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Home  / News & Publications /  Michigan Catholic News / 2009 /  Vowed religious celebrate jubilees

The Michigan Catholic
Published May 15, 2009

On Wednesday, May 27, Archbishop Allen Vigneron will celebrate Mass at St. John Center, Plymouth Township, in honor of the men and women marking their religious jubilees as members of their respective congregations or their ordination.

All of these religious order brothers and sisters have given of their lives to God by ministering in special ways - whether through education, health care, missions, parish and retreat guidance work or in the cloistered life of prayer.

We thank them for their many years of service, as well as having touched so many lives along their journey.

Members of religious communities serving in the Archdiocese of Detroit were asked to share their thoughts about their religious life. Please note, some sisters have changed from their religious name to their given name over the years. The Michigan Catholic is publishing both names, when provided, with their given name or a previously used name in (parentheses). Here are their answers to the question "Religious life has been like ..."

80 years

Sr. Mary Stephanie Kluczynski, CSSF (Gertrude Kluczynski)

Sr. Kluczynski

"... a time of fulfillment, happiness, and gratitude to God for His unconditional love! With the faithful support of my community, family and friends, I was able to develop various teaching skills that enabled me to prepare my students for various careers and accomplishments in life for the greater honor and glory of God!"

Sr. Cecilia Marie Zelmanski, CSSF
"... I am so grateful to the Lord for the privilege of spending 80 years (the years have flown by!) in the religious life. A special thanks to the Felician Sisters, to my family and friends for their support, and to the hundreds of students and their parents for affording me the opportunity of meeting Jesus in each of them. Please, pray that I may continue to serve Him faithfully to the end."

75 years

Sr. Holewinski

Sr. Klamecki

Sr. Angela Marie Holewinski, CSSF (Angela Marie Holewinski)
"... one of God's greatest gifts to me for which I am most grateful. The vocation to religious life has been a great privilege, joy and blessing."

Sr. Charlotte Walby, IHM
"... a glorious journey of praise and thanks to God, and dedicated service to the Church, as a teacher, pastoral minister, carer of the elderly and chaplain. With God's grace, I continue my ministry of prayer."

Sr. M. Dina Klamecki, CSSF (Bernice Klamecki)
"... a place where we were strengthened by the Holy Spirit, enlightened to move daily into the future to become people on fire to spread love and mercy to all and peace in our hearts. We labor with Christ to renew the face of the Earth in the spirit of St. Francis and Blessed Mary Angela and further the Kingdom of God."

70 years

Sr. Mary Cordia Glinka, CSSF (Helen Glinka)
"... a joyous feeling. God has blessed me in so many ways. I am especially grateful for the many hours I could spend talking with Him and calling His blessings on my family and friends."

Sr. Niemiec

Sr. Owczarzak

Sr. Seidenwand

Sr. M. Lauriana Gruszynski, CSSF (Dorothy Gruszynski)
"... it's incredible that I have been a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Felix for 70 years! I am foremost grateful to God for my religious vocation and for the constant support and encouragement that I received from my parents, relatives, friends and Felician community. My life has been filled with blessings, challenges and ventures. May God be praised for all!"

Sr. Mary Anita Niemiec, CSSF
"...the greatest gift God has given me. Being blessed with a wonderful family, friends, students, and the Felician community, I was able to use my gifts and talents in the field of education. The good God blessed me every step o f the way and I thank Him for His loving care."

Sr. Mary Euphrasia Owczarzak, CSSF
"... a great blessing in my life as a Felician Franciscan sister. Although these years have been challenging, I felt that Jesus' merciful love and the guidance of the Holy Spirit have led me. May others in God's vineyard, also, experience His love, as I did."

Sr. Katherine Seidenwand, IHM (Sr. Mary Eugene)
"...filled with God's continued gifts of Love, through the joy I've experienced as an IHM in working with outstanding co-workers, wonderful students, supportive parents inspiring priests, loving family, faithful friends and generous benefactors. Indeed, God's 'Hundred Fold' has been fulfilled a 'Thousand Fold' in my life."

65 years

Sr. Mary Patricia Pyszynski, CSSF

Sr. Pyszynski

"... A journey of love and service to God Almighty and His Church. So I praise and thank you Lord for all You have given me, for all You have taken away and for all that You have left me. May Your wisdom continue to be with me. Gratias! Deo Gratias!"

Sr. Mary Edwardine Stoppa, CSSF (Germaine Stoppa)
"... a journey of praise and gratitude to God! I enjoyed my teaching career which enabled me to form minds and hearts of children to become true and faithful servants of the Church. 'Lord, I give you all the thanks of my heart!' (Psalm 9:1)."

