Jubilarians celebrate milestones in Archdiocese of Baltimore

CATONSVILLE – When Mission Helper of the Sacred Heart Sister Alice Okie turned 100 March 14, she enjoyed cake and ice cream surrounded by family, friends and fellow religious sisters at her residence with the Little Sisters of the Poor in Catonsville. But what truly made her smile was hearing “Sto Lat,” the traditional Polish birthday song – a nod to her heritage as the daughter of Polish immigrants.

Mission Helper of the Sacred Heart Sister Alice Okie, who turned 100 March 14, is celebrating her 80th jubilee as a religious sister. (Courtesy Mission Helpers of the Sacred Heart)

This year holds even greater significance for Sister Alice as she also marks her 80th jubilee as a Mission Helper of the Sacred Heart. Growing up in Detroit, she felt drawn to missionary life and applied to five different religious communities. Though she knew little about the Baltimore-based Mission Helpers at the time, she immediately recognized it as the right fit when she received her acceptance letter in 1945.

Over the decades, she served in various ministries, working with children, the sick, and the elderly in schools, hospitals, nursing homes and through outreach to the homebound – a mission she continued well into her 80s.

Sister Alice was among 40 women religious honored March 15 for their milestone jubilees during a special Mass and luncheon at St. Agnes in Catonsville. Collectively, the jubilarians have devoted 2,455 years of ministry to the Catholic Church.

A Legacy of Service

Some 40 religious sisters from 10 communities were among over 100 women who attended the March 15, 2025, World Day of Consecrated Life and jubilee Mass and luncheon hosted at St. Agnes Church in Catonsville. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

During his homily, Archbishop William E. Lori expressed gratitude for the sisters’ dedication.

“As I look at the range of ministries in the archdiocese that you provide, I can only marvel at your service of the church and the wider community,” he said. “What if we added up not only the years of ministry of our jubilarians but indeed tried to monetize the value of their services? It would be enough to retire the national debt! But that’s not the true measure.”

He emphasized that their greatest contribution lies in their witness to a higher calling.

“The real beauty and worth of your ministry is that by your way of life, you are saying to the rest of us, ‘Aim higher, friend, aim higher! Make it the goal, the project of your life, to love as the heavenly Father loves.’”

Sister Alice’s great-nephew, Rex Winterbottom, traveled from Detroit to celebrate with his great aunt, recalling her deep connection to her Polish roots.

“My sister and I joined her on a visit to Poland, and we met all these family members,” he said. “It was a wonderful thing to experience.”

Mission Helper of the Sacred Heart Sister Susanne Bunn reminisced about Sister Alice’s arrival at the Mission Helpers’ former motherhouse in Towson in the early 2000s.

Karen Bartosz, a consecrated virgin in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, pins a corsage on Congregation of Bon Secours Sister Nancy Glynn in recognition of her 65 years of religious life at the March 15, 2025, World Day of Consecrated Life and jubilee Mass and luncheon hosted at St. Agnes Church in Catonsville. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

“The day she entered, she said, ‘I want to go to confession,’” Sister Susanne recalled. “We had to scramble to find a priest.”

“It’s a Polish tradition,” she explained. “When you begin something new, you go to confession.”

Sister Alice’s lifelong ministry focused largely on children. She began working with young children in New Jersey before transitioning to teaching hearing-impaired children in Michigan, both in school and at summer camp. Her ministry later expanded to hospitals and nursing homes, and eventually, she dedicated herself to visiting the homebound.

“This woman, always little and small, is always so full of energy,” Mission Helper of the Sacred Heart Sister Onellys Villegas said. “She always would ask, ‘How was your family?’ – and she would remember. She always had stories to tell.”

Sister Alice shares the distinction of being this year’s longest-serving jubilarian with Daughter of Charity Sister Mary John Lindner, who is also celebrating 80 years of religious life. Neither was able to attend the March 15 celebration.

Daughter of Charity Sister Mary John Lindner is celebrating 80 years of religious life. (Courtesy Daughters of Charity)

Sister Mary John, baptized Frances Louise, was born Dec. 24, 1923, in Cumberland. Before entering the Daughters of Charity in 1945 in St. Louis, she worked in the laboratory at Sacred Heart Hospital in Cumberland. Four of her sisters also entered the Daughters of Charity in Emmitsburg.

Over the years, Sister Mary John served in education, provincial leadership, parish ministry and worked with retired sisters. One of her favorite pastimes is writing poetry and prayers, which she now enjoys rereading in her later years. She often reflects on a cherished expression: “We truly have the hundredfold.”

Archbishop William E. Lori’s delegate to religious invited religious communities to submit the names of their jubilarians. Jubilarians from communities that responded are listed below:

80 years

Sister Mary John Lindner, D.C.

Sister Alice Okie, M.H.S.H.

Sister Madeline Gallagher, M.H.S.H.

Sister Jane Geiger, M.H.S.H.

Sister Mary Elizabeth Orr, S.S.N.D.

Sister Virginia Ann Brooks, D.C.

Sister Elaine Jordan, D.C.

Sister Marie Poole, D.C.

Sister Constance Coulter, S.S.N.D.

Sister Paulette Doyas, S.S.N.D.