Archbishop of San Juan, Puerto Rico Roberto O. Gonzalez and Bishop Edmond Carmody celebrate with the Jubilarians during a party at Incarnate Word High School, which immediately followed Mass at St. Patrick Church on April 25. Pictured from left to right are the proud Jubilarians: Sister Kathleen McDonagh, Sister Mary Jude Janecek and Sister Catherine Brehony. Seated: Sister Mary Anselm Till.

Hundreds of family, friends and other faithful gathered at St. Patrick Church on April 25 to honor four Jubilarians from the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament. Sister Mary Jude Janecek celebrated 50 years; Sisters Catherine Brehony and Kathleen McDonagh both celebrated 60 years professed and Sister Mary Anselm Till celebrated 70 years with the Church.

"Imagine all the good things that have happened throughout all of these years," said Bishop Edmond Carmody during the Mass honoring the sisters. "And imagine all the lives you have touched because you said ‘Yes'."

Archbishop Roberto O. Gonzalez made a special trip from Puerto Rico to concelebrate the Jubilarian Mass alongside Bishop Carmody and over a dozen other priests from throughout south Texas.

The entrance hymn, "Celebrate the Incarnate Word," was sung by the Sisters of the Incarnate Word Choir, with lyrics written by Sister Kathleen McDonagh set to the Beethoven melody "Ode to Joy."

Monsignor Louis F. Kihneman noted during his homily how the first reading of the Mass, Isaiah 61:1-6, could be related to a life of religious calling, which each sister has honored with decades of loving and dedicated service.

"Let God touch our lives with His great love. You have each been truly filled with the fullness of God as you answered the call to love one another," he said.

Immediately following the homily, the three Sisters said their "Renewal of Vows" before those in attendance. Sister Till was not well enough to attend the Mass at St. Patrick's, but enjoyed a private Mass at the Incarnate Word convent where her family was able to celebrate with her.

"Today, I choose freely to renew those vows, to pledge again, through and in this community, a life of chastity, poverty and obedience, to re-consecrate myself to the love of you and of your people," the three sisters recited in unison.

After the Mass, those in attendance were invited to a reception at the Incarnate Word campus. Family and friends enjoyed a delicious buffet featuring sandwiches, an assortment of cheeses and fresh fruit, while the Jubilarians basked in the joy of celebrating their decades of service alongside those they love.

Sister Mary Jude Janecek, who celebrated 50 years of service to the Church with over two dozen family members by her side, including her three remaining siblings, noted her Jubilee Year is a time of reflection for her.

"It's an opportunity for me to pause along this journey which I share with my family, my sisters in religious life and the many friends who have gifted me with shared ministry and friendship," she said joyfully.