60 years

Sr. Geraldine Arnold, CSJ (Sr. Mary Laurice, CSJ)

Sr. Arnold

"... truly a gift. Each day in prayer I thank God for the blessing of my vocation and the grace of perseverance. I have been blessed beyond words. I know I have received much more than anyone can imagine. I am retired now and enjoy my time volunteering and being a companion to my dear friend, Sr. Mary Ann Ankoviak, CSJ, in ministry."

Sr. Mary Frederick Bieszke, CSSF (Theresa Bieszke)
"... a gratifying experience to work for God and His people. Throughout the years as one becomes closer to God, one is able to reflect the goodness of God to the people one serves."

Sr. Eunice Beaudin, SSJ-TOSF

Sr. Beaudin

"...What gifts have been received and shared, woven through these 60 years? I believe deeply that God has gifted me in various ways, and that His Spirit has guided me. I am grateful for my loving parents, family and friends and for my community which gave me the opportunity to utilize the talents God has given me. It has been a rewarding life in every aspect."

Sr. Genevieve Marie Choiniere, CSJ (Mary Frances Choiniere)

Sr. Choiniere

"... an amazing grace. I am most grateful for my vocation, my family and my community. I thank God for my ministry of 32 years to children with special needs. They continue to teach me about Jesus. My love for people, my zest for life enables me to thank God daily for this amazing grace."

Sr. Betty Jenkins, OP (Sr. Mary Mathia, OP)
"... a constant learning experience. Besides teaching at several archdiocesan schools, I had the opportunity to work with young woman on staff at Camp Stapleton, run by the St. Vincent de Paul Society. I am grateful to the Adrian Dominican Sisters who have walked with me and encouraged my spiritual growth these years."

Sr. Mary Duane Rydel, CSSF
"...It is with great pleasure and joy that I celebrate the gift of reaching 60 years in consecrated life. May God be praised for all the years of life in serving Him."

Sr. Barbara Mary Saynay, OP (Christine Saynay)

Sr. Saynay

"... most rewarding. In developing leadership qualities in the business world prior to my entrance, I decided to serve the Church, using graces I received for the honor and glory of God. I spent 40 of these 60 years in the archdiocese and although there were 'ups' and 'downs,' I would not trade these experiences for any other. It was with joy that I assisted children and adults on their spiritual journey while accepting challenges, hopefully enabling me to attain my eternal life. Thanks be to God! A blessing to be a part of a special ministry!"

Sr. Catherine Senia, IHM (Sr. Ritamae, IHM)

Sr. Senia

Sr. Wisk

Sr. Tenbusch

"... joyful and challenging. Molding primary hearts for 24 years and being a missionary in Puerto Rico and Honduras gave me experience to work for peace and justice. Retirement has provided ample opportunity for spiritual nourishment which I relish. I love my 60 years! And I'd do it again."

Sr. Mary Eucharita Wisk, CSSF (Delores Agnes Ann Wisk)
"... a joy and a blessing. My vocation was an answer to my mother's prayers when Mom promised to offer her next child up to the Blessed Mother. As a Felician teacher, it was a privilege to prepare youngsters for first Communion. Soon, I became a nurse to bring comfort to patients and now as chaplain, to give them spiritual and emotional support. Please help me to praise the Lord for His goodness to me."

Sr. Theresa A. Tenbusch, IHM (Sr. Bonaventure, IHM)
"Religious life to me is about integrating your life into what you think the Gospel is calling you to do and be. Ministry becomes a part of you. Life, ministry and prayer become one."

Sr. Mary Martinez Rozek, CSSF (Virginia Felicia Rozek)
"... a tremendous gift from the Lord to me! My sincere and deep gratitude for this privilege is what urges me to give Him continuous love, honor and glory! ¡Me gusta mucho!"

50 years

Sr. Yvonne Bechard, CSJ (Sr. Pauline Frances, SNJM)

Sr. Bechard

Sr. Glaza

Sr. Graham

Sr. Guevara

Sr. Hughes

Bro. Howe

Sr. Martin

Sr. Meram

Sr. Russ

Sr. Wilson

Sr. Sweeney

Sr. Yost

Sr. Lewandowski

Fr. Roehrig

"... a privilege and a joy to serve my God and His Church in the field of education. I am eternally grateful to Him, my parents, family, friends and communities who have supported and encouraged me. May God be praised for all the goodness He has shown me."

