Celebration of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary
Sunday, January 23, 2005, 10:00am

The cover of the special order of celebration for Sunday's Mass is a collage of images of the Sisters of the Holy Names at St. James over the last century.  Some fifty sisters, as well as SNJM Associates and Cathedral School Alums gathered with the Cathedral Community for this special celebration.  Read more about the history of the Sisters of the Holy Names at St. James here. Sister Anne Herkenrath proclaims the reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians:  "For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with the wisdom of human eloquence, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its meaning." After the homily, Father Ryan invited the congregation to acknowledge and thank the sisters. The response was a prolonged and thunderous standing ovation which left the sisters speechless! After the Mass, Sister Ann Pizelo, Provincial of the Washington Province of the Sisters of the Holy Names, spoke on behalf of the sisters. Sister Ann Pizelo and Sister Georgia Yaniakulis present the Mother Marie Rose award to lifelong parishioner Hannah Hirabayashi.  This award recognizes a Holy Names alumna who has carried on the charism and ministry of the Sisters. Father Ryan's turn to be speechless... Sister Ann Pizelo announces that the Sisters are awarding him their highest honor, the Holy Names Award, in recognition of his service to the Cathedral parish and larger community.  Sister Anne Herkenrath read the proclamation (read the text here.) Holy Names Academy senior Jessica Ly modeled the old holy habit of the Sisters of the Holy Names at the reception which followed the Mass. Parishioners and friends of the sisters inscribe messages of thanksgiving on the enormous (3' by 6') thank you card in the Hall. Thank you, Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary... "May the love and grace of God unite us forever" (Blessed Marie-Rose Durocher).

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