Sister Celestine Ruder — 75 years

BORN: Antonino, Kan.
ENTERED CONGREGATION: Aug. 14, 1935

Seventy-five years ago our Lord came and told me to follow him. So I came to the Motherhouse in Concordia and became a Sister of St. Joseph.

I entered in the days of the Dust Bowl, and it was often dark with red dust blowing in from Oklahoma.

My early ministries were in the kitchen, cooking first at our hospital in Sabetha, Kan., and then at Marymount College. I served in many, many school missions, including four years at the academy in Silver City, N.M., and a total of nine years in Junction City, Kan. If I named all the schools where I served, this would be much too long!

I got to spend three years caring for my elderly parents, and I very grateful for that. I sent both of them to heaven.

After that, I changed ministries and served at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church and with the elderly at Good Samaritan Center, both in Hays.

In August 2005, I returned to the Motherhouse in Concordia. I thank the Lord for all these years; our Blessed Mother and St. Joseph continue to take care of me.