Sr. Rosanne Marie Glaza, CSSF (Rosalie Ann Glaza)
"... a very fruitful spiritual experience for me. I am humbly grateful to the Lord for my vocation as a Felician Sister and for the many blessings given to me, especially that I'm able to be of service to His people."

Sr. Rose Graham, IHM (Nancy Louise Graham)
"... a broadening of vision as various ministerial experiences included several years in mission countries, both in Latin America and Africa. Home missions included Michigan, New York and Texas. Presently, I minister to community as sisters transition to or within the Motherhouse and their final transition to new life. I have met challenges and received graces."

Sr. Marie Rachael Guevara, OP (Rachel Margaret Guevara)
"... a blessing indeed for me and a privilege to minister in the many places the Lord has taken me. With gratitude I continue to be challenged and committed to praising, blessing and preaching the Word of the Lord among the people of God as a Dominican Sister from Grand Rapids."

Sr. Nancy Marie Jamroz, CSSF
"... a time of grace and gratitude! All the blessings of family, community, ministry and prayer life over these 50-plus years are a real manifestation of our loving and generous God. Being called to this Felician Franciscan congregation and the ministry of education has been a true journey of faith, hope and love. I am deeply grateful to God and all who have journeyed with me!"

Sr. Margaret Hughes, IHM
"... a gift from God. My heart is filled with gratitude for the love, support and challenges from my family, my IHM community and all persons I encountered on my 50-year journey: in teaching, in missionary work in Honduras and in my present ministry of advocacy for domestic violence survivors in Detroit."

Bro. Joseph Howe, OFM Cap (Joseph Thomas Howe)
"Born and raised in Detroit, four of 10 siblings, graduated from St. Cecilia 1947, entered Capuchin Order 1958 in Detroit. Ministry mainly in formation work in Wisconsin and Indiana. Six years in Rome was one of my highlights of my career. I am now on staff at Capuchin Retreat in Washington."

Sr. June Martin, OP
"... a delight. As a Dominican Sister of Grand Rapids I've been privileged in various ministries to serve and learn from the people of God - for 30-plus of those years in the Archdiocese of Detroit."

Sr. Angela Therese Meram, IHM
"... filled with an abundance of gratitude. Religious life as an IHM is not just a life-long commitment, but a dedication in living the Gospel as well as modeling it, with others and for others. It's a journey which continues as we grow and our growing is never finished.

Sr. Marylyn Russ, IHM (Marylyn Helene Russ)
"... a blessing and a gift beyond any expectation I might have had when I entered. God has walked every step with me always being there no matter what the joy or sorrow. I have a very grateful heart."

Fr. Bernard J. Owens, SJ (Fr. Bernie Owens)
"... is a wonderful opportunity to say a deep, deep 'thank you' to God for the call and the many ways God has sustained me and even rescued me in times of being in the desert and being tempted. To Him be the glory!!!"

Sr. Nina Rodriguez, CSJ (Juanita Rodriguez)
"... a journey of learning how wide, how long, how high and how deep God's love is. Truly I have been filled with the fullness of life and power that comes only from God."

Sr. Helen Wilson, OP
"... filled with grace-filled challenges with continued dedication to Almighty God and the Dominican Sisters of Adrian."

Sr. Mary Edward Zalewski, CSSF (Mary Ann Zalewski)
"... A grace-filled journey. I praise and glorify our Lord for my religious vocation and the opportunity to convey God's love, peace and joy while serving in the health care ministry. I am grateful to God, my Felician Franciscan community and my family for their support and encouragement."

Sr. Margaret Sweeney, IHM (Kathleen Marie)
"... a gift. Sent to teach I was taught much about life, friendship, service and love. I am deeply grateful for the 41 years I served as teacher and principal at St. Cecilia School while being nurtured by a strong and beautiful faith community. Presently I serve on the leadership team for our IHM congregation."

25 years

Sr. Sandra A. Yost, CSJ
"... a tremendous reminder of God's faithfulness over many years. Thanks to all those who are similarly committed to following God's call, whatever your walk in life. Knowing that you seek to live out God's desire for you gives me great hope and courage for our shared journey."

Sr. Mary Francis Lewandowski, CSSF (Mary Pat Lewandowski)
"I have been blessed in the first 25 years of my religious life to live, pray, and grow in community with some very holy women. They have challenged me to be faithful and to trust in all that God asks of me. I am grateful for their guidance and pray that God will bless all of us with strength and perseverance for whatever the future holds."

Fr. Matthew Roehrig, SSP
"... has been a joy-filled journey. I have been blessed with wonderful priests and brothers in my religious family. I have enjoyed my many ministries and venues of service to the Pauline family. I thank God for his call and presence in my life."