2016 Religious Jubilarians

60 Years

Sister Milice Anthony Bohrer, CSJ, is celebrating her 60th jubilee as a Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet. Residing presently in Cazenovia, Sister Milice is a volunteer in St. James Parish.

Sister Milice entered the novitiate of the Sisters of St. Joseph on March 19, 1956 and professed final vows on Aug. 6, 1963. She received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in education, both from The College of Saint Rose, and pursued post-graduate studies in pastoral ministry at Emmanuel College in Boston.

For the first 17 years of her religious life, Sister Milice served as a teacher in the Syracuse and Albany Dioceses as well as in Honolulu, Hawaii. It was in Hawaii that Sister Milice began her ministry in parish work as a director of religious education. Later, Sister Milice was a parish minister at Holy Family in Fulton and a parish outreach minister at St. Margaret’s in Homer. Since 2004, she has been at St. James Church, Cazenovia, for nine years as a pastoral associate and presently as a volunteer. In addition, Sister Milice served the Sisters of St. Joseph as director of associates (candidates) and was a mental health aide and residential counselor at a facility in Massachusetts.

Of her 60 years as a Sister of St. Joseph, Sister Milice says: “When I reflect on these sixty years, my heart is filled with gratitude for the countless blessings in my life as a Sister of St. Joseph. I am especially grateful for the experiences of God’s loving presence in my life through my family who has supported me with love all my life. I think of the dedicated sisters who continue to inspire me and of my friends and colleagues who have nurtured my spiritual life and brought me joy. The diversity of my ministries has connected me with countless companions on the journey who touched my life with their faith and friendship.”

As a boy Father David James Casey, SJ, never bolted home with a sense of escape when classes ended for the day at 2:45 p.m. Where was the camaraderie or the teamwork in that?

Instead, he hung around school for the extracurricular activities. Then it was a quick dinner at 5 or 5:30 p.m., and then off to another great event: Scouting.

“I’d say I was a joiner,” said Father Casey, who is celebrating the 60th year since he joined the Jesuits.

Father Casey’s home parish was Blessed Trinity in Buffalo. He graduated from Canisius High School in Buffalo. He received his B.A. and his M.A. from Fordham University, his M. Div. from Woodstock College, his S.T.M. from Union Theological Seminary, and his Ph.D. from Yale.

Father Casey entered the Jesuit novitiate in 1956, was ordained to the priesthood in 1969, and took his final vows in 1980.

He taught philosophy 1963-66 at Le Moyne; 1974-80 at Marquette University; 1980-87 at Fordham; 1987-88 at Le Moyne; 1988-90 at Canisius College, Buffalo; 1990-94 at Wheeling Jesuit College; 1995-2005 at Fordham; and 2005-2008 at Le Moyne.

Back in his Jesuit high school, Father Casey noticed the vivacity of the instructors. The Jesuits lived in community, and through his extracurricular activities Father Casey was already gaining experience working with other people in common projects. So it was natural for him to enter the Jesuits, with their shared ideals and common activities.

In an interview the week before Le Moyne’s commencement, Father Casey noted that members of the college’s Class of 1966 would be holding their 50th reunion at the commencement. It was going to be a very special reunion because Father Casey actually taught some of those people 50 years ago.

Asked what advice he would give a young person discerning a call to religious life today, Father Casey said, “Well, basically, if they have an interest that way, start talking not just to priests but also to lay men and women.”

To celebrate his jubilee, Father Casey will probably get together with his seminary classmates for a weekend in August in Pennsylvania. He’ll be traveling, as befits a Jesuit.

“Jesuits for the most part are supposed to be out in the world,” he said. “There are some quiet Jesuits, but not too many. Most Jesuits are always in motion.”

Sister Constance Mary Gibbons, OSF, was born in Norristown, Pa., a suburb of Philadelphia, and attended St. Martin of Tours Church. She graduated from John W. Hallahan Catholic Girls’ High School.

Sister Constance Mary taught in schools in the Dioceses of Syracuse and Albany, and also used her skills as a teacher in Puerto Rico. Sister then turned to the health field, becoming an RN and ministering at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Syracuse.

Sister Constance Mary is now a Prayer Minister and resides in the Franciscan Villa. She still goes to St. Joseph’s Hospital to do volunteer work.

Sister Robert Mary Murphy, IHM, grew up in Susquehanna, Pa., a member of St. John’s Parish. She attended St. John’s and Laurel Hill Academy. She later earned an M.A. in Education and an M.S. in Religious Studies, both from Marywood University.

Sister Robert Mary entered the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Scranton, in 1953, making her first profession of vows in 1956.

