May 15, 2006

Jubilarians to be honored at Cathedral

On Saturday, May 20, more than 100 men and women religious will celebrate their silver, golden and diamond jubilees with Bishop Edward U. Kmiec, bishop of Buffalo, at a 10 a.m. Mass at St. Joseph Cathedral, 50 Franklin St., Buffalo.

This year, the Diocese of Buffalo will celebrate the jubilees in conjunction with World Day for Consecrated Life. “Signs of Hope: Consecrated Life” will be the theme for the weekend of May 20-21. This celebration will combine the special day of recognition of consecrated virginity with annual jubilee of the men and women religious.

“I hope that the number of vocations to any form of consecrated life may increase as a result of spreading the Word and experiencing this particular celebration,” said Bishop Kmiec.

Bishop Kmiec will be the principal celebrant and homilist at the jubilee Mass. A total of 117 religious will celebrate their jubilees, including 26 diamond, 27 golden and 4 silver jubilarians who will be attending the Mass. Their families, friends and parishioners from the various parishes throughout the diocese will be in attendance. These men and women have chosen to live their baptismal call according to the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience.

Sister Caroline Smith, SSMN, a golden jubilarian, will give the post Communion reflection on behalf of the men and women religious.

For information about the various forms of consecrated life, please call Sister Mary Charlene Nowak, CSSF, vicar for religious at (716) 847-5529.

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