7 Benedictine Ravens Make Final Vows
Benedictine College
Of the 13 sisters taking final vows with the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George in Alton, Ill., Aug. 15 seven are former Benedictine College students.
Five bishops concelebrated. Left to right: Cardinal Justin Rigali; Springfield, Ill., Bishop Thomas Paprocki; La Crosse Bishop William Callahan; Peoria Bishop Daniel Jenky; and Bishop Edward Rice, St. Louis Auxiliary.
7 Benedictine Ravens Make Final Vows
Sister Mary George, Benedictine College class of 2005, makes her vows.
On the Aug. 15 Feast of the Assumption at St. Mary’s Parish in Alton, Ill., seven former students of Benedictine College in Atchison, Kan., took their final vows as Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George .
The sisters took their final vows at St. Mary’s Parish in Alton, Ill., in a ceremony presided over by Bishop Thomas Paprocki of the Diocese of Springfield, Ill. A Benedictine College professor who attended said the sisters sang the Raven fight song after the ceremony.
“It was a beautiful way to share the consecration and covenant with my family and friends present and to show them how much it means to me. It was a day overwhelmed with grace that was indescribable,” Sister Mary George Brown, Class of 2005. “I turned my heart over to the One Who created it forever.”
Thirteen sisters in total made their final vows. This is the final step in a long process. The sisters have been in the convent for 8-10 years: Three years of initial formation and the rest in temporary profession.
“Through Final Profession of Vows, the young Sister hands over her life to God ‘forever’ within our Community,” the sisters’ website explains. “She receives a ring as the sign of her commitment to Jesus.”
Seven of the sisters have attended Benedictine College.
“Not all of them graduated from the school, but they are all Ravens,” said Vocations Director Sister M. Consolata, FSGM.
Graduates:
- Sister M. Catherine Welter, ’07
- Sister Mary George Brown, ’05
- Sister M. Vianney Ebben, ’08
- Sister M. Christiana Lanuzga, ’11
Students who entered prior to graduating:
- Sister M. Clementia Toalson (Tracy Toalson, studied with the class of ’05)
- Sister Mary Jude Marsella (Rachel Marsella, studied with the class of ’06)
- Sister Mary David Tappan (Andrea Tappan , studied with the class of ’05)
In his homily Bishop Paprocki told the sisters not to be satisfied with being good, but to be great, which means to be holy, to be a saint.
Four bishops, including Cardinal Justin Rigali, concelebrated, along with dozens of priests.
