Jubilee
The Congregation holds a Jubilee celebration honoring our members who have a milestone as a Sister of St. Joseph.
The 2011 Jubilee was celebrated on Saturday, October 15 at the Cathedral-Basilica of St. Augustine. Celebrating their Jubilee were: Sister Marie Therese Evrard (70 years); Sister Rene Azar (60 years); Sister Catherine Laboure Brusnahan (60 years); Sister Marlene Payette (50 years); Sister Lyn Payette (50 years); and Sister Rea Wurmnest (25 years).
On March 19, 1942, Sister Marie Therese Evrard professed her final vows, completing a journey to become a Sister that started when she was fifth grade. Reflecting on her seventy years, Sr. Marie Therese said, “Her gratitude is to God, Who loves her, her parents who were happy devout Catholics, her siblings and the sisters of this wonderful congregation.” Sr. Marie Therese earned degrees in education, educational administration and music. Her ministries included classroom teaching, administration, Director of the Program for Associates of the Sisters of St. Joseph, drama and music, presently directing liturgical music at San Sebastian Parish in St. Augustine. She has produced three CD’s of her singing. She recently retired from the Development Ministry for the Congregation.
Sister Marie Rene Azar rejoices at her sixty years as a Sister of St. Joseph. In 1951, on the day that she entered the congregation, it snowed in St. Augustine. She laughs at the surprises of God! Education of youth, in teaching and administration, was a privilege that gave her the opportunity to work with all ages. Sister served in the Archives of the Sisters of St. Joseph for a number of years and also worked with Fr. Robert J. Baker at Our Lady of Hope Farm for addicts, teaching them theology and English. New adventures had her caring for the sick in nursing homes and hospitals. Sister said “she met with people who needed guidance and help in their prayer lives.” In addition to all this, she communicates with the bereaved and those serving time in prisons and on death row. Joining the world of electronic media, Sister contributes to the website and weekly electronic newsletter from Catholic Stewards of Creation, which can be found at catholicstewardsofcreation.com.
Sister Catherine Laboure Brusnahan also celebrates sixty years with the Congregation and is proud to say she is one of the rarest of species - a native Floridian. Sister’s first mission was at St. Juliana in West Palm Beach, where she taught second grade for nine years. She then went into administration at Most Holy Redeemer in Tampa when Mother Louis Edwin called upon her to minister at “a small school in Tampa.” There were six hundred students and no secretary! The next six years found her in Christ the King School in Jacksonville, where she served as principal to eight hundred students. She had the pleasure of ministering at St. Charles, Orlando; St. Patrick, Gainesville; and Cathedral Parish/St. Agnes, St. Augustine. As an exemplary teacher in the primary grades, her teaching career was never above second grade, except when she taught the third grade First Communion class to “her beautiful Haitian children” at St. Mary Cathedral School, Miami. Sister said “each morning she rises to these words on her alarm clock: ‘Wake up with an attitude of gratitude.’” Sister states that it is with thanks to all her good friends, the Sisters in the Congregation and God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, that she is able to do this each morning.
Sister Mary Lyn Payette and her twin sister, Sister Marlene Payette entered the Juniorate of the Sisters of St. Joseph in St. Augustine as a preparation for entering the convent in 1961. They both will celebrate fifty years of ministry to the people of Florida. Sister Lyn, adept as a classroom teacher and director of catechesis, is gifted with a gentle spirit and a fine sense of humor. As she directed a large number of children in catechesis, her technique of delegation to a number of teachers brought peace and encouragement to those working with her. Her ability grew as she worked with the handicapped and disadvantaged. Sister said “one of her great joys was to prepare candidates for entrance into the Catholic Church.” She was eventually assigned to the entire catechetical programs in several large parishes in Florida. Many years of dealing successfully with young people prepared her to assist with the older Sisters at Our Lady of Lourdes Convent in St. Augustine from 1988-1991. From 1998 to 2002, Sister served as Secretary General to the Congregation. Sister ministered in schools in Miami, Loretto, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, Port St. Lucie and St. Augustine. Since 2002, Sister has assisted in St. Augustine at the Sisters of St. Joseph Stained Glass Studio and with the senior Sisters at Our Lady of Lourdes Convent, bringing a joyful sweetness wherever she goes.
Sister Marlene Payette has ministered in a variety of ways. She taught at elementary and junior high level for 10 years. Other ministries included pastoral care, parish programs, and the Sisters of St. Joseph Initial Formation Program. From August 1988 to April 2004, Sr. Marlene, as Director of Parish Social and Community Outreach for Catholic Charities in the Diocese of St. Augustine, provided direct service, advocacy and training programs. These included Pastoral Ministry to the Sick, training for priests and staff regarding domestic violence issues, formation of Small Christian Communities, HIV/AIDS education, advocacy, and outreach. Currently Sr. Marlene coordinates the Self-Sufficiency Program at the Gainesville Catholic Charities Office.
Reflecting upon the various ministries that she has pursued, Sr. Marlene said, “I marvel at the many ways I have been called to bring the charism of the Sisters of St. Joseph (specifically unity and reconciliation) to others.”
Aurelia “Rea” Wurmnest celebrates twenty five years of religious life. Before becoming a Sister of St. Joseph, she raised a family and taught for 23 years in the Duval County public school system. After her children were grown and on their own, Sister pursued a dream she had held most of her growing up years, to be a Sister. While on a visit with her family in Illinois, Sister proudly announced to her four sisters that she was going to enter a religious community. Their response was, “We wondered when you would get around to doing that.” She continued her ministry of education at St. Stephen’s in Miramar and currently at St. Pius V in Jacksonville. She earned her Master’s degree in religious education from Loyola University. Sister Rea stated, “As a ‘Sister Mom’ I am always happy to share the happenings of my son, Todd; daughter, Tina; and their families which include her three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.”
Congressional Assemblies
We also meet several times a year in Congregational Assemblies . The Assemblies are important gatherings for prayer and discernment together on significant issues. Our last Assembly was held in the Spring of 2011. Click here to view pictures from the Assembly.
