Eighteen men and women religious in The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington this year are marking milestone anniversaries of their religious professions. They were honored at a Feb. 26 Mass celebrated by Washington Cardinal Wilton Gregory at the St. Ursula Chapel of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center in Hyattsville, Maryland. The following information was provided by the Office of Consecrated Life of The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington.
75th Anniversary
Father Joseph Jensen, O.S.B. (Order of St. Benedict) is celebrating 75 years of religious life. Father Jensen was born in Mannheim, Illinois. He graduated from Lane Technical High School, and then entered the U.S. Air Corps, where he served from 1942-1945. He received his doctorate degree from The Catholic University of America in 1971 after attending the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome. He is chair of the Thomas Verner Moore Lectures, and is a prolific author of articles and published books. He received the Catholic Biblical Quarterly Award celebrating him on his 80th Birthday. He also received the Papal Benemerenti Medal in 1983.
70th Anniversary
Father Ralph Frisch, S.T. (Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity) is celebrating 70 years in religious life. Father Frisch was born in Long Island City, New York, and educated at St. Joseph Preparatory Seminary in Holy Trinity, Alabama. He now is retired. Father Frisch is a retreat director and works in the mission office. He was the retreat director for the Serenity Retreat and was a community architect. Father Frisch was active in parochial ministry in Georgia, Virginia, and Mississippi. He serves as the spiritual director for Lay Apostolic Groups.
60th Anniversary
Sister Pat Parachini, SNJM (Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary) is celebrating 60 years of religious life. Sister Pat was born in Newark, New Jersey. She graduated from the Academy of the Holy Names in Silver Spring, Maryland and received her bachelor of arts degree from Marymount College in Tarrytown, New York; her master’s degree in religious education from LaSalle University; and doctor of ministry from The Catholic University of America. She is an author and contributes regularly to Give Us This Day, published by Liturgical Press. Throughout her professed religious years, she has served in formation ministry for her religious congregation at the province and congregational levels. She is strongly committed to issues of social justice which are also important to her congregation.
Sister Barbara Spears, SNJM (Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary) is celebrating 60 years of religious life. Sister Barbara was born in Charlottsville, Virginia. She graduated from St. Francis DeSales High School in Rock Castle, Virginia. Sister Barbara earned bachelor and masters of science degrees from Howard University in Washington, D.C.; a masters of arts degree from Trinity College in Washington, D.C.; a masters of theology degree from Xavier University in New Orleans; and she completed her doctoral studies in educational administration at NOVA Southeastern University.
Sister Barbara is currently serving in a non-governmental organization at the United Nations. She is also the current Mid-Atlantic regional coordinator for the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary. She has a rich background in education ministry, serving as a field representative in the Office of Religious Education for the Archdiocese of Washington, in campus ministry at St. John’s College High School in Washington, D.C., and as a Catholic school teacher and principal. Sister Barbara served as principal of St. Augustine School in Washington, D.C., as president and principal of St. Frances Academy in Baltimore, as principal at St. Gabriel School in Washington, D.C., and as principal at Mount Calvary School in Forestville, Maryland. Sister Barbara also taught at St. Cyprian’s School and Holy Comforter-St. Cyprian School in Washington, D.C., and was an administrative intern at Mackin High School, also in Washington. Sister Barbara later served as the associate superintendent of schools for the Archdiocese of Baltimore. She received the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Award from the Archdiocese of Baltimore and an honorary doctorate from Loyola College of Baltimore. Sister Barbara is also the past president of the National Black Sisters Conference.
Brother Jordan Baxter, S.T. (Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity) is celebrating 60 years of religious life. Brother Jordan was born in Garden City, New York and graduated from Chaminade High School in New York. He served in his order’s treasurer’s office from 1962 to 2019 with the last 20 years as treasurer.
Brother Richard J. McCann, S.T. (Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity) is celebrating 60 years of religious life. He was born in Philadelphia, and received a degree from Pennsylvania State University. He serves in senior ministry at the Father Judge Missionary Cenacle in Adelphi, Maryland. He continues to serve as a spiritual director and is involved in retreat ministry.
Sister Mary Catherine Mindling, RSM (Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas) is celebrating 60 years of consecrated life. She was born in Toledo, Ohio. She graduated from Sacred Heart Academy in Louisville, Kentucky, and received her bachelor of arts degree from Georgian Court University in New Jersey, and her master of arts degree from Villanova University in Philadelphia. Sister Mary Catherine currently serves as an interpreter/translator for the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas in Silver Spring, Maryland. She was teacher of Spanish and French at St. John’s College High School in Washington, D.C.
