Sisters of Charity celebrate jubilees

July 14, 2015

HOUSTON — Eight members of the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word celebrated their Jubilee of Religious Profession of Vows on May 30 at Villa de Matel, the Congregation's Motherhouse in Houston. 

Sisters Mary Cyrilla O'Connor and Sarah Marie Hanley both celebrated their Diamond Jubilee, with 60 years as professed sisters. Sisters Brenda Williams, Christina Murphy, Elizabeth Ann Hayes, Mary Rose Scanlan, Maura Theriot and Ursula O'Keeffe celebrated their Golden Jubilees, with 50 years as professed sisters. 

Family, friends and sisters gathered for a Eucharistic celebration with Msgr. Frank H. Rossi, S.T.L., as the presider, and Fathers Don Donoghue, Simon Herbers, George Okeahialam, Faustinas Okeyikam and Brendan Williams serving as concelebrants. 

The Jubilarians renewed their vows as they held candles lit from the Pascal Candle. Sister Kevina Keating, congregational leader, recited their vows. Sisters Alice Mary Buckley and Mary Patricia Driscoll, both general councilors, lit the candles of the Jubilarians. Following the Eucharist, a festive dinner was held at the Dubuis Conference Center. 

With ministries in five countries, the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word in Houston is an international, multicultural congregation of Catholic women religious. It was founded in 1866 by Bishop Claude Marie Dubuis, the second bishop of the diocese which then included the entire state of Texas.