On Saturday, August 12, four Sisters celebrated their 60th Jubilee in Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel with Mass and the renewal of their promises. From left to right are Sisters Sue Fortier, Prioress Beverly Raway, Jeanne Ann Weber, Luella Wegscheid, and Renata Liegey.
In the entrance procession, each Sister carried up a lamp symbolizing their monastic profession.
Bishop Daniel Felton prayed the Opening Prayer, and then Sister Renata Liegey read from the Song of Songs, Chapter 2, verses 8-14.
The voice of my beloved! Look, he comes, leaping upon the mountains, bounding over the hills.
My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look, there he stands behind our wall, gazing in at the windows, looking through the lattice.
My beloved speaks and says to me: “Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away, for now the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. The fig tree puts forth its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance.
Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away. O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the covert of the cliff, let me see your face; let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.”
Sister Luella Wegscheid read from Paul’s Letter to the Colossians, chapter 3, a good description of Benedictine monastic life.
Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Bishop Daniel proclaimed the story of the Visitation from the Gospel of Luke, which includes Mary’s response:
My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowly state of his servant. Surely from now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name; indeed, his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.
After the Homily, the Jubilarians stood before the altar, hands raised in the ancient posture of prayer, and three times sang the Suscipe:
Receive me, O Lord, according to your word and I shall live, and do not fail me in my hope.
The whole Community responded:
We have received, O Lord, your mercy, in the midst of your Temple.
The Sisters then read their promises of stability, fidelity to the monastic way of life, and obedience. Promises of poverty and chastity are part of the Benedictine way, but stability, fidelity, and obedience are specifically promised because together they build up a living Community, in service to each other and to all God’s people.
After each signed her renewal, the Prioress countersigned it, then Sisters Jeanne Ann Weber and Sue Fortier offered Intercessions, remembering departed Sisters and family who are present in spirit.
At the end of Mass, Sister Beverly Raway led the recessional, followed by Bishop Daniel Felton and the Jubilarians and accompanied by Sister Dorene King playing the exuberant Widor’s Toccata.
