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Pauline sister celebrates silver jubilee

Maria-pia Negro | Catholic Herald

Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde congratulates Sr. Maria Grace Dateno, 46, on her 25th anniversary jubilee before Mass.

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Sr. Maria Grace Dateno (left), daughter of St. Paul, smiles next to her parents, Bill and Betty Ann Dateno, during her jubilee Mass May 21 at Marymount University in Arlington.

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Sister Maria Grace Dateno, Daughter of St. Paul, observed her
25th anniversary of her commitment to the religious life with
a Mass celebrated by Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde May 21
at Marymount University in Arlington.

Surrounded by other sisters, friends, and her parents, Bill
and Betty Ann Dateno, the jubilarian beamed with happiness as
Bishop Loverde thanked her for her service to the church.
Bishop Loverde also congratulated her parents, who celebrated
their 50th wedding anniversary that week. Bishop was assisted
by Father Frank J. Ready, retired, and Father Robert Wagner,
bishop’s secretary.

In his homily, the bishop spoke of the blessings of a
consecrated life and the virtue of humility, reminding those
present that Jesus Christ showed humility in calling Himself
the “vine that nourishes the branches” with His grace for
them to bear great fruit.

“It is only when we are humble that we place God’s will above
our own,” he said. “Humility is necessary for holiness.”

He concluded the homily sharing the community’s joy for
Sister Maria Grace and her “25 years of fruitfulness and 25
years of clinging to Jesus Christ.”

After the homily, Sister Maria Grace renewed her vows,
rededicating herself to the service of God and church.

Sister Maria Grace said she was happy to be stationed in the
Arlington Diocese during this celebration because it is where
her vocation started. She remembers God putting “a drop of an
idea” in her head when she was 5 years old and met her first
nun, Sister Maria Immaculata, Daughters of Wisdom, at St.
Bernadette School in Springfield.

“My first thought that I would be a sister was because my
name is Maria and her name is Maria,” she recalled. “I didn’t
know at the time that half the nuns in the world have Mary,
Maria or Marie in their names.”

Growing up, she thought about becoming a religious sister on
and off, but also considered getting married and having
children, and pursuing a career in math and science.

“It wasn’t until seventh or eighth grade and then high school
that really the thought came back to me seriously,” she said.

She started her postulancy immediately after graduating from
high school in Boston and entered the Daughters of St. Paul
formation house in Boston, professing her first vows June 28,
1989.

Her current assignment is manager of Pauline Books and Media
in Alexandria. Sister Maria Grace is also a children’s book
author, and her most recent releases are the six books in the
“Gospel Time Trekkers” series – time-travel adventures for
kids ages 6 to 9.

Exuding happiness, Sister Maria Grace said that she still
cannot believe it has been 25 years since her first
profession.

“It’s all kind of hitting me now, but I just feel gratitude
for these 25 years,” she said. “I’m beginning my feeling of
jubilee right now.”

Later this year, Sister Maria Grace will celebrate her silver
jubilee with her community in Boston.

Negro can be reached at [email protected] or on
Twitter @MNegroACH.

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