Sister Robert Mary spent 30 years teaching at the elementary and junior high levels. “I taught a little bit of everything,” she said with a laugh, “but the one consistent one was music. I was the music teacher wherever I went, and then whatever else needed to be taught.” She also served as a principal in Idaho and New Jersey.

Since 1986, Sister Robert Mary has served in parish ministry at Our Lady of Sorrows in Vestal, where she is the Adult Educator and RCIA Director. She will retire from the position this spring.

Sister Robert Mary said she was “very strongly attracted to becoming a sister. I knew I was going to teach, whatever I was going to do, and I honestly could not fathom teaching without being able to teach about God.” She knew the IHM sisters well, as “I was never taught by anyone but the IHMs until graduate work. Wonderful, wonderful women,” she said.

Reflecting on her 60 years of religious life, Sister Robert Mary noted that, “The one thing that came through loud and clear was, no matter what else I was doing, I seemed to focus on the importance of liturgical prayer. When I was in school teaching, I was always working with preparing the kids to do a better job of understanding the Mass and celebrating it to the best of our ability. In my parish ministry, that has continued, but instead of with music, it’s been with training Eucharistic ministers and lectors. The focus of all 60 years really seems to be enhancing liturgy and getting to understand liturgy so we can enjoy it more and celebrate it more.”

For a young woman considering a call to the religious life, Sister Robert Mary offers these words: “It’s a wonderful life. I have been very, very happy, and I would just love to see other people experience what I’ve experienced, because it’s been a very, very good life.”

Father Frank Nash, SJ, is a lover of literature, and as a kid he engaged in a little creative storytelling of his own.

At Saint Joseph’s Preparatory School in Philadelphia, Pa., people would ask him what he wanted to be.

In his first year, he answered: Airline pilot. In his second year: Annapolis. Third year: Maybe lawyer.

Fourth year: Time to finally let on: The whole time, he had intended to be admitted into the Jesuit novitiate.

Father Nash kids that “I never grew up,” but in fact, the Le Moyne College Community Chaplain is celebrating 60 years as a Jesuit. He entered the novitiate on July 30, 1956, was ordained a priest on June 7, 1969, and took his final vows on Nov. 5, 1977.

His parish as a youth was St. Carthage, in Philadelphia. After graduating from prep school, he earned his B.A. from Fordham University and then his master’s in English from Fordham.

After ordination he served from 1969-74 at St. Joseph’s College, Philadelphia, where he was Director of Residence Life and Associate Dean of Students. Then he served at Le Moyne from 1974-88. He was Chaplain of the College and he also worked in Admissions for two years.

From there he went to Loyola University, Baltimore, where he served four years as Director of Campus Ministry and 16 years directing its study-abroad program in Bangkok, Thailand. He then served as Alumni Chaplain at Loyola. He came back to Le Moyne last year as Community Chaplain.

Asked what advice he would give a young person discerning a call to religious life, Father Nash said, “Pray. And seek guidance from a spiritual director who’s going to work with you to see how you grow.”

As for his jubilee celebration, Father Nash said he will “take it in stride”; it will be up to his friends to decide. Another celebration will be July 31: the Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola.

“I never know where I’m going to be at any given time,” Father Nash said. “I tend to wander.”

Sister Maureen Joseph Rainone, CSJ, is celebrating her 60th jubilee as a Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet. Born in Syracuse, she was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish.

Sister Maureen entered the novitiate of the Sisters of St. Joseph on March 19, 1956, and professed final vows on Aug. 6, 1963. She received a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree, both in elementary education from The College of Saint Rose.

For 22 years, Sister Maureen served as teacher, principal, and administrator of schools in the Syracuse and Albany Dioceses. In addition, she was a field supervisor in the Broome County Foster-Grandparent Program and education coordinator for Broome County Head Start. Sister Maureen also served as director of religious education both in Blessed Sacrament Parish in Johnson City and the former St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Binghamton, and in parish outreach in St. Andrew’s in Binghamton. In 1998, Sister Maureen began her ministry as a chaplain in Binghamton where she served at St. Louise Manor, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, and in her present position at Good Shepherd-Fairview Home.

Sister Maureen describes her journey as a Sister of St. Joseph: “It was a long, straight drive on the New York State Thruway that September afternoon 60 years ago. My mother Mary, my sister Teresa, and our pastoral associate at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Syracuse, Father Tom Costello, our driver, took us to Saint Joseph’s Seminary in Troy, New York.

“Who could have imagined the many roads I would travel North, South, East and West in New York State. Years later, I would do the driving myself.

