Sister Reflects on 75th Jubilee

We celebrate this diamond jubilee with thoughts of St. Teresa of Avila. She was celebrating once, dining on a delicious gourmet dinner of roast partridge. Her friend criticized her and called into question the appropriateness of such a meal, given her reputation for holy living. What would people think? With her mouth full of meat, Teresa answered: “I don’t care what people think! There is a time for penance, and there’s a time for partridge!”

Today is our partridge time! Together with Sisters Timothea, Vivian, Emily, Virginia, we celebrate our 75 years in Holy Cross.

Not every one of those years may be worth celebrating. There were good years and some not so good; some peaceful, some fraught with struggle, no doubt. Sometimes we were holy and sometimes we were cross.

And we were moved around a lot. One year here, three years there, two years over there. Later, maybe, we stayed long enough to be more effective, establishing friendships and parish connections that would use our gifts, our energy, and deepen our need to serve.

Each mission, though, was a gift as well as a challenge. All those missions spread out behind us may seem like a lovely mosaic, designed by God (and a few superiors). Each with its own character. None of them is forgotten. They formed us, supported us and graced us in ways only God knows. Today I owe them my gratitude, as well do these four sisters who have also spent their busy valued lives in ministry.

But there’s more to life than our golden past.

There’s laughter and fun yet to come.

For a long time, yet, life’s still on the run

For the five of us.

How did we survive?

There are stories still yet to be heard

But there are no living bandmates who

Can verify our word.

We are now just five of us.

And so as we continue our year of grace

And as we live and pray with you in this place

We’re eager to celebrate.

For it’s not too late

For the five of us.

Sister M. Martha Ann (Norwood), CSC