Sister Jane Mary Duke, IHM (Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart Mary in Scranton, Pennsylvania) is celebrating 60 years of religious life. She was born in Pittsburgh, and graduated from Marywood University in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Sister Jane Mary is the religious education coordinator at Joint Base Andrews. She was director of religious education at Sacred Heart Parish in La Plata, Maryland, and St. Joseph Parish in Pomfret, Maryland. She also has a variety of ministries in NAS Patuxent River Base and in Clinton, Maryland.
50th Anniversary
Father Steven Payne, OCD (Discalced Carmelite Friars) is celebrating his golden jubilee of 50 years of religious life. He was born in Ames, Iowa and graduated from Ithaca High School in New York. He received his doctorate degree in philosophy from Cornell and a doctorate degree in theology from The Catholic University of America. He has served as the endowed chair of Carmelite Studies at Catholic University from 2019 until the present. Father Payne has received numerous academic awards and honors, and he is a renowned author and has authenticated numerous peer review articles, books chapters and lectures.
Father Francisco J. Conkle, S.T. (Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity) is celebrating his golden jubilee of 50 years of religious life. He was born in Philadelphia and graduated from Loyola University in New Orleans. Father Conkle has served in numerous missionary assignments including in Puerto Rico, Mexico and Haiti. Currently, he is residing at his community’s senior ministry home in Adelphi, Maryland.
Sister Majella of Jesus Hargan, LSP, a Little Sister of the Poor, is a native of Scotland marking her 50th anniversary in religious life this year. She serves at the Little Sisters’ Jeanne Jugan Residence for the elderly poor in Washington, D.C.
40th Anniversary
Sister Stella Maris Ihejeto, HHCJ (Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus) is celebrating 40 years of religious life. She was born in Imo State, Nigeria. After serving in Nigeria, she moved to the United States to serve as a teacher and in parish and pastoral ministry in Florida, California and Alabama. She earned a master of divinity degree from the Jesuit School of Theology at Santa Clara University in California. She serves as a seventh-grade homeroom teacher and teaches middle school social studies at St. Augustine Catholic School in Washington, D.C.
Sister Bibiana C. Okoro, HHCJ (Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus) is celebrating 40 years of religious life. She attended school in Nigeria before coming to the United States to attend Seton Hall University in New Jersey. She is the director of religious education at St. Augustine Catholic School in Washington, D.C., and previously served as provincial counselor in the Central Eastern Province of Onychia, Nigeria.
25th Anniversary
Sister Rosario A. Salazar, MCST (Missionary Catechists of St. Therese of the Infant Jesus) is celebrating 25 years of religious life. She was born in the Philippines and attended Santiago South Central Elementary and La Salette High School. She graduated from University of La Salette in Santiago City, Philippines with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education. She has a master of educational management degree from Laguna State Polytechnic University. She is coordinator of religious education and First Penance/First Communion coordinator at Our Lady Help of Christians in Waldorf, Maryland.
Sister Charlotte Ann Marie King, SV (Sisters of Life) is celebrating 25 years of religious life. She is from Kansas City, Missouri and attended O’Hara High School and Rockhurst College, both in Kansas City. She is active in her order’s Hope and Healing Mission for those who suffer from the pain, guilt, fear and anxiety of having an abortion. She has served in various roles in her community, including postulate director.
Sister M. Donata Farbaniec, ISMM (Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy of Warsaw, Poland) is celebrating 25 years of religious life. She was born and raised in Rymanow, Poland, and has spoken on the message of Divine Mercy at retreats, parish missions and congresses. Sister Donata earlier served in Boston, and relocated to Washington, D.C. in 2016 to serve at the Saint John Paul II National Shrine. She is a currently a formator and the local superior for the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy.
Sister Mary Ruth Slanina, ISMM (Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy of Warsaw, Poland) is celebrating 25 years of religious life. She was born in Boston. Sister Mary Ruth attended St. Francis Hospital School of Nursing and Central Connecticut State University. Presently, she serves as a sacristan and ministers in nursing homes and prisons.
Sister Leilani Guzman Dumaliang, MCST (Missionary Catechists of St. Therese of the Infant Jesus) is celebrating 25 years of religious life. She was born in Cagayan Valley, Philippines, and has advanced degrees in science, education, English and religious education. Sister Leilani served as a parish pastoral worker at Our Lady Help of Christians in Waldorf and as a parish catechetical leader at St. Ignatius in Fort Washington. She currently serves as director of religious education at St. John the Evangelist Church in Clinton, Maryland.
