Presentation Sisters celebrate 70th Jubilee

Sister Mary LeBlanc and Sister Charlene O’Leary celebrated their 70th jubilees at a Liturgy of Thanksgiving on Sept. 16 at the Notre Dame du Lac Assisted Living facility, 555 Plantation St., Worcester. The main celebrant was Father Edward Nicolls and the concelebrants were Msgr. John Doran, Father Juan Escudero, Father Paul O’Connell and Father William Champlin.

Sister Mary LeBlanc

Sister Mary LeBlanc, formerly known as Sister Mary Petrine entered the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Feb. 2, 1953, and professed her final vows on Aug. 20, 1958. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Regina Coeli, Fitchburg, and a master’s degree in education from Fitchburg State College. She taught for 30 years in schools staffed by the Sisters of the Presentation in Fitchburg and Clinton, as well as in Stamford and Riverside, Connecticut. From 1987-1995 Sister Mary was pastoral associate at St. Helena’s Parish in Enfield, New Hampshire, and from 1995-2006 at St. Boniface Parish in Lunenburg. Before her retirement in 2017, she was a parish administrator for 11 years at St. Christopher Parish, Worcester. She also served as coordinator at the Presentation Convent in Leominster. Currently, Sister Mary resides at the Notre Dame du Lac Assisted Living facility.

Sister Charlene O’Leary

Sister Charlene O’Leary, formerly known as Sister Mary Danielle, entered the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Sept. 24, 1953, and professed her final vows on Aug. 20, 1961. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Regina Coeli College, Fitchburg, and a master’s degree from Fitchburg State College. She is a certified school psychologist and holds a certificate of advanced graduate study in theology from Boston College. Sister Charlene taught in schools staffed by the Sisters of the Presentation in Fitchburg, Leominster and Clinton. She also served as principal from 1972-1975 at the Catholic Regional School in Clinton. She was director of religious education in St. Mary Parish, Shrewsbury and St. Boniface Parish, Lunenburg. She was appointed pastoral associate at St. Boniface by Bishop Flanagan in the first group so designated in the Diocese of Worcester. Her final ministry was as pastoral associate at St. Anne Parish, Shrewsbury, where she served for 20 years prior to her retirement. Sister Charlene established a homeless ministry and was very involved in ministry to those in need. She currently resides at the Notre Dame du Lac Assisted Living Facility and continues her ministry of outreach.