Benedictine Medal
 
 
  Community Celebrates Jubilees
  The five jubilarians chant the suscipe along with the assembled Benedictine Sisters of Chicago
       
  Sister MaryAnn O'Ryan signs her vows at the altar in St. Scholastica Chapel

On Saturday July 7, the Benedictine Sisters of Chicago gathered with friends and families to celebrate the jubilees of five Sisters.  Sister Joan Gannon celebrated her 70th jubilee, Sister Margaret Ann Holtz celebrated 60 years in vows and Sisters Mary Ann O’Ryan, Judith Murphy, and Marilyn Hattrup all celebrated fiftieth jubilees.  When all five of these women joined the community, they immediately became teachers in the parish schools run by the Sisters. Since then, they each have undertaken many and varied ministries, serving God and God's people according to the need they see around them. The community is proud to commemorate a combined two hundred eighty years of vowed life for these five Sisters and pleased to celebrate with these women, their families and friends.

 
  Sister MaryAnn O'Ryan signs her vows
at the altar in St. Scholastica Chapel.		  
       
   
       
 

The celebrations began, as they always do, with Mass.  The community members, followed by the jubilarians processed into St. Scholastica Chapel.  Bowing first to the altar and then to each other, they recognized the presence of Christ both in the altar and in one another.  After reflections in which Sister Patricia remarked on our call to ask ourselves who we are as human beings, the five Sisters celebrating jubilees stood before the congregation with the Prioress to repeat the vows they made years ago.  Each Sister renewed her promise of conversion of life through stability, obedience, and fidelity to the monastic way of life.  Then, with hands raised, they sang the Suscipe, “Uphold me, O Lord, according to your word and I shall live, and do not fail me in my hope.”  Singing it a second time, they were joined by the other Sisters, an audible reminder of the importance of community in the practice of monasticism. 

The community processes into the chapel  
  The community processes into the chapel.  
       
         
    Family of Sister Judith Murphy after the Mass    
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
  Sister Margaret Ann visits with her Sister XXX and xxx Sister Mary Ann talks with Sister Joan Hentges and  
   
  Family of Sister Judith Murphy after the Mass.  
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
   
   
  Sister Margaret Ann (center) visits
with members of her family
who traveled from Pennsylvania
to join in the celebration. 		Sister Mary Ann (center) talks
with members of her family
and Sister Joan Hentges (in yellow).		  
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
    Sisters Virginia Jung, Benita Coffey, and
Susan Quaintance enjoy each other's company
at the meal after the jubilee Mass. 		   
         
 

After Mass, the jubilarians had time to celebrate with family and friends. Guests and community members crowded into all three monastery dining rooms, as well as the cafeteria in the school to share a meal and to visit.  In celebrating the jubilarians and their commitment to the Benedictine Sisters of Chicago, the Sisters also celebrate the broader community that makes up the Benedictine community today.