June 5, 2009
Seven Sisters of Mercy celebrate anniversaries JUBILEES, from page 1
Celebrating 25 years as a “silver jubiliarian” was Mercy Sister Teresa Susana Dandison. Mercy Sister Mary Hugh Mauldin introduced the Jubilarians to the guests at the celebration. “You, of course, know our sisters from how they’ve served among you — foster mothers, teachers, college administrators, nurses, counselors, school principals,” she said. “We sisters know them other ways too — as women who strive to live together in love that the world may be encouraged in their call to love,” said Sister Mauldin. Sister Boulus, a North Carolina native, entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1949. Although her ministry has been mostly in administration, she said she would most like to be remembered as a math teacher. She currently is director for both the food services for Sacred Heart Convent and the administrative offices of the Sisters of Mercy South Central Community.
VOCATIONS
Sister Donovan, a native of Long Island, N.Y., entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1950. Although much of her ministry was as an educator, she is gifted in finance as well. For 14 years, she was treasurer of the congregation in Guam, and from 1979 to 1996 she served as treasurer of the Sisters of Mercy of North Carolina. Sister Durbin, a native of Nebraska, entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1950. In addition to her ministry in education, Sister Durbin has worked in the office of Holy Angels in Belmont and in the office of the president of the community. For the past decade, she has served as director of the Media Resource Center for the Diocese of Charlotte. A native North Carolinian, Sister Godwin entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1949. She has served as a teacher and has ministered for years as a direct caregiver. Currently, she helps care for ill sisters at Marian Center on the Sisters of Mercy campus in Belmont. Sister McNally, a native of New York, entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1949. Her ministries have included nursing, teaching, counseling and practicing as a canon lawyer. As a canon lawyer, she has served as a member of the marriage tribunals for the Archdiocese of Miami and the
The Catholic News & Herald 9
Courtesy Photo
Seven Sisters of Mercy stand outside St. Gabriel Church in Charlotte May 30, where they celebrated their jubilee anniversaries as women religious. Pictured are (from left) Mercy Sisters Patricia Durbin, JeanneMargaret McNally, Mary Julia Godwin, Mary Agnes Solari, Mary Michel Boulus, Mary Gerard Donovan, Teresa Susana Dandison and Teresa Susana Dandison. Diocese of Charlotte, and as a canon law teacher in formation programs for the Sisters of Mercy, the Benedictines of Belmont Abbey and the Trappists of Moncks Corner, S.C. Born in Richmond, Va., Sister Solari entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1949. She has served as a teacher and campus minister for many years. Currently, she is an assistant in the media center at Holy Trinity Middle School in Charlotte. A native of Argentina, Sister Dandison entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1984. Widowed prior to her entry, she is a mother and grandmother. She spent some of her first years with the Sisters
of Mercy serving in the Widowed, Separated and Divorced Ministry in the diocese. She also has been a Mercy presence in the diocese’s Hispanic ministry in Davie County since 1996, where she serves those who struggle with language and other difficulties in the health and government systems. WANT MORE INFO? For more information on the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas South Central Community, visit www.mercysc.org.
Women consecrated as spiritual mothers for priests TULSA, Okla. (CNS) — Following a recommendation by the Vatican Congregation for Clergy, 33 women from the Diocese of Tulsa were consecrated as spiritual mothers of priests during a special Mass at Holy Family Cathedral. They are the first spiritual mothers to be consecrated in the United States, said Father Mark Kirby, a Tulsa priest who directs a cenacle for priests in the diocese. “Mary is the model for those whom God has called to serve the church by living as spiritual mothers of priests,” Bishop Edward J. Slattery of Tulsa told
Creating a Lasting Legacy You can have peace of mind when you donate to the Oblate Annuity Trust. The Oblate Annuity Trust has been in operation for over 70 years and has always been strong and secure. With an Oblate Charitable Gift Annuity of $5,000 or more you will receive fixed yearly payments (based on your age, minimum age 59 1/2 ) for the rest of your life. You will also receive a one-time charitable deduction the year your annuity gift is made.
Call for rates today toll free 1-877-398-7687 or fill out the coupon below and mail to:
OBLATE
P.O. BOX 23001 • Belleville, IL 62223-0001 www.charitablegifts.org • annuities@oblatesusa.org
YES! Send me a one-life gift annuity proposal. Name
ANNUITY TRUST
Two-life annuity rates are available upon request.
Birth Date
Address City Telephone (
State
ZIP
)
Amount Considered ($5,000 minimum)
E-mail ___________________________________________ Not available in all states.
CN 06/05/09
the women during the March 24 Mass. “With Our Lady, the spiritual mothers of priests have as the heart of their vocation the call to live a life of constant prayer and adoration while making a conscious effort to love generously and freely,” he said. Each of the women was presented with a medal and a certificate signifying her dedication to a particular priest, who was described to her but not named. The priests who expressed interest in having a spiritual mother do not know her identity, either; they only know someone is praying for them and their call to holiness. The women were asked to spend time daily in adoration and intercessory prayer directed toward their adopted priests. Their consecration followed several weeks of formation. Now that they are consecrated, the women will continue as spiritual mothers for the rest of their lives. The letter from the Congregation for Clergy, released in 2007, asked bishops to seek out women who would follow the example of Mary and “spiritually adopt priests in order to help them with their self-offering, prayer and penance.” The effort is intended to promote perpetual eucharistic adoration “for the reparation of faults and the sanctification of priests.”