Religious orders celebrate jubilarians on anniversaries

Published: December 2, 2022

By Arkansas Catholic Staff

Arkansas Catholic File Photo

Three sisters and one brother in the Diocese of Little Rock recently celebrated anniversaries of their religious profession, including (clockwise from top left), Sister Veronica Figueroa, Sister M. Christopher Flowers, Sister M. Angeline Massery and Brother Ephrem O’Bryan.

Arkansas Catholic File Photo

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The annual Retirement Fund for Religious collection will be taken up in parishes throughout the diocese Dec. 3-4. Last year, Catholics in Arkansas donated $168,241.97 to the collection. The Benedictines of Subiaco Abbey and the Discalced Carmelite nuns in Little Rock received a combined $107,756.96 in financial support made possible by the Retirement Fund for Religious.

Historically, Catholic sisters, brothers and religious order priests served for little to no pay. With rising health-care expenses, hundreds of U.S. religious communities face a large gap between the needs of their older members and the funds available to support their care.

Three sisters and one brother in the Diocese of Little Rock observed 25, 60, 70 and 75 years of religious profession in 2022. They have served the diocese as educators, cooks and faith formation directors.

75 years

Sister Angeline Massery

Olivetan Benedictine, Holy Angels Convent, Jonesboro

Sister Angeline was born in Little Rock to the late James and Mary Massery. She attended St. Andrew Cathedral School. She said the sisters who taught her at St. Andrew School inspired her to answer the call.

After eighth grade, she attended Holy Angels Academy in Jonesboro, along with her two older sisters. She made first vows in 1947 and final vows in 1951.

Her first assignments included working in the culinary departments of St John Seminary in Little Rock, Holy Angels and St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. During this time, she also attended Saturday classes at Siena College in Memphis. She completed her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Arkansas State University. She taught kindergarten and elementary students in Arkansas and Muenster, Texas.

Sister Angeline celebrated her 94th birthday in February and lives in the convent’s infirmary.

70 years

Sister M. Christopher Flowers

Olivetan Benedictine, Holy Angels Convent, Jonesboro

Sister Mary Christopher Flowers was born in Ripley, Okla. When she was 8, the family moved to Hubert, Ark., and she began attending St. Michael School in West Memphis. Shortly after, the family converted to Catholicism, and she began to take an interest in religious life. With the encouragement of her pastor, she attended Holy Angels Academy in Jonesboro and entered the novitiate after graduation. She made first vows in 1952 and final vows in 1957. Her 60-year teaching career began at St. Andrew Cathedral School in Little Rock. She earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree as a reading specialist from Arkansas State University. She also spent many summers assisting at the former Benedictine Manor retirement home in Hot Springs. Since retiring from Catholic education, she has tutored English language learners and sisters in formation in reading and speaking.

60 years

Brother Ephrem O’Bryan

Benedictine monk, Subiaco Abbey

While attending St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Fort Worth, Texas, Brother Ephrem O’Bryan became acquainted with the Benedictine priests from Subiaco Abbey who staffed the parish. He graduated as valedictorian of the 1960 class of Subiaco Academy and professed his vows as a monk Sept. 8, 1962. He earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy at Conception Abbey Seminary in Missouri.

Returning to Subiaco Abbey in 1967, he was appointed assistant director to the novice master as well as teaching Latin and French and serving as a dean at the academy. Other responsibilities included service on the Subiaco City Council, as treasurer and recorder; coaching tennis at the academy and director of Camp Subiaco.

At the academy, he was dean of men from 1985-1988, headmaster from 1988-1992 and Subiaco Alumni Association secretary from 1993-2002. From 1999 to 2022 he was the abbey’s subprior and from 2003 to 2022 he served as public information coordinator.

25 years

Sister Veronica Figueroa

Missionary Catechist of the Poor

Sister Verónica Figueroa Sánchez was born in Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico, and entered the Congregation of Missionary Catechists of the Poor Aug. 7, 1994, made her first profession Aug. 16, 1997, and her perpetual vows July 27, 2002.

She received her initial formation in Monterrey, Mexico, and has carried out her missionary work in parish ministry in Mexico, St. Edward Parish in Little Rock and Wichita, Kan. She was diocesan director of catechesis in the Diocese of Texcoco, Mexico, and collaborated in the School of Theology in the Diocese of Nuevo Laredo.

She has a bachelor’s degree in catechetical formation from the Marist University of Guadalajara and a master's degree in family pedagogy. Beginning this summer, she became an associate director of Hispanic youth and young adult ministry for the Diocese of Little Rock.