4 Sisters Celebrate 301 Years of Dominican Life and Mission
On September 8, 2007, the Caldwell Dominican Sisters gathered in St. Catherine Chapel to celebrate the Jubilees of four Sisters:
Sister Maura Campbell, OP – 80 years;
Sister Julia Marie Moore, OP – 76 years;
Sister Marie Frances Kling, OP – 75 years;
Sister Rita Margaret Chambers, OP – 70 years.
Sister Arlene Antczak, OP, Prioress, welcomed the Sisters and reflected on the depth of spirituality and generous service in ministry with which the Jubilarians have gifted the Dominican Order, the church and the world.
Jubilarian Sisters Rita Margaret, OP; Marie Frances, OP; Maura, OP
Sister Maura’s ministry as Professor of Theology and Philosophy was coupled with years of service at the United Nations as NGO - Permanent Representative for International Education Office and as a Formation Director for the Caldwell Sisters.
Sister Julia Marie guided students to develop their personal artistic talents and also inspired many people through the works she herself created using her God-given talent.
Sister Marie Frances dedicated her life to God and to the education of thousands of God’s young children. Sister Luke, OP commented, “God has not yet created a child that Sister Marie Frances could not teach to read.”
Sister Rita Margaret educated children, teenagers and college-level adults before becoming a respected leader in the area of senior housing. The residents of Marian Manor in Caldwell are very aware of Sister Rita Margaret’s work in providing affordable housing for older persons.
In his homily during the Jubilee Mass, Rev. Philip Smith, OP, a Dominican friar, former President of Providence College, and a longtime friend of the Caldwell community, compared the Jubilarians’ response to God’s call to consecrated life with the response of the young Virgin Mary’s response to God’s call to her,“Mary said yes to an unknown future
because her faith empowered her to trust God’s word
spoken within her heart.
Our Jubilarians responded many years ago with the same faith in God
and today we celebrate the witness and faithfulness
of their generous response to God’s call
to 301 years of Dominican Life and Mission.”The Sisters continued the celebration after Mass with a simple dinner in St. Catherine Convent.
