisters of the Neumann Communities - Sister Paula Marie Notharthomas, OSF
Franciscan Sisters of Penance & Christian Charity - Sister Eileen Barrett, OSF; Sister Martina Keitz, OSF
Sisters of St. Joseph - Sister Joan Carroll, SSJ; Sister Joan Wagner, SSJ
Jesuits - Father Daniel J. Lusch, SJ
Conventual Franciscan Friars - Father Marcel Sokalski, OFM Conv.
60 Years
Franciscan Sisters of Allegany - Sister Gerarda Cook, OSF; Sister Mary Angela DiCara, OSF; Sister Geraldine Donovan, OSF
Franciscan Sisters of the Neumann Communities - Sister M. Dolores Cook, OSF; Sister Catherine Meiler, OSF; Sister Kathleen Murphy, OSF; Sister Carleen Marie Stengel, OSF
Sisters of Mercy of the Americas - Sister Patricia Kelly, RSM; Sister Thomas Marie Murphy, RSM; Sister Eileen O'Connor, RSM; Sister Margaret Mary Quinlan, RSM; Sister Mary Anthony Schifano, RSM
Franciscan Sisters of Penance & Christian Charity - Sister Nancy Fortkort, OSF; Sister Marietta Miller, OSF
Sisters of St. Mary of Namur - Sister Deanna Braun, SSMN; Sister Mary Judith Heavey, SSMN; Sister Ann Frances Hemberger, SSMN; Sister Kathleen Kelley, SSMN; Sister Rita Claire Pfaff, SSMN; Sister Caroline Smith, SSMN; Sister Monica Ulrich, SSMN; Sister M. Veronica White, SSMN
Sisters of St. Joseph - Sister Bette DiCesare, SSJ; Sister Margaret Manzella, SSJ; Sister Ellen McCarthy, SSJ; Sister Ellen O'Keefe, SSJ; Sister Barbara Stafford, SSJ
Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph - Sister Barbara Ann Brzeczko, FSSJ; Sister Mary Richard Outcault, FSSJ
Missionary Sisters of St. Columban - Sister Evelyn Frieder, SSC
Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart - Sister Eleanor Therese Martinez, GNSH
Brothers of Mercy - Brother Hugh Denomme, FMM
GOLDEN JUBILIARIANS
50 Years
Felician Sisters - Sister Christina Marie Luczynski, CSSF; Sister Joseph Marie Marczak, CSSF; Sister Mary Carol Piskor, CSSF
Franciscan Sisters of Allegany - Sister Mary Croghan, OSF; Sister M. Chris Doherty, OSF; Sister Frances O'Dell, OSF
Franciscan Sisters of the Neumann Communities - Sister Louise Alff, OSF; Sister Barbara Ann Bogden, OSF; Sister Beth Ann Niederpruem, OSF; Sister Mary Walheim, OSF; Sister Jeanne Weisbeck, OSF
Sisters of Mercy of the Americas - Sister Consolacion Briones, RSM
Franciscan Sisters of Penance & Christian Charity - Sister Mary Anne Rapp, OSF
Sisters of St. Mary of Namur - Sister Elizabeth Buchala, SSMN; Sister Roberta Fulton, SSMN
Sisters of St. Joseph - Sister Linda Glaeser, SSJ; Sister Linda Talbot, SSJ
Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph - Sister Karen Marie Crawford, FSSJ; Sister Paula Zelazo, FSSJ
Dominican Nuns of the Perpetual Rosary - Sister Mary Sabina of St Martin de Porres, OP
Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur - Sister Judith A. Merkle, SNDdeN
Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul - Sister Mary Kay Tyrell, DC
Conventual Franciscan Friars - Father Francis Lombardo, OFM Conv.
Oblates of St. Francis de Sales - Father John L. Graden, OSFS
Franciscans - Brother Vianney Justin, OFM; Father Daniel Riley, OFM
SILVER JUBILIARIANS
25 years
Dominican Nuns of the Perpetual Rosary - Sister Bernadette Marie of the Visitation, OP
Carmelite Nuns - Sister Thomas Marie of the Precious Blood, OCD
Franciscans - Father Francis DiSpigno, OFM