Sister’s Retirement Brings Blessings from Congregation
The faces of those she’s served over nearly two decades flashed through the mind of Sister Marie Therese Sherwood on June 30, 2024, as The Catholic Community of St. Matthias — led by Father Abraham Orapankal and Deacon John Radvanski — prayed a blessing over her. With this closing Mass, the congregation in Somerset, N.J., offered its gratitude to Sister upon her retirement after 17 years as Pastoral Associate for Social Concerns.
She, too, expressed gratitude for the privilege of serving among them, inviting all to sing O Beloved of God, a hymn written in 2012 to celebrate the parish’s 50th anniversary. Sister Marie Therese’s sister, Annie, and her niece, Kim, were on hand to bring up the offertory gifts, and a reception afterwards granted her time to speak personally with many parishioners. “I told them I’m not saying goodbye,” she says. “But, rather, until we meet again …”
Going forward, Sister hopes to lead days of reflection at St. Francis Center in Bethlehem, Pa., and discover opportunities to volunteer among those in need in the surrounding area.
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