The 100th anniversary of our community was celebrated on the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, with a beautiful Mass at which Cardinal Timothy Dolan was the main celebrant. (The original plan was to have a big Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City, but the Cardinal felt it was not prudent during this pandemic.)
Priests joining the Cardinal at Mass were Fr. Stephen Reis, the cardinal’s secretary, Fr. David Rider, Fr. Thomas Byrnes, Fr. Chris Argano, Fr. Paul Sullivan, Fr. Jack Arlotta, and Fr. John Wilson.
Before Mass the Cardinal prayed briefly at the sarcophagus of Servant of God Mother Mary Teresa Tallon. During His homily he spoke of how closely our foundress patterned her life after the Blessed Virgin, her total obedience in following God’s will to found our community, and her emphasis on combining contemplative prayer with missionary outreach and catechetics.
We look forward to the future years with confidence in God, and we praise Him for all the blessings of the past 100 years.