Florida Catholic | Jubilarians Honored For Their Commitment To Serve

Jubilarians are honored for their commitment to serve

LINDA REEVES | FLORIDA CATHOLIC PALM BEACH BUREAU EDITOR

Published: 06.06.08

MAGUERITE INSOLIA | FC

WEST PALM BEACH | Sixty-five has traditionally been the retirement age in the United States, but many people with religious vocations, such as Sister Ruth Butler (left), 85, continue to work long after reaching retirement age.

“I feel like it has been only about 25 years,” said the nun, who is a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, about her commitment to the religious life and work. “I have been blessed to work in many ministries and I now enjoy working at Holy Name of Jesus. I have been there 20 years.”

Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito celebrated a Mass May 24 at Holy Name of Jesus Parish in West Palm Beach, recognizing and honoring Sister Butler and other women and men from around the diocese who are marking special milestones and anniversaries in their long years of service to the church and God’s people. Family, friends, parishioners and priests from around the diocese attended the special “Jubilee for Religious,” honoring the 176 who serve in the religious life and work in the diocese.

“The Diocese of Palm Beach celebrates with our bishop the consecrated life of all men and women religious in gratitude for their presence, good works and service to the church,” said event organizer Sister Margaret Jeanne Keller, diocesan episcopal delegate, who is a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Augustine.

“Today we live in a world where there is rapid change and multiple opportunities; where materialism has brainwashed us to believe nothing is stable and everything is disposable; where commitment is only temporary and not permanent. This mindset affects all of our lives, but these men and women have dedicated their lives to God in prayer and through the living out of their public vows of chastity, poverty and obedience. We give special honor and tribute to our jubilarians for their many years of faithfulness to their permanent commitment to their call,” Sister Keller said.

Sister Butler was recognized at the May event as the honoree with the most years of service as a religious – 65. Most of her ministry focused on education: She served 19 years as a teacher and 34 years as a principal.

“She is a woman of faith and conviction,” said Sister Kathleen Cummings, Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, principal of Holy Name of Jesus School in West Palm Beach, where Sister Butler served as former principal for six years.

Today, Sister Butler continues to work at Holy Name of Jesus, guiding seniors in areas of spiritual growth. She teaches morning and evening classes twice a week.

Father Gavin Badway, pastor of Holy Name of Jesus, praised Sister Butler for her work and for her qualities.

“She is one of the most loving and loved people I know,” he said. “Sister Ruth is totally giving of herself, a true example of stewardship.”

In addition to Sister Butler, five other religious were specially honored and celebrated for their many years of commitment.

Adrian Dominican Sister Audrey Hull is celebrating her 60th anniversary. She lives in West Palm Beach and ministers to seniors.

Four religious are celebrating golden anniversaries this year. Carmelite Father Richard Champigny serves as a parochial vicar at St. Jude in Boca Raton. Sister Mary Dooley, a School Sister of Notre Dame, works in Indiantown at Hope Rural School. Adrian Dominican Sister Margaret Exworthy lives in West Palm Beach and works with the elderly. Brother John Metell of the Salesians of Don Bosco works with youths at St. Philip Benizi in Belle Glade.

“As religious, our work is our life of prayer,” said Sister Keller. “The action with prayer is our ministry, our service to God’s people. Therefore, since our life is a life of prayer, we actually never retire.”

ABOUT THE JUBILARIANS

SISTER AUDREY HULL, Adrian Dominicans, 60 years

Born into an Episcopalian household, Sister Hull studied the Catholic faith and became Catholic after graduating with a degree in education from Barry University in Miami.

Her ministry began in teaching and working with youths in Michigan, Puerto Rico and Florida.

After more study at Barry and after earning a degree in nutrition science, Sister Hull became a registered dietician, working 14 years in hospitals and in long-term care facilities. Her current work involves assisting elderly with health care.

“Thank God for many happy years in his service,” said Sister Hull.

FATHER RICHARD CHAMPIGNY, Order of Carmelites, 50 years

A native of Holyoke, Mass., Father Champigny heard the calling at an early age.

“I knew when I was in the first grade I wanted to be a priest,” he said. “My great-grandmothers prayed that one in the family would be ordained to the priesthood.”

Father Champigny entered the Carmelite order and the seminary when he was a high school senior. He studied at St. Bonaventure University in New York, Carmelite College of Sant’ Alberto in Rome and Fordham University in New York.

His ministry work has focused in many areas, and he holds many prestigious credits and former titles, including leader of the International Fraternity of Priests in Steubenville, Ohio; Worldwide Marriage Encounter coordinator; and director of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

He is an honored member of the Cambridge “Who’s Who,” and is presently a parochial vicar at St. Jude in Boca Raton.

“My favorite Scripture quotes comes from 1 John 4:18,” he said. “There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear.”

SISTER MARY DOOLEY, School Sisters of Notre Dame, 50 years

Sister Dooley is a native of Cambridge, Mass. She joined the School Sisters of Notre Dame in 1958. Her ministry work has focused in the area of education, teaching primary grades in New York for 11 years.

In 1970, her focus shifted to mission work. She worked in West Africa for eight years, where she reached out to the poor and continued to teach.

In the 1980s, she returned to the United States, where her ministry work focused on religious education in New Jersey and Massachusetts. She served in her community’s development department for five years and then as co-founder of Mother Caroline Academy in Massachusetts, a middle school for the poor from Boston’s inner city, where her work gained public attention and recognition.

In 2004, Sister Dooley came to the Diocese of Palm Beach and Hope Rural School, where she continues to serve as director.

Sister Dooley says one of her favorite quotes is from the late Eleanor Roosevelt.

“’We gain strength and courage and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face. We must do that which we think we cannot,’” she quoted to the Florida Catholic.

SISTER MARGARET EXWORTHY, Adrian Dominicans, 50 years

Sister Exworthy began her ministry work in adult literacy in 2000, but most of her religious work previously focused on teaching and administration work as a principal, director and superintendent in Catholic schools. For 40 years, she served children and schools in Michigan, Illinois and Florida.

Sister Exworthy joined DePorres Place, a not-for-profit adult literacy center in Riviera Beach eight years ago. She became its director in 2003.

She holds a bachelor’s degree with majors in English and chemistry, and minors in mathematics, biology and physics from Siena Heights University in Adrian, Mich. She earned a master’s degree in curriculum development, administration and supervision of elementary and secondary schools from Barry University in Miami Shores, and completed 15 hours toward a doctorate in education from Boston University.

“If the only prayer you said in your whole life was ‘thank you,’ that would suffice,” said Sister Exworthy. “As I celebrate my 50th jubilee, I thank our God for my parents, for their lifetime of love and support, for the call to religious life and for the grace of faithfulness.”

BROTHER JOHN METELL, Salesians of Don Bosco, 25 years

Brother Metell is a native of Boston and served in the U.S. Coast Guard in the 1970s. In 1979, he joined the Salesians, professing his vows in 1982.

Brother Metell earned a bachelor’s degree at Edison State College in New Jersey, and studied theology and religion at Ohio Dominican University in Columbus. He earned a master’s degree in pastoral studies at Boston College.

His work has focused on youths, and teaching and coaching in Florida, Ohio, New York, Massachusetts and the Bahamas.

He is presently serving St. Philip Benizi in Belle Glade.

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Jubilarians are honored for their commitment to serve

ABOUT THE JUBILARIANS

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