Ring Those Jubilee Bells, Belles!

By Sister Mary Roy Weiss, SSND

The Atlantic-Midwest Jubilee class of 2024 had much to sound off on Saturday, September 14, whether celebrating 40, 60, 70, 75, 80, or 85 years as consecrated women religious. The bells of each group rang over the lands of Canada, England, and the United States! 

What could you hear them ring out?  Congratulations, blessings, and celebrations of your life in SSND as God celebrates YOU!

There are so many kinds of bells: church bells, doorbells, cowbells and more. There are so many sizes of bells as well: the large Liberty Bell, school bells, handbells. Your bells, Jubilarians, were the most beautiful. 

Yet, we know that “a bell is not a bell until you ring it." What joy to hear you ring it on your Province Jubilee Day!  It was a day to happily ring out your memories and your long commitment to God. You could almost hear God saying: “The bells are ringing for me and my gal!”  

Yes, you have been God’s belles all these years. Each time you as “belle” ring the “bell” of your life, you proclaim God’s love to the world. Today, you were “belles of the ball”! Unique and special in God’s embrace as you danced across the Jubilee floor, all eyes were focused on you in celebration of your partnership with God over the decades.

Reminiscences of family, friends, formation time, first missions, and final missions illuminated your joy of being a School Sister of Notre Dame.  

As your life continues to ring out God’s goodness to you and your gratitude in return, we, as SSND, continue to ring out our tribute to you, not only today, but throughout this entire year and beyond!
    
Keep ringing your bell! Let it reverberate ever more across time zones and eternity, sounding the notes of “love of God, love of neighbor, and love of SSND.” 

Together, 2024 Jubilarians, let's continue to create beautiful harmony! 

Jubilee Notes from Around the Province

Reflection from Jubilarian Kathleen Feeley, SSND 
(Given to Jubilarians on Province Jubilee Day)

I am happy to share a Jubilee reflection with you! We have created a special bond by celebrating our various Jubilee years together. For a few moments, let me lead you as we Reflect, Rejoice, and Re-commit. 
 
Reflect! Reflecting on the past is the best way to trace the action of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

We think of the various obediences that we have received. We remember the “letting go” and the acceptance of new assignments. We remember God’s support, and the support of our companions, that enabled us to adjust and thrive. We reflect on all that we have learned from our Sisters in community. We reflect on the blessings of deep friendships. We remember the ministries to which we have been called, and the graces we received. 
 
Rejoice! Reflection leads to Rejoicing. Even in difficult times, we hold on to the underlying joy in our spirit.  

Joy is the echo of God’s life in us. Joy can co-exist with pain, with sorrow, and with disappointment. Rejoice in being daughters of Our Lady, Notre Dame. Rejoice in the wisdom of courage of our foundress, Blessed Theresa. Rejoice that we are educators in all that we do.Rejoice in the life that you have lived to this day. Rejoice! 
 
Re-commit! As we celebrate this special Jubilee year, we re-commit ourselves by the vows that we make again, with a deeper understanding of their meaning.

Let us think of a way to mark our re-commitment. What could we do as a sign to ourselves of our re-commitment?

Perhaps we need to remind ourselves that You Are Sent entitles us to an hour of personal prayer each day.

Perhaps we need to create new ways to reach out to our Sisters who need understanding and help.

Perhaps we can respond more readily to the Friday News requests to take action in a political or social situation.

We can each find a way to do more for others, or to do what we can with deeper love. Singly but together, let us make this vow re-commitment with new energy for the future that lies ahead. Reflect! Rejoice! Re-commit!

Thoughts from Jubilarian Kathy Fullerton, SSND

I had the privilege of celebrating Jubilee with the 7 Jubilarians who are part of the Ozanam Community. It was a happy and exciting day. 

Mass was celebrated in the 8th floor dining room. The Sisters sang joyfully and renewed their vows. 

After Mass, light refreshments were served. Each Jubilarian received a gift bag from the The Watermark Community. Sister Teresia Spodnik, who celebrated her 85th Jubilee, thanked everyone. 

For me, the outstanding moment was the singing of the Suscipe and renewal of vows. The Sisters sang out loud and strong, and Sister Mary Fitzgerald led us in the renewal of vows. She read one line at a time, and we repeated. This enabled visually impaired Sisters to participate. It was a memorable day. 

Thoughts from Jubilarian Carolyn Stoe, SSND

On September 13, 2024, we Jubilarians celebrated a “spiritual pause” for bread to be broken for renewal of vows, and for wisdom to be poured out from You Are Sent and from the Call and Acts of the 25th General Chapter. 

Sister Beatrix, from Austria, gripped our hearts with so many insights for reflection on our vowed life in the context of both documents. Her level of knowledge of You Are Sent was superb, because she was one of the writers who struggled with the language between English and German. 

She urged us to be joyful and authentic as we live out our mission. Our time was gifted inspiration to live our vows in truth. We were invited to make joy in our congregation, for the world, for us, for God. We are grateful to Sister Beatrix and the tech crew whose time and talent were shared. 

Thoughts from Eileen Denny, SSND

The Jubilee Celebration on September 14th was magnificent! Incredibly good photographs united us across the Province. The reflection, blessings, and renewal of vows touched the core of who we are as School Sisters of Notre Dame. 

Thoughts from Theresa Lamy, SSND

The Sisters returned to the auditorium at noon to share the delicious luncheon prepared and served by The Watermark staff. Following the Wilton traditional jubilee dessert, tartufo, the Jubilarians were gifted with a donation made in their honor to the Oxford/Seymour Valley Relief Fund. The day could not have been more meaningful!