Jubilee Day! Join us as we honor 11 special sisters

Jubilee Day began today with Bishop Edward J. Weisenburger and the parable of the mustard seed, and ended with one of the best known songs from the musical “Wicked.”

In between, 11 Sisters of St. Joseph were honored for their 680 collective years of love and service.

After you’ve enjoyed this slideshow, CLICK HERE for more photos from the afternoon program.

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The annual celebration recognizes sisters who are marking noteworthy anniversaries of the date they were received as novices into the Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia. Since the special day comes at the end of the congregation’s annual June Assembly, almost all of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia are able to be present.

Nine of the congregation’s jubilarians were able to attend Sunday’s celebration, which began with a special Mass celebrated by Bishop Weisenburger of the Salina Diocese.

He used the Gospel reading from Mark 4:26-32 to highlight the work done by the Sisters of St. Joseph, noting that the tiny mustard seed will grow into a hardy plant when it’s tended with love and patience.

Father James Hoover and Father Bill Surmeier assisted at the Mass.

The jubilarians, along with family, friends and other guests, then enjoyed a special dinner before the celebration continued with an afternoon program that used photos, biography and anecdotes to spotlight each sister.

The program’s theme was “For Good,” a song from the musical “Wicked.” For each jubilarian, another sister had been asked to write a short presentation based on the lyrics, “Because I knew you, I have been changed … For good.”

The jubilarians also each received a gift from the congregation along with a decorated bag of cards and other small mementoes.

The 2015 jubilarians honored Sunday were:

• Sister Celestine Ruder, from of Antonino, Kan., received into the Sisters of St. Joseph on Aug. 15, 1935, and celebrating her 80^th She lives at the Nazareth Motherhouse in Concordia, but was not able to attend today’s festivities.
• Sister Liberata Pellerin, originally from Lake Linden, Mich., received on March 19, 1940, and celebrating her 75^th She lives at the Nazareth Motherhouse in Concordia.
• Sister Rose Beatrice Dreiling, from Collyer, Kan., received on Feb. 10, 1945, and celebrating her 70th jubilee. She lives at the Nazareth Motherhouse in Concordia.
• Sister Kathleen Flood, from El Paso, Texas, and Sister Teresa Rigel, from Blue Rapids, Kan., both received on March 19, 1945, and both celebrating their 70th jubilee. Sister Kathleen lives at Mount Joseph Senior Village, Concordia, while Sister Teresa lives at the Motherhouse.
• Sister Patricia Neihouse and Sister Agnes Irene Huser, both originally from Salina, Kan., and Sister Bernadine Pachta of Belleville, Kan., all received on March 18, 1955, and celebrating their 60th jubilee. Sister Patricia continues to live and serve in Teresina, Piauí, Brazil, while Sister Agnes Irene lives in Independence, Mo., and Sister Bernadine lives at the Motherhouse.
• Sister Ramona Medina, from La Jara, Colo., received into the Benedictine Sisters of Atchison, Kan., on June 11, 1955, and then received into the Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia on Nov. 15, 1977, and celebrating her 60th jubilee. She lives at the Motherhouse.
• Sister Barbara Ellen Apaceller, from Aurora, Ill., received into the Sisters of St. Joseph on Aug. 15, 1965, and celebrating her 50th or “golden” jubilee. Today she lives and serves in Salina.
• Sister Clarene  Kennedy, from McCook, Neb., celebrating her “silver,” or 25^th, jubilee. She was received on Sept. 4, 1990, and today lives and serves in Concordia.