On Sunday, July 10, 2011, Villa Maria College celebrated the Golden Jubilee ofSister Marcella Marie Garus, CSSF, president of Villa Maria College, for her 50 years of service to consecrated life, at a liturgy held in the College Auditorium.Several Felician Franciscan Sisters celebrating their jubilees were also h onored.
The Reverend Fabian Maryanski concelebrated the Mass together with Monsignor Angelo Caligiuri, who served as homilist; Deacon William Willis; and Acolytes of the Felician Franciscan Associates, Linda M. Birochik and Edward Hermanson. All of the jubilarians renewed their religious vows during the ceremony andwere accompanied in song by members of the Felician Franciscan Choir, led by Sister Mary Angelette Helak, and other invited musicians. More than 20 priests from parishes throughout the city of Buffalo participated in the procession and liturgy, offering their prayers and congratulations to the jubilarians for their combined 400+ years of service to the Church, along with over 400 family members, guests and friends. A reception was held in the Villa Maria College Dining Hall following the Mass.
Golden Jubilarians included: Sister Marcella Marie Garus, president of Villa Maria College; Sister Mary Richardine Baranski; Sister Mary Francesca Buczkowski; Sister Mary Virgilyn Grabowski; Sister Mary Lucette Kinecki; Sister Therese Marie Kodz; Sister Mary Gloria Lewandowski; and Sister Mary Rachel Mikolajczak. Silver Jubiliarian, Sister Mary Judith Goehring, was also honored for her 25 years of consecrated service to the Church.
Founded in 1961, Villa Maria College is a private, Catholic, coeducational College specializing in the applied arts and music. The College grants both baccalaureate and associate degrees in multiple academic disciplines. Villa Maria College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and is a member of the Association of Franciscan Colleges and Universities.
Our Lady of Hope is the patroness of the North American Province of the Felician Franciscan Sisters. Our Lady of Hope Province is headquartered in Corapolis, Pennsylvania.
