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Golden JUBILEE OF RELIGIOUS PROFESSION

Sister Mary Martha Kacmarek, OSB, a Byzantine Benedictine Sister of Queen of Heaven Monastery in Warren, Ohio, celebrated her golden jubilee of monastic profession on June 24, 2018.


Photo taken by Joseph Rudinec

On Sunday, June 24, 2018, Sister Mary Martha Kacmarek, OSB, a Byzantine Benedictine Sister of Queen of Heaven Monastery in Warren, Ohio, celebrated her Golden Jubilee of monastic profession at the 11 A.M. Divine Liturgy at SS. Peter and Paul Byzantine Catholic Church in Warren. Most Reverend William C. Skurla, DD, Metropolitan Archbishop of Pittsburgh and Reverend Simeon Sibenik, pastor of Saints Peter and Paul Church, concelebrated the Divine Liturgy of Thanksgiving. Father Simeon delivered the homily. Clergy present were Monsignor George Appleyard of Clintonville, PA and Abbot Leo Schlosser in residence at Leisenring, PA. Miss Mary Beth Byers cantored the Liturgy and Theodore Falatic chanted the Epistle reading. James Basista and John Welch served as acolytes.

Along with friends, family, and members of her monastic community, the Oblates of Saint Benedict and several Sisters of St. Basil the Great were also present. Following the Divine Liturgy, all enjoyed a festive dinner at Café 422 in Warren. Almost a dozen members of Sister’s family from the Chicago and Indiana areas were able to be present, including her remaining sibling, Joseph, the oldest of the family.

Sister Mary Martha is the youngest of nine children born to the late Joseph and Mary Kacmarek of Chicago. A member of St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church in Chicago, she entered the Benedictine Sisters of the Byzantine Church in Warren in 1966 and made perpetual profession on June 5, 1971. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics from Saint Xavier College in Chicago and a Master of Science degree in mathematics from the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana.

Sister Mary Martha has taught classes on the elementary, high school, college and adult levels, including catechetical classes at local Byzantine parishes. For over 20 years she regularly visited the shut-ins and hospitalized of Saints Peter and Paul Byzantine Catholic Parish in Warren.

Ministry for her community over the years has included being sub-prioress, community secretary, treasurer, formation team member and monastic council member. Presently her primary ministry is faithfulness to prayer and continuing the responsibility of being community treasurer.

May God grant to Sister Mary Martha many happy and blessed years! Mnohaja i blahaja lita!