Five local religious sisters celebrated milestone
anniversaries of their religious life at a Jubilarian Mass
May 20 at the Chapel of the Sacred Heart at Marymount
University in Arlington.
Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary Sisters Irene Cody and
Jacqueline (Jackie) Murphy, celebrating 70 and 60 years
respectively; Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of
Mary Helen Gilroy and Elizabeth Ann Goltman, 60 and 50 years
respectively; and Benedictine Sister Cecilia Dwyer, 50 years,
were praised by Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde.
Sister Irene, now living at her order’s provincial home in
Tarrytown, N.Y., was not present for the Mass.
They were joined in the celebration by religious sisters from
around the diocese.
In his homily, Bishop Loverde said that the annual jubilee
celebration is always filled with joy and thanksgiving. This
year was special, he said, because it is also the Year of
Consecrated Life. He thanked the jubilarians “for saying
‘yes’ to Christ.”
The bishop took time to reflect on Pope Francis’ three goals
for the Year of Consecrated Life: to look to the past with
gratitude, to live the present with passion and to embrace
the future with hope.
The bishop thanked the jubilarians, saying, “We hold you with
prayer in our hearts, today and always.”
As the jubilarians, and other sisters, left the chapel after
Mass, Sister Jackie reflected on the Mass and the religious
communities celebrating with her.
“It’s great to be among so many great sisters,” she said.
“They’re my family.”
Borowski can be reached at [email protected]
or on Twitter @DBorowskiACH.
