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Sisters of Mercy who are celebrating their 50 anniversary this year gather for a Mass and celebration recently at Mercy High School. From left are Sisters Ellen Flynn, Carol Beaudoin, Mary McCarthy, Margaret Ann Mathis, Ann Mack, Judith Carey, Mary Alice Synkewecz, Maureen Keefe, Barbara Bossler and Patricia McKeon. Not shown is Sister Patricia Gould. (Photo Submitted)

MIDDLETOWN – Eleven Sisters of Mercy in Connecticut celebrated their golden jubilees recently at a Mass with 500 family members, friends and members of their community at Mercy High School. The jubilee marks the 50th anniversary of their entering the Sisters of Mercy in August 1960.

The jubilarians are Sisters Carol Beaudoin, Barbara Bossler, Judith Carey, Ellen Flynn, Patricia Gould, Maureen Keefe, Ann Mack, Margaret Ann Mathis, Mary McCarthy, Patricia McKeon and Mary Alice Synkewecz.

At the celebration, the 11 sisters renewed their vows and pledged to continue to provide faithful service in the tradition of Catherine McAuley, foundress of the Sisters of Mercy. Father Edward M. Dempsey celebrated the Mass. The choir of St. Elizabeth Seton Parish in Rocky Hill led the music.

The jubilee celebration provided the opportunity for the sisters to look back upon 50 years of their lives, said Sister Patricia McKeon "with great joy and deep gratitude."

She said they entered the novitiate as "somewhat naïve but very determined college-age women" and that they have lived out the mission of Catherine McAuley, who envisioned religious women leaving their convents to provide service to the poor, the sick and the ignorant.

The jubilarians have provided more than 550 years of service in Connecticut, as well as other parts of the world, including Haiti and Honduras. They have served as presidents of the Sisters of Mercy of Connecticut, educators and administrators in Catholic and public schools, administrators and providers of health care, parish ministers, and leaders in addressing the needs of the hungry and the homeless and challenging the structures that perpetuate poverty.

Sister Patricia said that the jubilarians are committed to coinuing fidelity to their vow of service, noting: "It’s not really the 50 years that matter so much as what we did with them. Five hundred fifty years and it hasn’t been all work. We’ve had a good time along the way. We have enjoyed each other and enjoyed life. We are celebrating – but we aren’t finished."