Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity Community Director Sister Natalie Binversie congratulates those Sisters celebrating 50 and 75 years anniversaries of profession of vows.
A special good morning to each of you on this beautiful feast of Pentecost, the Birthday of the Church! It is also the celebration of the Diamond and Golden Jubilarians! Congratulations to Sister Ann Joachim Haen and Sister Cyrilla Jackels on your 75 years of Religious Profession. You have the honor of being a professed member of the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity for one-half of the Congregations 150 year existence. Your group title is “Our Lady of National Defense” invoking Mary to be the protector of our Nation. This prayer of intercession to Mary is needed in our world today, not only for our Nation but for all Nations. You professed your vows on August 15, 1944. Celebrating with you and interceding for you from their eternal reward are: Sister Francis de Sales Gerl (1974) Sister Viola Hubatch (1988), Sister Anne Christine Haack (1995), Sister Teresa A. Morago (2004), Sister Jude Daul (2008), Sister Cosmas Miller (2014), Sister Helen Kelbel (2010), Sister Mary Florian Baumann (2010), and Sister Mary Rose O’Connell (2012). The memory of each of them is a blessing for all of us. May they rest in peace.
It has become a tradition in the past few years to honor the Sisters celebrating their 75th Jubilee by giving a donation to a charity of their choice. This year Sister Ann Joachim has chosen Silver Lake College of the Holy Family and Sister Cyrilla chose to have her donation go to St. Vincent de Paul in Kaukauna, Wisconsin. Thank you, Sister Ann Joachim and Sister Cyrilla for witnessing this Franciscan virtue of outreach to the poor, needy and the less fortunate.
Special congratulations to the “Spirits of Love,” who also celebrate Pentecost as their Group Feastday. We ask special blessings of the Holy Spirit on the Sisters celebrating their Golden Jubilee: Sister Delores Vogt, Sister Louise Hembrecht, Sister Martha Mary Carpenter, Sister Mary Beth Kornely and me, Sister Natalie Binversie, who am honored to be part of this profession group as well. We were professed during the 100th Anniversary year of the Congregation’s founding. Now we have the distinction of being professed members of the Congregation for one third of the Community’s history.
During our Liturgy this afternoon we will be hearing about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost when Christ’s paschal mystery was brought to its fullness. Just as those in the upper room were filled with the Holy Spirit, we ask for that same blessing for each of us. We ask for the gifts of the Holy Spirit to be poured out across the face of the earth. With the Divine grace that was at work when the Gospel was first proclaimed, may the hearts of all people be kindled with the fire of love and the courage of the Holy Spirito
In the name of all your Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity, congratulations and God’s blessing be upon you. Have a grace-filled day of celebration with your Sisters, Family and Friends.
