Sister Rosa Elena Perez, CMST, leads the music with members of St. Joseph Church choir members. Dwain Hebda photo

In all, 10 of the 14 honorees attended the jubilarian Mass, celebrated at Our Lady of the Holy Souls Church in Little Rock. Dwain Hebda photo

Bishop Anthony B. Taylor delivers a special blessing to the jubilarians. Collectively, the honorees represented nearly 750 years in religious life. Dwain Hebda photo

Bishop Anthony B. Taylor poses with jubilarians Sisters Madeline Bariola, OSB (back row, left); Stephanie Schroeder, OSB; Dorothea Moll, DC; Father John Michael Payne, OCD; and Sisters Marilyn Doss, OSB (front row, left); Rosalie Ruesewald, OSB; Mary Lucille Sluyter, RSM; Mary Petra Masek, OCD; Mary Chabanel Finnegan, RSM; and Cecilia Toledo, CMST.

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Longtime sisters, brothers recognized in Little Rock

Honored religious boast nearly 750 combined years in vocations at jubilarian Mass

Published: September 26, 2014

By Dwain Hebda
Associate Editor

Dwain Hebda

Sister Mary Lucille Sluyter, RSM, was the longest-serving jubilarian in attendance having lived a life of vocations for 70 years. Dwain Hebda photo

Dwain Hebda

Sister Mary Lucille Sluyter, RSM, was the longest-serving jubilarian in attendance having lived a life of vocations for 70 years. Dwain Hebda photo

Longtime religious were honored at a special Mass Sept. 20, as part of a day-long conference “Missionary Transformation of Religious Life.” The 14 honorees, 10 of whom were in attendance at Our Lady of the Holy Souls Church in Little Rock which hosted the event, represent a combined 745 years in vocations.

Honorees included Sister Mary Alice Grace, OCD, 75 years; and Sister Mary Lucille Sluyter, RSM, 70 years.

Recognized for 60 years were Sister Madeline Bariola, OSB; Sister Mary Chabanel Finnegan, RSM; Father Raphael Kitz, OCD; Sister Rosalie Ruesewald, OSB; and Sister Stephanie Schroeder, OSB. Recognized for 50 years were Sister Mary Petra Masek, OCD; Sister Dorothea Moll, DC; Father John Michael Payne, OCD; Sister Joan Marie Pfauser, RSM; and Sister Cecelia Toledo, CMST.

Sister Marilyn Doss, OSB, and Brother Andrew Suarez, OSB, were recognized for 25 years in vocations.

In his homily, Bishop Anthony B. Taylor drew parallels between a life in vocations and the Gospel reading, taken from Matthew 13, the parable of the sower.

“As you jubilarians look back over a lifetime of sowing the seed of the Word of God in the hearts of generations of students and patients and parishioners, I want you to notice that the generosity with which you spread the seed is more important than the visible results,” he said.

“The sower in our parable had only a 25 percent success rate, so if you did better than that, I'd wonder whether you might have neglected those hard-nosed, rock-headed, thorny people whom it is so easy to prejudge as automatically unreceptive to the Good News of the merciful, healing love of Jesus which they so desperately need and which can start the process of turning them into good soil.”

Bishop Taylor was joined on the altar by Abbot Jerome Kodell, OSB, of Subiaco Abbey, Father Payne and Holy Souls pastor Father Erik Pohlmeier. Music was provided by members of Conway’s St. Joseph Church choir, directed by Sister Rosa Elena Perez, CMST.

Abbot Kodell and Bishop Taylor were also presenters during the conference. Bishop Taylor spoke on “Missionary Transformation of the Church” and Abbot Kodell addressed “Challenges for Consecrated Life.” The conference was coordinated by members of the Sisters of Mercy and Daughters of Charity.

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