Religious jubilarians celebrate years of service to God and neighbor

DETROIT — In his remarks at the luncheon for this year’s religious jubilarians — vowed religious women and men marking milestone anniversaries — June 9, Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron said it was almost unavoidable that he would reprise his early remarks at Mass.

“But it is always appropriate to give thanks for the contributions” of those in religious life, he said, adding that their contributions to the life of the Church have been “made at some sacrifice.”

This year’s Celebration of Consecrated Life jubilee Mass honored 109 religious sisters and brothers, and religious order priests serving in the Archdiocese of Detroit, who were 25, 50, 60, 65, 70, 75 or 80 years of consecrated life and above, including one observing 88 years in the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

At 105 years of age, Sr. Rose Xavier Dunn, IHM, had actually hoped to attend the event, but was not up to making the trip from Monroe to Sacred Heart Major Seminary when the day arrived, said Msgr. Timothy Hogan, director of the archdiocesan Office of Clergy and Consecrated Life.

As always, the women religious on the list far outnumbered the men — this year by 99-10.

Sr. Dunn was not the only older jubilarian unable to attend the event due (primarily) to infirmity or other issues associated with advanced age.

None of the 75-year jubilarians and above was able to make it, and only three of this year’s 23 70-year jubilarians were in attendance.

Twenty other jubilarians from among the remaining classes were there, however, joined by nearly 70 friends and fellow religious, as well as archdiocesan staff.