Five sisters celebrate over 300 years of service to the Church

Five sisters of the Incarnate Word of the Blessed Sacrament were honored for their years of consecrated life at a Mass of Thanksgiving and Jubilee of Profession of Vows on April 18 at St. Patrick Church.

Bishop Michael Mulvey was the main celebrant and Bishop Daniel Flores from the Diocese of Brownsville was the homilist. Many priests throughout the diocese concelebrated the Mass, including Msgr. Roger Smith, pastor at St. Patrick.

The five sisters who were honored were: Sisters Mary Caroline Fritter, IWBS (celebrating 70 years), Agnes Marie Tengler, IWBS (celebrating 70 years), Marian Bradley, IWBS (celebrating 60) years, Mary Patrice Floyd, IWBS (celebrating 50 years) and Emma Marie Stillman, IWBS (celebrating 50 years).

"For many reasons this is a formidable occasion," said Bishop Flores in the opening of his homily. "I'm very honored to be asked to do the homily and I'm very aware of the fact that I'm looking at 300 years of religious life."

Having read the biographies of the sisters celebrating their jubilees, Bishop Flores spoke of the grace to be able to reflect on those accomplishments, but that what God may consider important moments may not be what they would have picked themselves.

"God writes history in a way that we cannot," he said, "by initiating in us a gift of the spirit, and a friendship with his son. The Word Incarnate, and that friendship is what the sisters of the Incarnate Word of the Blessed Sacrament pledge to live every day in a public way, giving witness to his reality, vitality and creativity and then it is extended in a friendship that is shared over time," Bishop Flores said, "…certainly in the schools, archives, hospitals and programs. Let us be consoled by the things we do not know and give thanks to the countless lives you have touched."

Bishop Mulvey thanked the sisters for their "pass it on" gift and internal communion and service to the Body of Christ. Building community life where Jesus is real and lives among them.