Sisters honored at Mass for retired religious

By Tanya Connor | The Catholic Free Press

Religious sisters were surprised and beaming at a Mass and reception honoring them Sunday, Oct. 22, at St. Paul Cathedral.
At the annual Mass for retired religious, Bishop McManus presented awards to the Sisters of St. Benedict Center, Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and to one of their members.
First he gave 96-year-old Sister Ann Mary Cobb the 18th annual retired retired religious award, which said that her “life of dedication is an example to all religious.”
Then he gave Sister Cecilia Cannon, superior, an award for the whole community, “for their consistent dedication to the doctrines of the Holy Roman Catholic Church.”
Speaking of the second award, Sister Louise Marie Turner, a member of the community, said, “It was a surprise to us.” She rejoiced in what it said.
In presenting the sisters for the awards, Sister Paula Kelleher, a Sister of St. Joseph who is interim episcopal representative to religious, said she has never gone into their house without feeling warmly welcomed. She praised them for constant dedication to Church teaching.
At the beginning of Mass, Bishop McManus had praised consecrated women and men in general for their faithful, selfless love, their witness to God’s kingdom and their work in such areas as education, health care, parish ministry and service to the poor and needy.
During his homily he talked about how the Church was global before the term “globalization” became politically correct.
All people are called to holiness, to be saints, he said. Some pursue that through poverty, chastity and obedience.
“We walk by faith, and not by sight,” Bishop McManus said. “And we walk faithful to the promise of Christ that he will always be with us.”
He noted that religious operated the Catholic school system in the United States for many years. They taught the children of poor immigrants and brought them into the center of life in society, he said.
Many vocations, including his, were promoted and developed by religious sisters in the classrooms, he said. He said that story must not be forgotten, but must be celebrated as “we do today.”
Some present probably never imagined the changes that would come to religious life, he said. Christ’s instruction about vocations was: “Pray to the harvest master to send many laborers,” he said, and asked listeners to pray that God will renew religious life.
In his name and the name of the diocese, the bishop thanked those who have embraced consecrated life.