June 28, 2025

Sisters of St. Joseph celebrate special anniversaries

REGIONAL
Staff report

HOLYOKE —  Twenty-six Sisters of St. Joseph were honored for their 60, 65, 70 and 75 years of service, on Tuesday, June 17 at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish in Holyoke. A special 11 a.m. Mass was celebrated for the sisters and the community of St. Joseph. Following the Mass, everyone was treated to a luncheon at Hamel’s Summit View in Holyoke.

The group includes sisters who originally entered the Fall River community and the Rutland, Vt. community. Both groups joined with the Springfield sisters to celebrate as one community.

Some sisters, who are in Bethany Healthcare Center in Framingham were unable to join the celebration in person. For these sisters, there will be a celebration at the nursing home facility with liturgy and luncheon in their honor.

One sister from the 60-year group traveled from Henderson, Nev. to join her group for this special occasion.

The theme for the special anniversaries was “My Cup Overflows with Gratitude and Joy.”

The Sisters celebrating 60 years are: Sister Kathleen Reagan; Sister Linda Fallon; Sister Jean Schneider; Sister Joan Schneider; Sister Sheila Murphy; Sister Kathryn Gallagher; Sister Kathleen Hinga; Sister Linda Wilk; Sister Patricia Murphy; Sister Rhea Quintin; and Sister Roberta Salah.

Sisters celebrating 65 years are: Sister Marlene Mucha; Sister Maxyne Schneider; Sister Anne Carroll; Sister Cornelia Roy; Sister Dorothy Pilkington; Sister Judith Carvalho; and Sister Ann McKenna.

Sisters celebrating 70 years are: Sister Shirley Davis; Sister Mary Harvey; Sister Shirleyanne Greene; Sister Diane Gaudet; Sister Kathryn Flanagan; and Sister Kathleen Kirley.

Sisters celebrating 75 years are: Sister Mary Magdalen Ward and Sister Mary T. Shea.

A video version of this story will be on an upcoming edition of “Real to Reel” which airs Saturday evenings at 7 p.m. on WWLP-22 NEWS.