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Biographies of religious marking milestone anniversaries in Archdiocese of Washington

After celebrating a Feb. 27 Mass for Jubilee Religious at the National Shrine, Washington Cardinal Wilton Gregory joined the jubilarians in attendance to pose for a group photo, with the participants wearing face masks and standing at social distances in accord with coronavirus safety precautions. From left to right they are Sister Mary Elizabeth Wusinich, S.V. (25th); Sister Laura Lee Seubert, L.S.J. (40th); Brother Steven Vesely, S.T. (50th); Brother William Coombs, S.T. (60th); Father Binh Nguyen, S.V.D. (25th); Cardinal Gregory; Father James Gardiner, S.A. (60th); Sister Sara Dwyer, A.S.C. (50th);, Sister Ann Parker, I.H.M. (60th); and Sister Marija Montherio, a Missionary of Charity marking her 25th anniversary. (CS photo/Andrew Biraj)

On Feb. 27, Cardinal Wilton Gregory celebrated a Jubilee Mass for Religious at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, to honor women and men religious serving in the Archdiocese of Washington who are marking milestone anniversaries. These photos and biographies of the jubilarians were compiled by the archdiocese’s Office of Consecrated Life.

60th Anniversary

Brother William Coombs, S.T. [Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity] is celebrating his diamond jubilee of 60 years in religious life. He was born in Great Mills, Maryland and attended Little Flower School and St. Michael’s High School. Brother William entered the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity with temporary vows in 1958, and made his final vows in 1961. Over the years, he has served various missions within the community, including assignments in Arizona, Mississippi, New Jersey, and Maryland.

Father James Gardiner, S.A. [Franciscan Friars of the Atonement] is celebrating his diamond jubilee of 60 years in religious life. He was born in New York City, and attended Holy Rosary School and All Hallows High School in Bronx, New York. He continued his education at St. Pius X Seminary in Garrison, New York and Atonement Seminary and The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Father Gardiner’s ministry has included serving on the faculty of Archbishop Spaulding High School in Severn, Maryland and on the staff of Greater Akron Intergroup Ministry in Akron, Ohio. He also has served as Director of Graymoor Communications in Garrison, New York, on the staff of two parishes in New York City, as teleconference producer at the National Pastoral Life Center in New York City, and as director of the Graymoor Spiritual Life Center in Garrison, New York. He currently serves as director of special projects at the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in Washington, D.C. He is the co-editor (with J. Deotis Roberts) of Black Church, Black Theology, and is a recipient of a New York Area Emmy Award and a “Legends of the Village” Award from VillageCare in New York City.

Sister Rea McDonnell, S.S.N.D. [School Sisters of Notre Dame] is celebrating her diamond jubilee of 60 years in religious life. She was born in Chicago, where she attended the Academy of Our Lady. She continued her education at Mount Mary College (B.A.), St. John’s University (M.A.) in Collegeville, Minnesota, Boston University (Ph.D. in Scripture), and the Institute for Pastoral Psychotherapy in Oakton, Virginia. She received certification as a Fellow in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors (AAPC). Sister Rea’s ministry has included teaching every level from second grade to graduate programs. She served in administration at Washington Theological Union in addition to serving as a counselor, spiritual director, and theology teacher. She is a recipient of the Cardinal Stritch Award in Chicago, which allowed her to pursue her doctorate at Boston University. Her publications include 17 books and numerous homily helps and articles.

Sister Ann Parker, I.H.M. [Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Scranton, Pennsylvania] is celebrating her diamond jubilee of 60 years in religious life. She was born in Washington, D.C. and attended St. Mary of the Assumption School in Upper Marlboro, Maryland and St. Cecilia Academy in Washington, D.C. before continuing her education at Marywood University in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Sister Ann’s ministry has included serving as a teacher at St. John’s School in Binghamton, New York and Our Lady of Peace School in Clarks Green, Pennsylvania and as a principal and teacher at Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. In the Archdiocese of Washington, she served as principal at St. Mary Star of the Sea School in Indian Head, Maryland and Archbishop Neale School in La Plata, Maryland. She also served as pastoral associate and as director of religious education and youth ministry at St. Anthony Parish in North Beach, Maryland. She is currently retired and does volunteer outreach for spiritual formation.

50th Anniversary

Sister Sara Dwyer, A.S.C. [Adorers of the Blood of Christ] is celebrating her golden jubilee of 50 years in religious life. She was born in Wichita, Kansas and attended Madonna High School. She continued her education at Newman University (B.A. in Philosophy), St. Mary’s University (M.A. in Theology), and Boston College (M.Ed.). Sister Sara has served in adult faith formation in Fort Morgan, Colorado and at St. Thomas More University Parish in Norman, Oklahoma. She has also served as community life coordinator for her congregation’s motherhouse in Wichita, Kansas, in adult faith formation at St. Mark Parish in Norman, Oklahoma, and as director of the Office for Ministries of the Diocese of Tyler, Texas. In addition to serving on her congregation’s Leadership Team, she has served in the Archdiocese of Washington with NETWORK’s education program, as director of the Spiritual Life Institute at St. Ann Parish, on the Paulist Fathers Formation Team, and as director of the Washington Retreat House.

