Eight Sisters of the Holy Family celebrate jubilees

Eight Sisters of the Holy Family with a combined 530 years of religious service will celebrate their jubilees of profession June 8 at a 10 a.m. Mass at the Motherhouse Chapel, 6901 Chef Menteur Hwy., New Orleans.

Divine Word Father Charles Ndumdi will celebrate the Mass, and Deacon Jesse Watley will be the homilist.

75 years of profession

Sister Josita Marie Ogaldez, a native of Belize, entered the congregation in 1949 and made her first profession of vows in 1952. Her aunt was Sister of the Holy Family Edmond Ogaldez. Sister Josita Marie has been a teacher, catechist and youth minister, and she has promoted the sainthood cause of Venerable Henriette Delille. Still active at 97, she has taught and participated in liturgical dance and is a member of the St. Raymond-St. Leo the Great choir. She also participated in the Flourishing Sisterhood in the Gulf South program sponsored by the Loyola Institute for Ministry (LIM). “Old age is a gift and blessing from God,” she said. “The elders are strong with wisdom, knowledge and understanding. They should always be treated with respect and love.” 

Sister Mary Charlotte Rubit, a native of Cankton, Louisiana, was just 8 years old when her parents took her to see a movie about St. Therese of Lisieux, and the saint’s deep love for the Sacred Heart inspired her. She spent 40 years as a teacher. She earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Seton Hall University and a master’s in administration from The Catholic University of America. She helped integrate St. Rita Elementary School in Alexandria, Louisiana, and St. James School in Pittsburgh. She taught for 14 years at St. Mary’s Academy, her alma mater. She is a spiritual director and has led pilgrimages to Medjugorje, Rome, the Holy Land, Fatima and Lourdes. She also promotes devotion to the Divine Mercy. Her message to others is, “When he calls you, answer him! Go wherever he sends you!”    

70 years of profession

Sister Mary Magdalen Antoine, a native of New Roads, Louisiana, entered religious life from St. Augustine Parish, where she was inspired by her Catholic upbringing, the faithfulness of her parents and the example of others. She did many years of domestic work at the archbishop’s residence and helped serve a meal to St. Pope John Paul II during his 1987 visit to New Orleans. She also provided spiritual guidance to students at Southern University New Orleans and worked with Christopher Homes and Lazarus House for residents with AIDS. Sister carried bread and donuts to the hungry in poor areas of the city. She also ministered to the ladies who were victims of trafficking on the street. She not only distributed food but also smiled, told stories of her ministry and talked with everyone.

Sister Mary Henrietta Lazare, a native of Leonville, Louisiana, entered the congregation in 1954 and made her first profession of vows in 1957. Sister Henrietta earned a bachelor of science degree in biology from Xavier University of Louisiana. She was a teacher and principal at Austin High School in Belize; principal of St. Peter Claver High School in Grand Coteau, her alma mater; principal of Holy Rosary Institute in Lafayette; principal of Regina Caeli/Queen of Angels High School in Compton, California; and teacher at St. Mary’s Academy in New Orleans. She also served as a member of the congregational leadership team for six years. She is engaged in prayer ministry at the Lafon Nursing Facility.

60 years of profession

Sister Carmen Marie Bertrand, who grew up in Opelousas, Louisiana, entered religious life from Holy Ghost Parish. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Xavier University of Louisiana in 1970 and a master’s in education from the University of Louisiana in Lafayette. She taught at Holy Family and Immaculate Heart of Mary elementary schools in Lafayette. She was principal at All Saints Elementary in New Orleans; Marksville Catholic in Marksville, Louisiana; and St. Joseph Elementary in Marshall, Texas. She was the first principal of Henriette Delille Middle School for girls in New Orleans, sponsored by various religious congregations to help at-risk girls and their families. After Hurricane Katrina, she assisted at St. Mary’s Academy in New Orleans to open the elementary school for children in grades pre-K to 5. She has served as the local congregational leader and formation director. She is a certified spiritual director and was selected to work at the Magnificat House with women seriously considering a call to religious life. She also worked for eight years at St. John Berchmans Manor until her retirement in 2022. She assists in the canonization cause of Venerable Henriette Delille.

Sister Mary Leona Bruner, a native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, entered religious life from St. Monica Church. She was motivated to enter the Sisters of the Holy Family when God kept calling her, and she finally said “yes” in her junior year in high school. She taught high school girls and boys in several locations. She served on the leadership team as a member, vicar, congregational leader and as local leader. In previous years, she served as vice principal and principal of secondary schools.  She also served as assistant superintendent of Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of New Orleans for several years. She lives at Lafon convent and daily ministers to the sisters who are residents of Lafon Nursing Facility of the Holy Family.

Sister Mary Richard Francis Daigle, a native of Lafayette, Louisiana, entered the congregation from St. Paul Church. She was motivated to enter the Sisters of the Holy Family by the witness of the sisters over 12 years and the spiritual influence of her parents, who were practicing Catholics. She also had a sense of mission to serve. She has been a teacher, manager of housing for the elderly, school administrator and community manager. She is inspired in her consecrated life by the faithfulness of sisters who have gone before her, her own promised commitment to Jesus and his church, and her determination to choose to serve Jesus and those who need to know that God loves them.

Sister Rita Darensbourg, a native of Dallas, moved to New Orleans as a child and continued her education at St. Joan of Arc School. She was inspired by the love and dedication of the Sisters of the Holy Family. She earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Xavier University of Louisiana, a master’s in religious education and a master’s in religious studies from Loyola University, and a graduate certificate in pastoral studies from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. She taught at St. Raymond School, All Saints School and St. Paul the Apostle School in New Orleans; Holy Rosary Institute, Immaculate Heart of Mary School and Holy Family School in Lafayette, Louisiana; and St. Joseph School in Marshall, Texas. In 1991, she was director of religious education at St. Paul the Apostle Parish in New Orleans. She also served as a prison minister and adult religious educator in Shreveport, Louisiana, and as a parish administrator and prison minister in Ville Platte, Louisiana. She is formation directress for the congregation. Her greatest joy has been working in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. The Scripture message that speaks most clearly to her comes from Isaiah 55:6: “Seek the Lord while he may be found, call to him while he is near.”