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Sister Anne Regina O’Leary
Celebrates 75th Jubilee
WHEELING, WV—On
Saturday, October 27, Sr. Anne Regina O’Leary celebrated her
75th Jubilee as a member of the Congregation of St. Joseph. The
Eucharistic Liturgy began at 11:00 a.m. in the Chapel at Mount St.
Joseph. Fr. John Di Bacco from St. Mary’s Parish in Star City,
WV presided. Included in the service was the renewal of Sr. Anne
Regina’s vows that she professed as a new sister in 1934.
During his homily Fr. Di Bacco explained, “All of Sister Anne
Regina’s service is a living out of her call to follow the
Lord in community and ministry. Her call is Eucharistic, the living
Bread that is broken and the Cup of Eternal Blessing that is poured
out.”
Participating in the ceremony were: Srs. Eulalia Estep and Rita
Marie von Berg -readers; Marianne Carroll – intercessions;
Presentation of Gifts – Ms. Patty Purpura and Ms. Mary Julia
Smith; Organists - Srs. Carol Hannig and Alicia Weiskircher; Eucharistic
Ministers – Srs. Ann Hoye and Rose McBreen. Cantors included
Srs. Judith Minear, Marguerite O’Brien and Christine Riley.
Services were followed by a luncheon in the dining room of Mount
St. Joseph. A special slide presentation of Sr. Anne Regina’s
life was created by Sr. Mary Ann Rosenbaum for viewing during the
luncheon.
Sr. Anne Regina received her B.A. and M.A. degrees at Catholic University
in Washington, DC. She taught at Sacred Heart, St. Joseph Academy
and Central Catholic High School in Wheeling; St. Patrick in Weston;
St. Peter in Fairmont; St. Joseph in Huntington; and at St. Mary
and Notre Dame in Clarksburg. She was President of the Sisters of
St. Joseph of Wheeling from 1970-1976, and served as President of
the U.S. Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph from 1972-1976.
In 1974 she established the Sisters of St. Joseph Foundation to
help meet retirement needs of the congregation. Subsequently she
served the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston as Associate Vicar for
Religious and coordinator of activities related to Health Affairs
and to Women in the Church. Sr. Anne Regina continued to exert leadership
on behalf of the Foundation until 2004 and, until recently, she
was Director of Communications for the congregation.
Her service on several boards includes: St. Joseph’s, St. Francis
and Wheeling Hospitals, the Welty Board, National Conference of
Vicars for Religious, and Wheeling Hall of Fame. She was inducted
into the Wheeling Hall of Fame in 2000 for her contributions to
religion and education.
“For 75 years I have been blessed with life and
love that enabled me to serve and minister to God’s people
in the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston. These years have been fulfilling,
exciting, and challenging to me as I have touched the lives of countless
men and women in sharing my journey with them,” Sr.
Anne Regina.
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