Jubilee Mass honors religious

The Diocese of Baton Rouge honored 11 religious women and men with a combined 610 years of service to the church at a Jubilee and Consecrated Life Mass on Feb. 9 at Our Lady of Mercy Church in Baton Rouge.

Those celebrating jubilees were, 70 years: Brother Celestin Algero SC and Sister Janet Roesener CSJ; 60 years: Sister Helen Cahill FMOL, Sister Joan Laplace CSJ, Sister Lillian Lynch FMOL, Sister Brendan Mary Ronayne FMOL, Sister Cynthia Sabathier CSJ, Sister Lucy Silvio CSJ and Sister Adelaide Williamson CSJ; and 25 years: Sister Julie Kraemer CSJ and Sister Sharon Rose CMC.

Sister Joan, who welcomed everyone to the ceremony, said, “Each February there is an event to celebrate consecrated religious life to which all sisters and brothers in the diocese are invited to a Mass and reception celebrated by Bishop Michael Duca.

“It is an opportunity to recognize and express gratitude for their lives of faithfulness and dedication shown in living out their calling to be at the service of the people of God.”

Bishop Duca acknowledged the jubilarians and thanked them for their dedication and sacrifices for those in their religious community as well as the church and larger community. He noted how they have been made stronger for it.

As they come to the Lord in word, prayer and serve in the community, religious men and women are being disciples and witnesses to the Lord. And they are sewing a seed for others to see, according to the bishop

“We say yes, it’s a daily yes,” said the bishop.

He referred to the story of Martha and Mary. Martha, ever busy in serving, is upset that Mary is sitting at Jesus’ feet when she felt should be helping her with the details of hospitality. Jesus states that Mary has chosen the better part, yet as the bishop noted, Martha also had a deep love for the Lord in her desire to serve the Lord’s needs.

Also after Lazarus died, it is Martha who goes out to meet Jesus and confronts him, saying “Lord if you had been here, he never would have died,” expressing her belief in the Lord.

Bishop Duca emphasized it’s good to remember that the better part of building that relationship with God and “letting God continue to bless us with more men and women coming to serve and continue the great tradition of living in community and being witnesses of our living community.”