DIOCESAN NEWS
010/02/09
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Mass, reception honor religious jubilarians
By Fabvienen Taylor
      JACKSON — Shirley Roesch, a parishioner of St. Paul in Vicksburg, attended the Mass of Thanksgiving in Celebration of the Consecrated Life on Sunday in the the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle.
      “It’s a beautiful life and I am here to celebrate it,” said Roesch, speaking about religious life. “I think the religious need more recognition for all the work they do.”
Roesch was among about 60 people who attended the annual celebration for sisters, brothers and religlious order priests who are marking siginificant anniversaries — 25 years or more — to the religious life in 2009.
      Four jubilarians attended this year’s Mass followed by a reception in the Cathedral Center.
      Six School Sisters of Notre Dame at St. Mary of the Pines in Chatawa and Franciscan Father Gregory Plata, pastor of Greenwood St. Francis of Assisi and Immaculate Heart of Mary parishes, were unable to attend.
      Sister Margaret Grueter, celebrating 60 years as a Dominican Sister of Springfield, Ill., said she had been celebrating her anniversary all year.
      In January, a friend of her’s, retired Bishop Victor Balke of Crookston, Minn., joined in a celebration here in Jackson for her anniversary.
      Sister Grueter has celebrated with relatives and friends in several states and will end her jubilee year with a retreat, she said.
      For the past 15 years she has worked in pastoral ministry at St. Catherine’s Village in Madison.
      “It’s been wonderful. I can’t praise and thank God enough for all the blessings over these 60 years,” she said.
      Sister Grueter plans to work at St. Catherine 15 more years and then celebrate her 75th anniversary.
      Also planning to stay put is Sister Catherine Leamy who is celebrating her 50th anniversary as a Sister of Holy Names of Jesus and Mary.
      Since 1995 she has served at Rosedale Sacred Heart Parish where she is lay ecclesial minister (LEM) and Catholic chaplain at the state penitentiary in Parchman.
      “The inmates will sometimes ask, ‘You aren’t getting any ideas (about leaving) are you?’ ”
      Sister Leamy assures them she is not. In fact, she prays for energy to do even more.
      “I am very happy doing what I am and God-willing I will continue,” she said.
      As a member of the Order of Discalced Carmelite Monastery in Jackson, Sister Mary Joan Kuzmic described celebrating her 50th anniversary as “bliss.”
      She lives a life of prayer, fasting and “doing good works for those we can help,” she said.
      “My apostolate is prayer. In addition to the intentions and requests from families and individuals that come to our house of prayer, I pray for the priests who lead God’s people.       And I pray for the religious sisters in active ministry, especially sisters serving the church throughout the world,” she said.
      In her 40 years as a Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity, Sister Mary Beth Kornely has worked in a variety of ministries.
      This is her sixth year as parish secretary at Greenwood St. Francis of Assisi Parish.
      Prior to that she was director of financial aid at Silver Lake College, Manitowoc, Wis., for 20 years.
      Before that, she taught elementary school for 12 years. “I’ve enjoyed it all,” she said.
      “My main thing is to just pray the Lord opens my eyes, my mind, my ears and my heart so I can see what he wants me to do.
      “He knows best what the needs are and how I can best be used with the people I work with. I hope I am a good servant,” Sister Kornely said.
      Roesch plans on attending next year’s Mass and celebration for women and men serving as sisters, brothers and priests in religious orders.
      She wishes more people would attend it. “I think some people don’t realize the celebration is open to everyone and is not just for the religlious who are celebrating anniversaries.
      “I’m hoping this celebration will grow every year, as well as religious vocations,” said Roeche, who is a Sisters of Mercy Associate.
      Associates make a commitment to the Sisters of Mercy through a formal covenant and participate in service to the poor, sick and uneducated.

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