Jubilarians Are Golden

At Saint Benedict’s Monastery in St. Joseph, Minn., we recently celebrated the jubilees of seven sisters. One sister actually reached 80 years of vowed living. How sweet is that? She looks lovely in a picture that was recently taken of her: Sister Jonathan Herda.

And besides that, another sister has reached 75 years of vowed living: Sister Dolores Super.

To reach the 25th anniversary of a marriage or the anniversary of 25 years as a vowed monastic have similarities, perhaps, but maybe more differences.

What is a jubilee? According to Webster online, the number one definition is, “the celebration of any of certain anniversaries, as the 25th silver jubilee, 50th golden jubilee, or 60th or 75th diamond jubilee.” A thesaurus is similar in definition but shorter: “a special anniversary.”

Because we are a large monastery, we commonly celebrate 25 years (silver) of vowed life, as well as 50 (golden) years of vowed life. However, this year the older rather than the younger sisters are noting more years in the monastery. So, along with the 75th and 80th anniversaries, there are five sisters celebrating 60 years jubilees: Sisters Maribeth Theis, Michaela Hedican, Ruth Feeney, Mariterese Woida, and Ann Marie Biermaier.

Jubilarians are golden.

By Mary Jane Berger, OSB

Photo: Sister Jonathan Herda, celebrating her 80th Jubilee. Photo taken by Sister Marina Schlangen.