Religious jubilarians reflect with gratitude and grace
By Eileen Jevis
Staff Writer
Sun photos | Chuck Wainwright
Bishop Lucia accepts the Eucharistic gifts at the Jubilee Mass from Sister Rosemary Hendry and Sister Ellen Lindsley.
Sixteen religious jubilarians representing 980 years of service were recognized and celebrated May 14 at a Mass and dinner at Immaculate Conception Church in Fayetteville. Sisters of St. Francis, the Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, St. Joseph of Carondelet, and a Sister of Perpetual Indulgence (DC) gathered to give thanks for their long careers in education, health care, catechetical and faith formation ministry, administration, and as pastoral associates, to name a few. Friar Jude DeAngelo, OFM Conv., celebrated 40 years of service to the Catholic community as a teacher and parochial vicar in New Jersey, a campus minister at Wake Forest University, a university chaplain at the Catholic University of America and currently, as the pastor of Assumption Church in Syracuse.
Bishop Douglas J. Lucia and Bishop Emeritus Robert J. Cunningham were the principal celebrants, joined by concelebrants Monsignor Ron Bill, Fr. Phil Hearn, and priests of the Syracuse Diocese. Bishop Lucia said the Jubilee is a day of thanksgiving to God for those who reached these special anniversaries and for their grace and perseverance in their religious vocation. “We render our gratitude for the prayerful apostolate and mission that you continue to carry out in the church up to this very minute,” Bishop Lucia said to the jubilarians. “I wish to also express the gratitude of all of us in the Diocese of Syracuse for your embrace of the evangelical counsels lived on in faith, hope and love. May God sustain you in his peace and give you strength for the work remaining.”
Sister Ellen Judith Lindsley, CSJ currently serves at St. Joseph’s Church in Camillus. She said her decision to give her life in service to the Lord was a wonderful choice and is very rewarding. Sister Ellen entered the convent at age 17 with the full support of her three sisters and her father. Her mother died when she was nine. “When I told my father my intention to join the Holy Order, he said, ‘If you’re going to become a nun, be a good one.’” Sister Ellen said there are many memorable moments in her 65 years of service in the field of education and now as a parish minister. But one that stands out is her friendship with Sister Dean Catherine Welch, CSJ whom she met at the Sisters of St. Joseph’s camp in Rochester. “She was ill and she knew that was going to be the last time she visited the camp,” said Sister Ellen. “She showed us how to live, and at the end of her life, she showed us how to die with dignity, peace and happiness. That still resonates with me and I’ve been thinking about her today.”
Sister Colette Walter, OSF, celebrated 70 years of service in education and community service. At age 17, she entered the Sisters of St. Francis Mother House on Court Street in Syracuse where she said she literally grew up. Sister’s calling was to teach and work as an administrator in elementary schools in Utica and Mattydale. She then moved to California where she became the principal of St. Barbara’s School in Santa Ana. “I feel like God was directing me there because it wasn’t something I asked for,” Sister Colette said. “It was something he presented to me and I did it. And I think I did it well.” Sister said she is grateful for the support she received from her five siblings, one of whom has passed away. “They are all retired, of course. I should be retired too but I still work at Francis House several hours a week.” Sister Colette said that she remains busy because it’s in her blood to be with people. “I love working with people who are dying and their families,” she said. “I’ve never once regretted being a Sister of St. Francis – in good times and in bad. I knew that whatever came my way, God was going to take care of me. It’s hard to wrap my mind around this long and religious life. I’ve always said God spoiled me. It’s been wonderful.”
It is the genuine goodness of the people of God that has been a delight for Father Jude DeAngelo, who, during his 40 years of ordained service, has served as a high school religion teacher, university campus minister and chaplain. “It is a privilege to celebrate Mass with college students and our chapels were usually packed with students who were serious about their faith,” said Fr. Jude. “This generation is very attracted to the ministries of the Church that are direct service to the poor, so many take a year off after college to dedicate themselves to that service through programs like FrancisCorps or Jesuit Volunteers.”
When asked how he counsels others through hardships, challenges, and grief Fr. Jude said that the Blessed Mother has been his source of strength when he has felt weak or lonely. “Mary has been my comfort during times of challenging assignments and loss. She always leads me closer to her son and reminds me that every Christian will encounter a cross in life if we desire to walk in the footsteps of Jesus.”
Fr. Jude said he is inspired by the prayerful, courageous people who practice their faith in spite of the challenges of living and working in our culture, which at times demeans all religions. “I have always enjoyed the people I serve with in ministry – my brothers, religious women and lay people who minister full time. When we serve, pray and worship together, we are the Church Christ calls us to be.”
