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Sister Mary Cabrini Bonnett, a 96-year-old member of the Congregation of Bon Secours, is celebrating 75 years of service. (Courtesy photo)

Religious sisters, brothers and priests celebrate nearly 2,700 years of ministry


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Special to the Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Vocations

More than 40 women and men religious serving in the Archdiocese of Baltimore are celebrating milestone jubilees in 2023. Together, they have contributed nearly 2,700 years of ministry to the Catholic Church. They will be recognized during a March 11 celebration at St. Agnes in Catonsville.

Daughter of Charity Sister Annina Scharper is the longest-serving honoree this year. In reflecting on her 80 years as a Daughter of Charity, Sister Annina credited the sisters who taught her at Seton High School in Baltimore for sparking her interest in religious life.

“I loved the Daughters of Charity,” she recalled, “and the care they had for each other and the attention they gave to each student and the good curriculum.”

But it was her homeroom teacher during her senior year who first talked to her about a vocation.

Daughter of Charity Sister Annina Scharper is the longest-serving honoree this year. In reflecting on her 80 years as a Daughter of Charity, Sister Annina credited the sisters who taught her at Seton High School in Baltimore for sparking her interest in religious life. (Courtesy photo)

“I knew that God was calling me to be a Daughter of Charity,” the 99-year-old religious sister explained, “and I was convinced I would be happy only if I answered that call.”

Within months of her high school graduation in 1942, she entered the order and began teaching. Just a few years later, she was offered an opportunity to study nursing, and for many years she provided medical care to patients in this country as well as Paris and Taiwan.

“I loved St. Mary’s Hospital (in Taiwan) and the staff there,” Sister Annina said. “It was an unforgettable experience to work in an entirely different culture and to learn to appreciate and participate in their life and culture.”

Even after her retirement in 2004, she continued serving in various capacities at Villa St. Michael for several years.

Sister Mary Cabrini Bonnett, a 96-year-old member of the Congregation of Bon Secours, is celebrating 75 years of service.

As a young adult, Sister Cabrini worked at the Exxon refinery in Baltimore, but she had a strong desire to dedicate her life to helping others. In 1948, she heard about the work of the Congregation of the Sisters of Bon Secours, and within six weeks, she followed through on that desire and entered the order.

“I really believe that I have been put here to serve the Lord,” Sister Cabrini said.

She started her nursing ministry at Bon Secours Hospital in Baltimore working in labor and delivery, but her real joy was working in the emergency room.

“I liked the ER,” she recalled. “It was being able to provide immediate care and service to the patients.”

She also worked at University Hospital, The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, and Mount Sinai in New York, but her favorite mission was serving as superior and administrator of Bon Secours Angelus Convalescent Home in Wildwood, N.J.

In recognition of her hard work at that facility, she was named honorary chief of both the fire and police, and also was elected “Woman of the Year.”

After working for more than 20 years as a receptionist at the Bon Secours Health System Office, she retired and is currently living in Marian Hall in Marriottsville.

“It all comes back to my goal in life,” she said, “that was to serve other people because that’s what the Lord wants me to do.”

The following are celebrating jubilees:

80 Years

Sister Annina Scharper, D.C.

75 Years

Sister Mary Cabrini Bonnett, C.B.S.

Sister Mary Carrol Eby, D.C.

Sister Dinorah Soto, O.S.P.

Sister Dorothy Yancey, O.S.P.

70 Years

Sister Leonora Juliani, O.S.F.

Sister Ann McFadden, O.S.F.

Sister Clare Marie Angermaier, D.C.

Sister Rosemary Costigan, D.C.

Sister Ann Adele Kelly, D.C.

Sister Theresa Mary Liz, S.S.N.D.

Sister Patricia Nee, D.C.

Sister Eleanor Marie Shea, D.C.

Sister Mary Laurentilla Back, S.S.N.D.

Sister Kathleen M. Kelly, S.S.N.D.

Sister Gertrude Marie Kramer, S.S.N.D.

Sister Rita O’Rourke, S.S.N.D.

Father James O’Blaney, C.Ss.R.

Sister Marita Rodríguez Segarra, MHSH

Sister Mary Ita Hayes, MHSH

65 Years

Sister Jean Aulenback, C.B.S.

60 Years

Sister Fran Gorsuch, C.B.S.

Sister Teresa Korycka, S.S.M.I.

Sister Marianna Danko, S.S.M.I.

Sister Jeanne Mary Piche, L.S.P.

Sister Kathleen D. Cornell, S.S.N.D.

Sister Mary Hannah Fitzgerald, S.S.N.D.

Sister Jeanne Hildenbrand, S.S.N.D.

Sister Joanne Maura Munoz, S.S.N.D.

Sister Sharon Marie Slear, S.S.N.D.

Brother Robert Arrowsmith, C.F.X.

Brother Paul Murray, C.F.X.

50 Years

Sister Anna Mae Crane, C.B.S.

Sister Eileen Quinn, O.S.F.

Sister Cecilia Ann West, D.C.

Father John J. Conley, S.J.

Father Lloyd D. George, S.J.

Father Eric Hoog, C.Ss.R.

40 Years

Father Thomas H. Dymowski, O.SS.T.

Father Vang Cong Tran, C.Ss.R.

Sister Mary Judith Waldt, MHSH                   

25 Years

Father Harry Arnone, C.M.

Father Andres Ayala, I.V.E.

Father Michael Houston, C.Ss.R.

Sister Marcia Hall, O.S.P.

Sr. Amarilis Flores Arrioja, MHSH 

Editor’s Note: This list was updated Feb. 28.

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