By Katie Beckmann Mahon, Communications Manager
On Saturday, October 10th, the Sisters of Saint Dominic of Blauvelt will gather together to celebrate this year’s Jubilarians.
Sr. Madeleine McGill, OP, will be celebrating her 70th year as a Sister of Saint Dominic, and Sisters Bernadette Burke, Cecelia Byrnes, Maureen Gibbons, Alice Kirk, Mary Malone, Joan Smith, and Bridget Mary Troy will all be celebrating their 60th anniversary upon entering the congregation.
As we approach this year’s Jubilee celebration, Sr. Geraldine Milbert, OP, Congregation Archivist, shared ten historical facts about Jubilees, as well as Jubilarians from the Sisters of Saint Dominic of Blauvelt.
1. A Women Religious celebrates her Silver Jubilee, 25 years after entering a congregation, Golden Jubilee at 50 years. Diamond Jubilees are celebrated at her 60th or 75th anniversary.
2. The first-ever Golden Jubilarian of the Sisters of Saint Dominic was Sr. Dorothea Kelly, OP. Sr. Dorothea’s celebration took place in 1928.
3. May 24, 1930, marked the Golden Jubilee of Mother Suso and her sister, Sr. Cornelia.
4. Initially, people thought the word “Jubilee” came from the Latin word, “Jubilo,” which means to shout.
5. In 1930, it was discovered that the word “Jubilee” came from the Old Testament, most likely coming from the Hebrew word, “Jubel,” which meant a ram’s horn that was used whenever they wanted to make a loud demonstration of great joy.
6. The first Jubilee Mass held in the Chapel of the Most Holy Rosary, took place on November 21, 1932. At that Liturgy, Sr. de Lillis Madden celebrated her Golden Jubilee.
7. The first Silver Jubilee Celebration took place in 1936.
8. Due to the large number of sisters celebrating their Jubilees, 1952 marked the first year that the Jubilarian celebrations were divided into two events.
9. In 1965, Sister M. Emmanuel celebrated her Diamond Jubilee at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Jamaica, West Indies.
10. The first Jubilarians of the New Millennium were: Sr. Maura Clossick (75 years), Sisters Ann Louise, Ann Cecile, Marie Callahan, Jean Beagan, Ann Patricia Cuff, and Miriam Theresa Newman (60 years.) These sisters celebrated their Jubilee on May 20, 2000.