Lives dedicated to the Lord

MIAMI | More than 100 religious gathered at St. Mary Cathedral Feb. 22 for the annual Mass marking the World Day of Consecrated Life. The Mass, celebrated by Archbishop Thomas Wenski, also honored 11* religious who are marking 60, 50 and 25 years of religious profession. 

�We wish to remember the past with gratitude � for what God has done for you since you embraced your call and for what God has done through you; together with you, we celebrate the present with enthusiasm and embrace the future with confidence � for God continues to bless you in religious life and through you he blesses all of us,� said the archbishop during his homily.

Those being recognized and awarded a certificate by the archbishop included Sister Adela de la Cruz of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul and Sister Evelyn Pich� of the Adrian Dominicans, both of whom were celebrating their diamond jubilee.

�I felt the calling to religious life at a very young (age) and I�ve lived a very happy life with my community,� said Sister de la Cruz. �As a young child my family was very religious and I had other family members and friends that were Sisters so they were a great influence on me. Ultimately it was my love and dedication to the Lord. I�ve dedicated my life to him and will honor him always.�

The only male in the group was Father Larry Doersching, a Marianist priest originally from Milwaukee who has served as president of Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory in Hollywood since 2008.

He, along with Sister Kathryn Donze and Sister Mary Rita Logue, both of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and Sister Myra Jackson of the Adrian Dominicans, were recognized for their golden jubilee.

�The religious provide us all a model for Christian living,� said Father David Zirilli, archdiocesan director of vocations. �It is for them a life totally given to God and reminds all of us to put God first in everything. They by their very life give visual testimony to that important truth.�

Commemorating their silver jubilee were four educators and one local superior of her community.

Two of these honorees are from the Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary: Sister Carmen Teresa Fernandez, currently serving as theology teacher and campus minister at her alma mater, Our Lady of Lourdes Academy, and Sister Ana Iris Gra�a, who serves as technology coordinator at St. Rose of Lima Parish and School.

Sister Maria Genoveva Gallegos of the Servants of Jesus of Charity has served as local superior of her community in Hialeah since 2013.

Sister Silvia Martinez of the Misioneras Coraz�n de Mar�a currently teaches at St. John the Apostle School in Hialeah; and Sister Rosalie Nagy of the Carmelites of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles is the principal at Archbishop Coleman F. Carroll High School in Miami.

The special Mass highlighted the virtues of living a consecrated life and of how by the merit of their example, these religious men and woman may inspire young people to hear the Lord�s calling and pursue religious lives.

�Ask our Lord every single day, here I am lord, what do you want of me?� said Sister Nagy in reference to young people who may be interested in a religious vocation.  �Be very open to his silent calling in our hearts.�

The archbishop ended his homily with a prayer invoking the Virgin Mary.

�May her prayers � and her example � continue to encourage you on your journey,� he said. �May you always echo her words in your lives. Before God, may you say with her �Be it done unto me according to your word;� before men, may you instruct them as she instructed the servants at Cana: �Do whatever he tells you.�� 

*Addition, March 3, 2014: One golden jubilarian was left out of the list of those celebrating this year due to deadlines. Here is her bio: Sister Mary Frances Fleischaker was born in Chicago, Ill., Sept. 7, 1945. She was received into the Adrian Dominican congregation in August 1964, made first profession in August 1965 and final profession in November 1972. She earned a bachelor�s degree in piano performance from Siena Heights University, a master�s degree in religious studies from Loyola University, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Catholic Theological Union. Her ministerial experience includes teaching, retreat work, and directing worship and liturgical music programs in a variety of pastoral settings, including Campus Ministry at Barry University. Several of her original hymn texts have also been published. Currently, she serves as adjunct professor of theology at Barry University and teaches in the lay ministry program of the Archdiocese of Miami.