Catholic Transcript Online

From left, Bishop Robert P. Maginnis of Philadelphia; Sister Christine Virginia, directress of temporary professed sisters;, newly perpetual professed sisters Judith Kathleen and Laura Teresa; and Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of Raleigh, N.C. In middle row, from left, Sister Joanne Ralph, congregation treasurer; and Sister Rita Lenihan, secretary. Council members in back, from left, are Sister Rose Yeager; Sister Lorraine McGrew, general superior; Sister Mariann Guiniven, Sister Dolores Joseph and Sister John Evelyn. (Photo submitted.)

IMMACULATA, Pa. – Sister Judith Kathleen Knowlton and Sister Laura Teresa Downing professed their perpetual vows as Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary on Aug. 15 within a Mass at Villa Maria House of Studies in Immaculata.

Bishop Robert P. Maginnis of Philadelphia presided at the liturgy and Norbertine Father Steven Albero delivered the homily. Sister Lorraine McGrew, general superior, received the vows in the name of the Church for the congregation.

During the rite, the sisters lay prostrate as the litany of the saints was sung. The sisters then publically professed their vows of chastity, poverty and obedience to God in the service of the Catholic Church. Afterward, the sisters signed vow cards and received newly engraved rings signifying their vowed commitment.

Sister Judith Kathleen, daughter of Arthur and Rose Marie Knowlton of Wildwood Crest, N.J., has ministered in the Archdiocses of Hartford and Philadelphia and the Diocese of Methuchen, N.J. She teaches teaches seventh grade at St. Matthew School in Philadelphia.

Sister Laura Teresa, daughter of John Downing of Rockville, Md., and Millie Fenwick, has served in the Diocese of Allentown, Pa.; Arlington, Va., and Raleigh, N.C. She teaches high school theology at Cardinal Gibbons High School in Raleigh.

Music during the Mass and the Rite of Profession was provided by musicians and a choir of sisters.

Information about the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary is available at www.ihmimmaculata.org.

The National Religious Vocation Conference recently released the result of a nearly two year study looking at new membership in religious congregations. Overall, the findings from the surveys confirm that there are still significant numbers of men and women who are responding to a call to religious life and are hopeful about its future. Results of the study can be found online at www.nrvc.net.