Bishop Gregory Parkes will celebrate the Religious Jubilee Mass at 11:00 a.m. at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle in St. Petersburg.

Each year, members of religious communities serving within the Diocese of Saint Petersburg, alongside lay members of the diocese, gather to honor those who celebrate milestone anniversaries.  

These jubilarians celebrate 25, 50, 60, 65, or 70 years of religious service, and this Mass is a beautiful time to recognize their sacrifice, commitment, and faithfulness to the call that God has given them.

Below is the list of our jubilarians:

70 years

Fr. Daniel Lanahan, OFM

Sr. Marlene Weidenborner, OSF

Sister Marlene Weidenborner is native to Rochester, New York. She grew up being educated by Franciscan Sisters of Allegany for elementary school and Rochester Sisters of St. Joseph for high school. She became a member of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany 70 years ago. She spent time as a sister in North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, and Florida. Following eight years in congregational leadership, she served as the Director of LPMI and Vicar for Religious before retiring.

65 years

Sr. Eileen Marie Woodbury, FSSE

Sister Eileen Marie Woodbury felt a call at an early age and entered the Franciscan Sisters of St. Elizabeth. She earned a degree in elementary education and history from the College of St. Elizabeth and pursued advanced religious studies at LaSalle University. In 1966, she professed her Final Vows in Rome. She spent many years shaping young minds across early childhood, middle school, and high school classrooms. She earned her master’s degree from Seton Hall University and stepped into leadership as a school principal in communities in New Jersey and New York. In 2001, she shifted to Spring Hill, Florida where she was principal at Notre Dame Catholic School. Today she resides in San Antonio, Florida.

60 years

Sr. Mary David Hydro, OSB

Sister Mary David Hydro was born Janis Hydro in Miami, Florida and entered the Benedictine Sisters of Florida at Holy Name Monastery in 1964. She was given the religious name Sister Mary David Hydro, OSB, when she made her Temporary Profession in May of 1966. Her Perpetual Profession was in June of 1971. She spent time as an educator, vocation and formation director, and oblate director, and contributed to the Benedictines for Peace and Alliance for International Monasticism.

Br. Alan Thomas, OFM

Fr. Kevin Tortorelli, OFM

50 years

Fr. Kevin Downey, OFM

Fr. Ronald Gliatta, OFM

25 years

Sr. Gladys Mallya, CDNK

Sister Gladys Mallya is a member of the Sisters of Our Lady of Kilimanjaro. Growing up she received a Catholic education. She enrolled in a nursing school for three years before feeling called to religious life and applying to join her community. She professed her First Vows in 2001 and served in various ministries as a nurse. In 2010, she professed her Final Vows. She was assigned as a missionary sister to the Diocese of Saint Petersburg in 2013 and serves at Aventura at the Bay Nursing Home as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA).

Sr. Huong Nguyen, SJP

Sister Huong Nguyen entered the Congregation of the Servants of Christ the Priest in August of 1993 when she was 13 and made her First Profession in August of 2001. She studied Pastoral Theology in Vietnam and completed pastoral internships there as well. She made her Perpetual Profession in June of 2007. In 2012 she was assigned to serve at Holy Martyrs of Vietnam Parish in St. Petersburg. She completed the LPMI program in 2022 and continues to serve at Holy Martyrs of Vietnam Parish where she assists with parish administration and faith formation.

To view the livestream of this Mass, click here.