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Nine Sisters of the Holy Family to celebrate jubilees

Nine Sisters of the Holy Family will celebrate jubilees of religious profession with a Mass June 11 at 10 a.m. at St Maria Goretti Church, 7300 Crowder Blvd., New Orleans.
Together, the sisters have given 560 years of service to the people of God throughout the United States and other countries.
The public is invited to attend the Mass.
Celebrating 80 years

Celebrating 70 years

Sister Frances Cabrini Turnbull, a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, attended boarding school with the Sisters of the Holy Family at St. Mary’s Academy in New Orleans. There she found herself inspired by the Holy Spirit, edified by the example of the sisters, and by her father’s sister (a Sister of the Holy Family) and decided to enter religious life. Sister Frances Cabrini served primarily in the ministry of education. Her very special gift was in the field of music. She also gave service as a bookkeeper at Lafon Nursing Home. “I thank God daily for my vocation and pray for perseverance daily,” she said. “I try to let the Holy Spirit govern my religious life, and thank God for his graces and gifts to me.”

Sister Cynthia Marie Jackson, a New Orleanian who was a member of Corpus Christi Parish, was motivated to join the Sisters of the Holy Family by witnessing their love and care of children. “They inspired me to want to join them,” she said. Sister Cynthia has ministered in the field of education and served as an academic counselor. She is energized by the students and still gives service at St. Mary’s Academy. She continues to be inspired by her sisters as she sees them at work, and it makes her “want to continue and give all I can. I am still working as admissions director.”
Celebrating 60 years


Sister Sylvia Thibodeaux entered religious life from her home parish, St. Francis of Assisi in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana. She says the inspiration for her vocation came from the simple experience of the lived faith of her parents, an ordinary couple doing the best they could to raise a family of eight. Her parents made great personal sacrifices for their children in order to give them a Catholic education. “The most compelling influence on me was the way they lived their faith: weekly Mass, daily rosary on our knees, confession on Saturday and kindness to our neighbors in time of need.” Her vocation was further nourished by the Sisters of Holy Family, who were her teachers and mentors from elementary through high school. She was intrigued by the mystery of their life. She wanted to know how the sisters lived, what they did after leaving the classroom. They were so good and kind. “I felt so loved and accepted by them,” she said. “I wanted to be like them. I thought they must be very close to God. I wanted to become one of them.” Sister Sylvia has served in ministry through education, religious formation, administration, as co-founder of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart in Benin City, Nigeria, congregational leader of the Sisters of the Holy Family, and vicar for religious in the Archdiocese of New Orleans. She has learned well that we can wait confidently on the Lord, for as Jeremiah 29:11 says, “I know well the plans I have in mind for you. When you call me, I will listen to you.”

Sister Agnes Marie Sampia was born in Carencro, Louisiana, but was reared in Lafayette. It was her grandmother who inspired her vocation to the consecrated life and who taught her to listen for God’s invitation to serve him as Bernadette Soubirous did. Her older sister encouraged her to join the Sisters of the Holy Family because the sisters had taught them in both elementary and high school. Thus, she left her home parish of Immaculate Heart of Mary to begin her journey of listening more intently to God. “Today I am still listening to God as I serve him in the various ministries in which he has called me,” Sister Agnes Marie said. She has served in ministry in the field of education in the U.S. and in Central America, in religious life formation in Nigeria, West Africa, and as treasurer general for the Sisters of the Holy Family. She is a manager of an affordable housing facility for the elderly and physically disabled. Sister encourages others to learn to listen and trust Jesus, to develop a faith that does not rest on what you can do, but on what God can do through you. She prays, “May my life give praise and glory to his name!”

Sister Clare of Assisi Pierre, born in St. James, Louisiana,was reared in New Orleans. Sister Clare’s home parish was St. Joan of Arc. She was educated and spiritually formed by the Sisters of the Holy Family. Sister has ministered primarily in the field of education at both the elementary and secondary levels. She served in the U.S. and in Belize, Central America. Sister Clare also is a member of the leadership team of the congregation and has served as assistant congregational leader. Currently, she is president of St. Mary’s Academy. She is a strong advocate for the poor and marginalized. She works diligently to empower both youths and adults encouraging them to develop an awareness of God’s almighty power and assist them in fostering a close relationship with him.
Celebrating 50 years


Sister Geneva James learned from her parents of the love of God and to express her love by doing as Jesus did. Her faith formation was supported by her home parish of Notre Dame Catholic Church in St. Martinville, Louisiana. She was motivated to enter the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family by her desire to live a life of prayer and to serve God’s people. Her ministry was in education for 25 years. She has also served in pastoral ministry and at Lafon Nursing Facility of the Sisters of the Holy Family. She keeps very busy and involved with preschoolers by managing the facilities at St. John Berchmans Child Development Center and has established a speakers’ bureau to promote the cause of Henriette Delille, foundress of the Sisters of the Holy Family. Sister and her members visit church parishes throughout Louisiana and other states. They include in their presentation vocation awareness to all forms of consecrated life. One may ask, “How can Sister manage so many tasks?” Her response is surely: God provides when you are doing his will. Sister says, “Be kind to all people, be merciful and forgive others.”