Jubilee Mass for Women Religious Celebrates Decades of Faithful Service
By Allison Mosier06/24/2026
The Diocese of Erie gathered in thanksgiving on June 11 at Saint Mark Chapel to celebrate the annual Jubilee Mass for Women Religious, honoring sisters who have dedicated their lives to serving God and his people through decades of prayer, ministry and witness. 
The celebration recognized 16 women religious marking milestone anniversaries of 60, 70, 75 and 80 years of consecrated life. Together, the jubilarians represent an extraordinary 1,110 years of faithful service to God, the Church and the People of God through ministries of education, healthcare, pastoral care, social outreach and prayer.
Presiding at the Mass, Bishop Lawrence T. Persico reflected on the profound gift that women religious continue to be for the Church. Drawing from the feast of St. Barnabas and the example of Christian discipleship, he thanked the sisters for their unwavering commitment to the Gospel and their faithful response to God's call.
“We gather in prayer to celebrate the gift of consecrated life in the Church,” Bishop Persico said in his homily. “We give thanks for you who have understood the heart of the Gospel and have embraced Jesus’ call to authentic discipleship rooted in his example of selfless service and sacrificial love.”
Bishop Persico highlighted the countless ways women religious have brought Christ's presence into the world through ministries of education, healthcare, pastoral care, social outreach and prayer. He noted that their service often takes place quietly and without recognition, yet leaves an immeasurable impact on the lives of those they encounter.
“What is so inspiring about your lives is that all that you do in service of God’s people, you do far more often than not in quiet, simple, loving yet powerful ways — feeding, healing, teaching, praying and building God's Kingdom,” Bishop Persico said. “It is this commitment to mission that gives life to the risen Jesus in our midst.”
Echoing the words of Pope Leo XIV, Bishop Persico reflected on the enduring witness of consecrated life in today's world. Through their profession of the evangelical counsels and works of charity, women religious continue to demonstrate God's saving presence and remind the faithful that every person possesses inherent dignity and worth.
The jubilee celebration served as an opportunity not only to honor years of service but also to recognize the ongoing mission of women religious in the Church. Their lives stand as a testament to discipleship lived with courage, humility and generosity, inspiring future generations to answer God's call with the same spirit of faith.
The diocese offers heartfelt gratitude to the jubilarians for their decades of ministry and witness. Through classrooms and hospitals, parish communities and prayer chapels, homes for the elderly and outreach to those most in need, these women have helped build the Kingdom of God throughout northwestern Pennsylvania and beyond.
Following Mass, the celebration continued with a dinner and time of fellowship, allowing friends and fellow religious to share stories, offer congratulations and give thanks for the remarkable legacy of service represented by the jubilarians. The gathering reflected the joy and gratitude of a local Church blessed by the faithful witness of women religious whose lives continue to reveal God's grace at work in the world.
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