Jubilarians - La Grange

Sister Kathleen Edward Cullen, CSJ
75 Years

Sister Kathleen entered religious life on January 5, 1935 from Immaculate Conception Parish in Chicago. An educator throughout her life, Sister Kathleen Edward shaped young minds in the Archdiocese of Chicago at St. Margaret Mary, St. Francis Xavier, St. Attracta, St. Bonaventure, St. Leonard, Divine Infant and St. John Fisher parish schools. She also served as principal of St. Barbara’s Parish. Curently, Sister Kathleen Edward resides at the LaGrange Park Center and is active in prayer ministry.

Sister Bonaventure Hill, CSJ
75 Years

Sister Bonaventure entered religious life on July 1, 1934 from St. Bonaventure in Chicago. Her ministries included education and administration at the LaGrange Park Center, where she also served as archivist. She taught in the Chicago Archdiocese at St. Margaret Mary, St. Leonard, St. Attracta, St. Isaac Jogues, St. Barbara, St. Hugh, St. Cletus, St. Anthony, St. Mary parish schools and was principal at St. Hugh. She was also on staff at the Christian Life Center. Currently, Sister Bonaventureis resides at the LaGrange Park Center and is active in prayer ministry.

Sister Antonia Misek, CSJ
70 Years

Sister Antonia entered religious life on September 8, 1939. She spent her career educating Catholic school children in the primary grades. She taught at St. Leonard in Berwyn, St. Carmel in Melrose Park and Chicago Heights, St. Bonaventure, Our Lady of Bethlehem Academy, Assumption, Alexine Learning Center and St. Barbara Parish Schools. Currently, Sister Antonia resides at Resurrection Life Center and is active in prayer ministry.

Sister Thomas Agnes King, CSJ
70 Years

Sister Thomas Agnes may be well over the traditional age of retirement, but that hasn’t slowed her down. At age 89, she good-naturedly claims that she is “recycling” herself. She supports the Seton ministry and serves homebound people through the ministry of care. In her prior assignments, she was a teacher, assistant principal and principal working in Chicago Archdiocesan schools for more than 45 years. Currently, she is very active in parish ministry and works in a food pantry and clothes closet providing necessities to people in the western suburbs.

Sister Eileen Sullivan, CSJ
(formerly Sister Mary Thomas Jeanne Sullivan)
70 Years

Sister Eileen entered religious life on September 24, 1939. Her ministries were in teaching, pastoral care and administration. She taught at St. Barbara, St. Andrew, St. Margaret Mary, St. Isaac Jogue, St. Mary, St. Joseph Academy and St. Leonard, where she served as principal for eight years. Currently, she is active in the LaGrange Park Center where she works in support services.

Sister Janet Bolger, CSJ
(formerly Sister Mary Martin Joseph Bolger)
60 Years

Sister Janet entered religious life on September 7, 1949. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, she spent much of her formative years in Minneapolis, Minn., where she was a student of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. Currently, she is active in The Well of the LaGrange Park Center. There, she is a spiritual companion and advocate of The Well, a spirituality center where people of all faiths and cultures can experience an atmosphere for spiritual, physical and emotional wholeness. Sister Janet also works as an assistant and a healing prayer practitioner there.

Sister Miriam Dolores Rauzi, CSJ
60 Years

Sister Miriam was active in the ministries of education, care of the elderly and community support services in the Chicago Archdiocese. She taught at many Chicago Archdiocesan schools, but has held the reputation of being a “cool nun” by students at St. Cletus. While reading to them one day about a snowball fight, she offered the children the opportunity to throw snowballs. It wasn’t even winter yet! Of course, they loved it. Sister Miriam Dolores froze snowballs every year since 1952 and would save them for the perfect occasion, whether it be a snowball toss with fellow sisters or watching the joy and wonder of children relishing the snow in warm weather. Many parents share her idea of bringing a bit of winter to summer. Here’s her recipe: perfect snow, not too wet, formed into nice, round snowballs, then wrapped in newspaper and placed in a freezer. Save for a fun time! Currently, Sister Miriam is active in pastoral services and support services in the LaGrange Park Center.

Sister Mary Lou Sterling, CSJ
(formerly Sister Mary Ursula Sterling)
60 Years

Sister Mary Lou entered religious life on September 7, 1949. She spent more than 45 years as a teacher in Chicago Archdiocesan schools including St. Anthony, St. Mary, St. Barbara, St. Leonard, Divine Infant, St. Bonaventure, St. Cletus, Our Lady of Bethlehem, Emmet, Fulton and Oscar de Priest School. Currently, Sister Mary Lou resides at the LaGrange Park Center and is active in support services.

Sister Margaret Ann White, CSJ
60 Years

Sister Margaret Ann entered religious life on September 7, 1949, and served in education and support services throughout her career. She was raised in the nearby town of Brookfield, where she attended St. Barbara Parish and grew to love the desire in her heart to become a religious sister. The parish schools she taught at included Divine Infant, St. Hugh, St. Leonard, Our Lady of Bethlehem and St. Francis Xavier where she spent many years teaching and served as the learning center director for nine years. Currently, Sister Margaret Ann is using her artistic talents in the Ministry of the Arts program where she adds the detailed aspect of color to many of the sculpted figurines.

Sister Mary Flaherty, CSJ
(formerly Sister Mary Dennis Michael Flaherty
60 Years

Sister Mary Flaherty entered religious life on September 7, 1949. She was a significant contributor to the Core Constitution of the U.S. Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph. Sister Mary Flaherty taught at St. Cletus and St. Bonaventure parish schools and was instrumental in running St. Joseph Academy and St. Mary, Riverside, where she served as principal. She was vice-president of the Sisters of St. Joseph for eight years. Currently, Sister Mary Flaherty resides at Resurrection Life Center and is active in prayer ministry.

Sister Marianna Race, CSJ
(formerly Sister Mary Timothy Race)
50 Years

Sister Marianne entered religious life on September 7, 1959. She spent a great deal of her career as a teacher and administrator. She taught at numerous elementary schools including St. Mary, Assumption, Mt. Carmel and St. Mary in Columbus, Miss. Then, throughout her 18 years at Nazareth Academy, Sister Marianne was a teacher, curriculum coordinator and on the administrative team, serving as principal for many years. She was a high school consultant for the Archdiocese of Chicago Office of Catholic Education and later became the director of the Israel Study program at Catholic Theological Union. She is author of, “In This Place: A Reflection on the Gospels for the Liturgical Cycle.” Sister Marianne served the Sisters of St. Joseph as president for seven years before the La Grange Park Center became part of the present Congregation of St. Joseph. Currently, she is a board member of Ministry Against the Death Penalty and is a trustee of Nazareth Academy. Sister Marianne also leads retreats to the Holy Land for women. She also works at St. Joseph Press, learning the printing business and helping it grow.

Sister Celine Swezenski, CSJ
50 Years

Sister Celine entered religious life on September 7, 1959 from her home parish of Mater Christi in North Riverside. She spent her service between education and administrative services. Sister Celine taught at St. Margaret Mary, St. Mary, St. Francis Xavier, St. Joseph Military Academy, St. John Fisher, St. Hugh and St. Cletus parish schools. She also worked at the Alexine Learning Center. She was a Montessori Preschool teacher and worked for the Chicago Association for the Education of Young Children. Currently, Sister Celine works for the Archdiocese of Chicago and is secretary to the Archbishop, Cardinal Francis George.