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Archbishop Cordileone speaks with Sister Daughter of Mary Mother of Mercy Sister Carol I. Ngoku at the reception following the World Day of Consecrated Life Mass Feb. 2 at St. Matthew Church in San Mateo. Sister Ngoku was born in Nigeria and is currently studying law with an interest in human rights and women in conflict. Also pictured is Sister Maria Mathew, who entered the Congregation of the Holy Family 25 years ago and is a registered nurse at the Sisters of the Presentation motherhouse. (Photo by Debra Greenblat/Catholic San Francisco)
Feb. 7, 2020
Christina Gray
Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone framed consecrated life as a love story in his homily at a Feb. 2 Mass marking milestone anniversaries of men and women religious in the Archdiocese of San Francisco.
“It’s love in the true and deepest sense; love of God and of neighbor, taking the two great commandments with the utmost seriousness,” the archbishop said as celebrant of the World Day of Consecrated Life Mass at St. Matthew Church in San Mateo.
The event specially honored religious who have achieved their 25-, 40-, 50-, 60-, 70- and 80-year jubilees since entering consecrated life.
Holding lit candles, the parish community filled the pews of St. Matthew, where the annual Mass was held for the first time. Mgsr. John Talesfore, pastor, concelebrated the Mass.
Pope John Paul II instituted the World Day of Consecrated Life in 1997. It is held in conjunction with the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, also known as Candlemas Day. The candles symbolize the light of Christ in the world, what consecrated men and women are called to spread through their “unique witness of selfless service,” according to the U.S. bishops’ website.
Ten of 2020’s 31 archdiocesan jubilarians were present at the Mass and publicly renewed their vows before friends and family who gathered at a reception afterward.
The archbishop lauded the “heroic sacrifices” of men and women religious who left “everything dear to them” to come to San Francisco to start the city’s first Catholic schools, colleges, hospitals and orphanages.
This kind of “extravagant love” is a hallmark of those who embrace consecrated life, he said. “Love follows its own logic, pays no heed to what is practical, easy, or conducive to one’s own comfort and convenience.”
“Their act of self-oblation of their whole life bears the fruit of eternal salvation for their brothers and sisters for whom, moved by the Spirit, they lay down their lives in union with Christ,” he said, and thanked them.
“What a completely different, and much sadder, place would our archdiocese be without you,” he said.
Mercy Sister Toni Lynn Gallagher, celebrating her 60th jubilee year, offered a reflection on how she saw the love described by the archbishop modeled by the Mercy Sisters, who taught her as a child at Holy Name School and later at Mercy High School in San Francisco.
By the fourth grade she knew she wanted to be one of them.
“The joy of living the Gospel and reaching out very creatively to those in need claimed me at an early age,” she said.
Sister Gallagher, currently the bereavement coordinator for the archdiocese’s grief and consolation ministry, said she and other consecrated women are “always on the lookout” for opportunities to meet the challenges of the day.
Those challenges have changed decade by decade, she said, with sisters today working in ministries in the areas of grief and consolation, divorce and separation, incarceration, immigration, human trafficking, homelessness, elder care, HIV response and climate change.
“Education and personal presence has been our gift to the world,” she said.
“The reflection that comes with jubilee is that with all the opportunities that have come our way, we never had to raise our hand,” said Sister Gallagher. “We were just there, as God’s hands and God’s heart.”
Daughter of Charity Sister Kathleen Powers, celebrating 50 years of religious life, was joined by her 94-year old mother Margaret Powers, who resides at St. Anne’s Home in San Francisco, a ministry of the Little Sisters of the Poor.
“It’s been such an enriching life to me and very fulfilling,” said Sister Powers, who works with fourth graders at DeMarillac Academy in the San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood.
Sister Maria Mathew entered the Congregation of the Holy Family 25 years ago, telling Catholic San Francisco, “Jesus called me.” She is a registered nurse at the Sisters of the Presentation motherhouse.
Daughter of Mary Mother of Mercy Sister Carol I. Ngoku was born in Nigeria and is currently studying law with an interest in human rights and women in conflict.
Mercy Sister Paulina Simms took her vows 70 years ago and worked as a teacher for 29 years. She said she expected to leave after a two-week stay with the order but changed her mind.
“I felt like this is where I belonged,” she said.
2020 Jubiliarians25 years
Father Michael Agliardo, SJ
Sister Mary Aloysita, MC
Sister Maria Mathew, CHF
Father Joaquin Jose Sumpaico, SJ
Sister Norberta Villasenor, OSF
Sister Carol I. Ngoku, DMMM
40 years
Father Felix Just, SJ
50 years
Father Dan Kendall, SJ
Sister Kathleen Powers, DC
Sister Theresa Robertson, LSP
Father Francis Stiegeler, SJ
60 years
Sister Virginia Dennehey, RSCJ
Sister Rosann Fraher, RSM
Sister Mary Timothy Gallagher, RSM
Sister Toni Lynn Gallagher, RSM
Sister Bernadette Hart, RSM
Sister Pat McCarron, SNDdeN
Sister Margarita Ramirez Palacios, OJS
Sister Marianne Rasmussen, OSF
Sister Marilyn Smith, SNDdeN
Sister Gervaise Valpey, OP
70 years
Sister Ann Bernadette Barnes, SNDdeN
Sister Ada Burns, RSCJ
Sister Janet Harris, PBVM
Sister Barbara Moran, RSM
Sister Pauline Simms, RSM
Sister Mary Stewart, RSCJ
Sister Margaret Webster, PBVM
80 years
Sister Helen Dugan, SNDdeN
Father Armand Oliveri, SDB