Jubilees

Sr. Grace Marie Meehan, SP,  was born in Chicago, IL, and is celebrating 75 years with the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. Sr. Grace Marie entered the Congregation on Jan. 7, 1948, from St. Andrew Parish in Chicago. She has a bachelor’s degree in education from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College and a master’s degree in education from Indiana State University. In addition, she has an associate’s degree in nursing from Eastern Community College in Illinois. During her time in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, Sr. Grace Marie ministered as a parish volunteer at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Albuquerque from 2020-22.

Sr. Mary Gerald Payne, OSU, is a native of Knottsville, KY, and is celebrating 70 years. She taught at St. Charles Borromeo School in Albuquerque and was a Eucharistic minister in the parish (1980-84). She also served in Kentucky and Missouri. She is retired at the Motherhouse at Maple Mount and is active in the Powerhouse of Prayer.


Sr. Mary Catherine Nolan, OP, who served in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. Formerly known as Sr. John David, she is celebrating 70 years of religious life. Sr. Mary Catherine was based at the House of Hospitality in Albuquerque, New Mexico from 1999 to 2002, where she spent her time writing, preaching, lecturing, and offering retreats. 

“Religious life has not always been easy, but it has been a wonderful and rewarding life,” she said. “I loved to study, teach, preach, and do spiritual direction as well as direct others in their ministry.”   


Two Ursuline Sisters who ministered in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe are among nine Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph celebrating jubilees of religious life in 2021.

Sr. Helena Fischer, OSU, a native of Owensboro, Ky., is celebrating her 60th year of religious life. She was a teacher and principal of St. Charles Borromeo School, Albuquerque, from 1980-87. She also ministered in Kentucky and Missouri. Since 1990 she has been the registrar at Brescia University, Owensboro.


Sr. Elizabeth Mary “Betsy” Moyer, OSU, is celebrating her 50th jubilee. She taught at St. Francis Cathedral School, Santa Fe (1989-93) and was principal at St. Joseph School, San Fidel (1983-84, 1985-89). Her “break” from San Fidel was when she completed her Master of Arts from Trinity College, Washington, D.C., in 1988. A native of Nebraska City, Neb., Sr. Betsy has taught and served as principal in Kentucky and Missouri. She also spent many years in health care, serving as an LPN (and later health care administrator) for her Ursuline Motherhouse, Maple Mount, Ky., as well as in Kansas and Missouri. She taught religion and helped in a health clinic in Jamaica (2008-09). Since 2012, she has served at Brescia University, Owensboro, Ky., first as Assistant Registrar and then in the School of Education.

Jubilarian congratulations may be sent to Mount Saint Joseph, 8001 Cummings Road, Maple Mount, KY 42356.


Sr. Jeanne Tranel, OP, celebrates jubilee
Sr. Jeanne Tranel, OP, will mark her 50th jubilee in 2021, along with one other Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa commemorating 50 years. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a date for the Mass in their honor will be determined in the future.

Sr. Jeanne’s home parish is Nativity BVM, Menominee, in the Rockford Diocese. She is the daughter of the late Howard and Lillian (Hilby) Tranel. Sr. Jeanne's ministry has been dedicated to pastoral work and education. In the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, Sr. Jeanne served as pastoral associate and director of religious education at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish and its missions, Peña Blanca, 1997-2003. Since 2012, she has served in the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings as pastoral associate at St. Patrick Co-Cathedral, Billings. Sister Jeanne has also ministered in California, Illinois and Texas, as well as Bolivia.

If you would like to honor Sr. Jeanne on her jubilee, go to the Sinsinawa Dominicans' website at www.sinsinawa.org/jubilee.