Father Thomas Gaunt, S.J. [Society of Jesus] is celebrating his golden jubilee of 50 years in religious life. He was born in Washington, D.C. and attended Gonzaga College High School. He continued his education at St. Louis University (B.A.), Loyola University Chicago (M.Div.), and the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill (M.P.A., Ph.D.). After serving as a teacher at Georgetown Preparatory School in the Archdiocese of Washington, Father Gaunt served as associate pastor at Holy Redeemer Parish in Hot Springs, North Carolina; director of planning and research for the Diocese of Charlotte; associate pastor at St. Peter Parish in Charlotte, North Carolina; and pastor of St. Benedict the Moor and Good Shepherd Parishes in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He has also served as Formation and Studies director for the Maryland and New York Province Jesuits and executive secretary of the Jesuit Conference USA. He currently serves as Catholic chaplain at Knollwood Military Retirement Center and executive director of the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CaliforniaRA). He is co-author of the books Catholic Parishes of the 21st Century (2017), Word, Liturgy, Charity (2018), Pathways to Religious Life (2018), and Catholic Bishops in the United States (2019).

Brother Steven Vesely, S.T. [Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity] is celebrating his golden jubilee of 50 years in religious life. He was born in Chicago, and attended St. Joseph High School in Westchester, Illinois before entering Father Judge Mission Seminary in Monroe, Virginia. Brother Steven’s ministry has included serving for 25 years on mission in Puerto Rico, for 21 years as congregational secretary general in Silver Spring, Maryland, and as director of senior ministers in Adelphi, Maryland.

40th Anniversary

Sister Laura Lee Seubert, L.S.J. [Little Sisters of Jesus] is celebrating her ruby jubilee of 40 years in religious life. She was born in Cottonwood, Idaho, where she attended St. Gertrude Academy. She continued her education at Mankato State University (B.S.) in Makato, Minnesota, Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, and the Institute of Integral Human Formation in Montreal, Quebec. She is a C.P.E. graduate from MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C. Sister Laura Lee’s ministry has included inner-city life in Chicago, traveling circus ministry across the United States and Canada, and contemplative presence, friendship, and work in Anchorage, Alaska; Rome, Italy; Gallitzin, Pennsylvania; and Baltimore. She currently serves as a part-time contract chaplain at MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C. Sister Laura Lee follows the spirituality of Blessed Charles de Foucauld in being a contemplative presence in the heart of the world.

Sister Stephanie Still, P.B.V.M. [Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary] is celebrating her ruby jubilee of 40 years in religious life. She was born in Oroville, California and attended Presentation High School in Berkeley, California. She continued her education at the University of California-Berkeley (B.A. in History, Teaching Credential, M.Ed.). Sister Stephanie’s ministry has included serving for 15 years in high school education as a teacher and administrator. She was elected to her congregation’s council in 1998. Following that term, she served in various positions for the congregation, including director of vocations, communicator, and chair of the Community Support Trust. She has served on the Boards of Trustees for Presentation-sponsored ministries and on the Boards of Directors for SafeHouse, a residential program for prostituted women, and Vallombrosa Retreat Center. She was elected president of her congregation for a six-year term in 2010, and since October 2016, she has served as executive director of the National Religious Retirement Office.

25th Anniversary

Father Chris Arockiaraj, P.S.S. [Society of St. Sulpice] is celebrating his silver jubilee of 25 years in religious life. He was born in Chennai, India. He has received degrees from the Institut Catholique de Toulouse, France (Ph.L.), San Francisco Theological Seminary (D.Min. with a concentration in Pastoral Counseling), and the Graduate Theological Foundation in Indiana (Ph.D. in Pastoral Psychology). Father Arockiaraj has taught both philosophy and theology and served on the faculty of St. Patrick’s Seminary and University in California, and Sacred Heart Seminary in India. He has also served as a pastor, hospital chaplain, formation advisor, spiritual director, academic dean, dean of men, director of field education, and coordinator of the pastoral-year program. He is a certified pastoral counselor and has clinical experience working with families and individuals. He also has a certificate in spiritual direction from the Institute for Priestly Formation in Omaha, Nebraska. He currently serves as vice-rector and director of pastoral formation at Theological College. At The Catholic University of America, he serves as a lecturer in the School of Theology and Religious Studies and coordinator of the Basic Supervised Ministry Program. He has written articles on the pastoral care of priests.

Father Binh Nguyen, S.V.D. [Society of the Divine Word] is celebrating his silver jubilee of 25 years in religious life. He was born in Ba Xuyen, Vietnam. After completing high school in Vietnam, he continued his education at Divine Word College Seminary in Epworth, Iowa and Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. Father Nguyen’s ministry has included serving as vocation director for the Society of the Divine Word and as associate pastor at Resurrection Parish in St. Louis, Missouri. Since 2011, he has served as chaplain for the Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Movement and the Eucharistic Youth Movement in the USA.

Sister Mary Elizabeth Wusinich, S.V. [Sisters of Life] is celebrating her silver jubilee of 25 years in religious life. She was born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania and attended Bishop Kenrick High School in Norristown, Pennsylvania. She continued her education at the University of Pittsburgh and transferred to Franciscan University of Steubenville (B.A. in Theology). Sister Mary Elizabeth’s ministry has included serving as novice director and postulant director for the Sisters of Life, director of the Family Life/Respect Life Office of the Archdiocese of New York, and vicar general for the Sisters of Life. She is currently enrolled in the Master’s program at the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family, and she currently serves as Co-Chair of the Board for The GIVEN Institute. She is a contributing author for The Foundations of Religious Life: Revisiting the Vision.

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