Oblate sisters celebrate community's founding

Holy Name Cathedral hosts a Mass to celebrate the centennial of the foundation of the Oblate Sister of Jesus the Priest on Feb. 11, 2024. Bishops Robert Casey and Mark Bartosic and over 30 priests gathered to celebrate the sisters who live at the rectory and have served the Holy Name Cathedral community since 2001. The cathedral is the fourth place where the sisters have ministered in the archdiocese. The order was founded in Mexico by a French priest, Father Felix de Jesus Rougier, in 1924, with the idea of supporting the priesthood by way of work and prayer. The sisters came to Illinois in September 1961, when they arrived at Niles College of Loyola Seminary, subsequently St. Joseph Seminary on the Lakeshore Campus of Loyola University Chicago. At the same time, the Oblates founded a community at the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary and a house of formation in Hometown. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic
Sisters of Jesus the Priest process into Mass. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Sister Maria Luz Lemus turns around and smiles as the congregation gives the sisters a standing ovation. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Oblate Sisters of Jesus the Priest renew their vows following the homily. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Auxiliary Bishops Robert Casey and Mark Bartosic watch the sisters renew their vows. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Father Jesus Raya Custodio joins fellow priests in blessing the sisters. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Surrounded by priests, the sisters smile as they receive a standing ovation. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Members of the congregation hold their hands over the sisters during a blessing. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Priests congratulate the sisters after they renew their vows. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Father Greg Sakowicz, cathedral rector, shares stories about the sisters with the congregation. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Sakowicz congratulates and thanks each sister with a hug. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Sakowicz and Deacon Dennis Robak receive a symbol from Oblate Sister Guadalupe Lopez, mother superior, as the gifts are brought up. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Father Andy Matijevic assists the sisters in setting up the altar. The sisters brought up the altar cloth during the presentation of the gifts. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Oblate Sisters of Jesus the Priest share the sign of peace with the congregation. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Oblate Sisters of Jesus the Priest pray during the Eucharistic Prayer. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Father Esequiel Sanchez, rector of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines, translates for Oblate Sister Sister Guadalupe Lopez, mother superior, as she speaks after Mass. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Sisters hold candles while Father Gregory Sakowicz, rector at Holy Name Cathedral, incenses the new tabernacle at the cathedral following Mass. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

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