WARWICK — Religious priests, sisters and brothers celebrating jubilee anniversaries were honored at a morning Mass at Saints Rose and Clement Parish, Warwick, on Sunday. The atmosphere was light and celebratory as Sister Arlene Woods, who this year commemorates her 60th anniversary as a Sister of Mercy, recalled how she first discerned her vocation to the religious life.
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“I was preparing for confirmation. We had to sit in the church quietly, so I began talking to God,” she said. “And that’s how it started.”
Sister Woods is one of 42 religious in the Diocese of Providence celebrating a jubilee anniversary this year. Like many of her fellow religious brothers and sisters, she has seen many changes in the Church in the 60 years since her profession of vows.
“The relationship of people to God and the Church has changed from servitude to friends. It’s where God has led us,” she said.
Sister Elizabeth Castro, director of the Office for Religious, thanked all of the jubilarians and other religious brothers and sisters present for their service to the Church. She told Rhode Island Catholic that the annual event serves to highlight the dedication of the jubilarians and the beauty of the consecrated life.
“When religious sisters and brothers celebrate their anniversary, it is like a thanksgiving to God for the gift of the religious vocation,” she said. “We are very grateful for their service and that is why we want to honor them.”
Auxiliary Bishop Robert C. Evans presided at the Mass honoring the jubilarians. During his homily, he emphasized how those present had made a profound sacrifice in choosing a life consecrated to God and how they had persevered through all difficulties to continue serving according to their vocation.
“It is clear that becoming a disciple is the easy part. Remaining a disciple is the more difficult part,” he said. “God chose it for you and invited you, and, in your generosity, you said yes.”
Father William Sullivan, a Columban Father who this year celebrates his 60th anniversary as a priest, reflected on his own “yes” to God during a reception following the Mass. Father Sullivan grew up in Lynn, Massachusetts, where, he said, priests and other religious had a great influence on him.
“There was a nun who asked, ‘Did you ever think about becoming a priest?’ I often did but thought I wasn’t good enough. But because she said that, that was an influence,” he said.
Father Sullivan’s work took him to Rhode Island, where he continues to live and serve as a disciple of Christ. He recommended that anyone considering the religious life ask those who have lived the vocation about their experiences.
“It wasn’t easy, but there are good things and then there were some tough things along the way,” he said. “But the good things stand out more.”
Sister Calista Usuwa, a Daughter of Mary Mother of Mercy celebrating 25 years of religious life, also reflected on her beginnings as a religious sister. When she was a young woman in Nigeria, she said, her parents did not want her to pursue the religious life.
“It was hard for my parents to allow me to go,” she said. “I struggled and struggled and finally they agreed.”
Sister Usuwa now serves far from home, working in elderly care in Woonsocket. Those who enter the religious life, she said, need to give themselves over in prayer to God and Our Lady.
“Listen to God’s voice, that tiny voice of God,” she said. “God will reveal to them what he wants them to be in life.”
As part of the celebration, the jubilarians renewed their religious vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. The renewal was a reminder that for those serving in the religious life, anniversaries mark not a step toward retirement, but a renewed commitment to the lifelong work of the Church.
Brother Marcel Leclerc, who this year celebrates 60 years of religious life, is an example of that commitment. The Brother of the Sacred Heart continues to teach three classes of art and architecture to middle and high school students at Mount Saint Charles Academy, Woonsocket, and remains active in the life of the school. Next month, he will celebrate his 79th birthday.
“It feels like it’s going too fast,” said Brother Leclerc. “When I came in, I was really enthused about being on the other side of the desk. I enjoyed every minute of it and, as you see, I’m still in it.”
The jubilarians present received a copy of Pope Francis’s book, “The Name of God Is Mercy,” as a token of thanks from the diocese. At the close of the Mass, Sister Castro thanked Bishop Thomas J. Tobin, Auxiliary Bishop Evans, the Office for Religious and the pastor, staff and parishioners of Saints Rose and Clement Parish for making the event possible.
RELIGIOUS JUBILARIANS
80th Anniversary
Sister Savina D'Agostino, FMM
70th Anniversary
Rev. Raymond Daley, OP
Sister Mary Caffrey, RSM
Sister Therese Delisle, RSM
Sister Lucy Donohue, RSM
Sister Marie Andre Guay, RSM
Sister Mary Bernice Pikul, CSSF
Sister Lourdette Harrold, RSM
Sister Mary Jacinta, RSM
Sister Teresa Arsenault, FMM
Brother Paul MacDonald, SC
65th Anniversary
Sister Louise Gabrielle Bourget, SUSC
Sister Therese Theroux, SUSC
Sister Angela O'Callaghan, SJC
Sister Anne Kelly, FMM
Sister Ann Tarnauskas, FMM
60th Anniversary
Rev. William F. Sullivan,SSC
Rev. John Peterson, OP
Sister Mary Martin Delahanty,OP
Brother Brendan Gerrity, FSC
Sister Jacqueline Dickey, SSCh
Sister Annette Bibeau, SSA
Sister Bernadette Lapre, SJC
Sister Rosa Goncalves, SSD
Brother Marcel Leclerc, SC
Brother Robert Provencher, SC
Sister Ruth Hokenson, RSM
Sister Rose Angela McLellan, RSM
Sister Mary Monaghan, RSM
Sister Marianna Sylvester, RSM
Sister Arlene Woods, RSM
Sister Bernadette Lapre, SJC
Sister Eugenia Choi, FMM
Sister Ana Lina Garcia, FMM
50th Anniversary
Rev. Thomas McCreesh, OP
Sister Carol Jussaume, RSM
Sister Elaine Marchand, RSM
Sister Jane McGarrahan, RSM
Sister Eileen Sullivan, RSM
25th Anniversary
Rev. Augustine Judd, OP
Sister Daisy Kollamparampil, FMH
Sister Calista Usuwa, DMMM