INSPIRING LIVES

      I received a beautiful and inspiring tri-fold brochure in the mail today from the Benedictine Sisters of Pittsburgh which celebrates five of their Community's Sisters who are recognizing significant milestone of their Monastic Profession.  As Sister Karen Brink, their newly re-elected Prioress, states: "Three hundred and twenty years of Benedictine living is what you will see in the faces of our Sister Jubilarians.  What a blessing their lives have been, not only for themselves but for all those whose lives they have touched through the three pillars of Benedictine Life: Prayer, Community and Ministry."

    My association with the Benedictine Sisters of Pittsburgh began when I arrived as pastor of Saint John the Baptist Parish in Scottdale, where they served in both the school community and the parish community.

     The Sisters celebrating significant anniversaries are: Sister Rosalyn Soller, a Sister for 70 years - working with the poor in Kentucky, teaching and serving as a principal, novices and other Community services.

     Sisters Mary David Lecker and Judith Nero are professed 65 years. [No bio was given for these Sisters]

     Sister Roberta Campbell celebrates 60 years, and I came to know her in her role as Prioress which covered 12 years beginning in 1990 and overlapped my time in Scottdale.

     And Sister Audrey Quinn, also 60 years professed.  Her ministry took her, along with Sister Sue Fazzini, to Greene County where they became foster parents to more than 160 children over a period of 18 years and served in a number of Greene County Community agencies.

     These five women's lives are inspiring in themselves.  Add the fact of their Faith and their  commitment to the Way of Saint Benedict - ORA ET LABORA [Pray and Work] and they are outstanding and deserving our our well wishes and prayers.