On St. Patrick’s Day, parishioners at St. Mary’s Parish in Baldwinsville, New York had an additional Irish party in mind, a celebration in honor of Sister Celestine McCann and her 90th birthday! The festivities included a delicious corned beef and cabbage dinner prepared and served by volunteer chefs and servers.
Reverend Clifford H. Auth, pastor of St. Mary’s, surprised Sister Celestine with the renaming of the St. Mary’s Academy Scholarship to The Sister Celestine Scholarship Fund. He thanked her for promoting Catholic education, noting that her presence brings life to parishioners, both young and old alike. The students then presented Sister Celestine with an autographed, framed photo of the current students attending St. Mary’s Academy. Entertainment by parishioners followed.
Several Franciscan sisters attended the event, including Sisters Marcia Barry and Bernadette Joseph Kupris who also minister at the parish. Sisters Barbara Jean Donovan, Patricia Larkin and Donna Zwigart from the congregation’s leadership team expressed their gratitude to the parishioners of St. Mary’s for their joyful, supportive, and kind spirit! “The whole parish was involved,” said Sister Patricia. “The cafeteria was filled with people happily celebrating Sister Celestine and her many years of Franciscan service to others.”