“My first mission after graduation from The College of Saint Rose was right up the street to the Cathedral Academy, Albany, New York. My teaching assignment was first grade: precious children, eager to please — pretty basic instruction in reading, writing, arithmetic, and religion.

“After years of teaching grades five to eight, I turned to CCD, or what is known as Faith Formation today. I especially treasured this on many levels. Parent sessions were required for those who had children preparing to receive First Communion and Confirmation. This was at the time of Vatican II and the wonderful opportunity [to] ‘update’ parents on the new Spirit in the Church.

“One of the most powerful experiences with the high school confirmation class involved their weekend retreat. I witnessed a true movement of the Spirit in their change of attitude. They arrived closed and by the end of the retreat, there was a visible metanoia.

“In my later years, coming full circle, I now minister as a chaplain at an assisted-living facility. This allows me the privilege of interacting with those in their later years. This is a blessing in that I receive more than I give. The residents are so accepting, grateful and faithful.

“As a Sister of Saint Joseph, the ‘Dear Neighbor’ and I become one each day.”

Sister Maura Rhode, CSJ, is celebrating her 60th anniversary as a Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet. Sister Maura was born in Syracuse, was a member of St. Anthony of Padua Parish, and is a graduate of St. Anthony of Padua Grammar and High School.

Sister Maura entered the novitiate of the Sisters of St. Joseph on March 19, 1956, and professed final vows on Aug. 6, 1963. She received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from The College of Saint Rose and a master’s degree in chemistry from Syracuse University.

For 29 years, Sister Maura served as teacher of science and as principal in high schools in the Syracuse and Albany Dioceses; she also taught science and math at Maria Regina College and St. Joseph’s Hospital School of Nursing, both in Syracuse. Since 1989, Sister Maura has been a chaplain at the Onondaga County Department of Corrections in Jamesville.

Sister Maura reflects on her 60 years as a Sister of St. Joseph: “Sixty years of learning and loving as a Sister of St. Joseph — it is a story of challenges at times, but always a story of love.

“I never even thought of being a teacher when I entered the convent! Becoming a Sister of St. Joseph was my only thought. And then a principal of a high school? It wasn’t my first thought, but since the Community leaders asked, I accepted! And so 29 years passed, happily and wonderfully in the field of education in both the Albany and Syracuse Dioceses.

“Then a change came, and that change was probably the biggest surprise of my life! Chaplain at the prison in Jamesville? Oh no, not me! I could never do that ministry!
 

“Really? Now 27 years later, I still just love ‘going to jail’! I may someday have to stop serving there, but I will never stop loving some of God’s most hurting people.

“Sixty years have come and gone, and my life has been blessed by the greatest gift of all: being a Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet. Amen!”

Sister Joan Sauro, CSJ, is celebrating her 60th jubilee as a Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet. Born in Syracuse, she was a member of St. Brigid’s Parish and a graduate of St. Patrick’s High School.

Sister Joan entered the novitiate of the Sisters of St. Joseph on March 19, 1956, and professed final vows on Aug. 6, 1963. She received a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in English, both from The College of Saint Rose.

For the first 11 years of her religious life, Sister Joan taught in schools of the Syracuse and Albany Dioceses and at The College of Saint Rose. She began writing as a full-time ministry in 1971 and today is an award-winning author and illustrator of numerous articles and books, among them The Whole Earth Meditation, Things Lost in Need of Finding, The Diary of a Jogging Nun, and Does God Ever Sleep? Sister Joan has won two fellowships for fiction from the New York Foundation for the Arts and the Best Essay Award from the Catholic Press Association. In addition, she has been a teacher of literature and workshop leader for adults and for children, especially in the field of creative writing.

Sister Joan, who presently resides in Syracuse, reflects on her life as a blessing: “St. Brigid and St. Joseph Church is my home parish. The Church and I were dedicated to God in the same year, 1956. Presently, I live across the street in a rented house. The sanctuary light and I keep prayerful watch over God’s people. I have taught in diocesan high schools; at the College of St. Rose, Albany; and in church basements, libraries, retreat houses, theaters, and pubs. During the last decades I have written/illustrated hundreds of articles for national Catholic magazines and published eight books, the latest being Religion Ought to Be Fun. All of my work features ordinary people.

“Imagine an eighteen-year-old girl walking through a convent door and never looking back. Imagine a life as a Sister of St. Joseph filled with love, mercy, mistakes, partings, adventures, and celebrations. Imagine God’s loving hand in it all, every day a blessing. I am an ordinary woman in an extraordinary band of women. We are called Sisters. The God of our future beckons.”