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.

Here is a glimpse into the lives of these men and women.

70 Years

Sister Pauline Chouinard, SFCC

Sister Pauline is celebrating 70 years of religious life, a journey that began when she entered the Sisters for Christian Community (SFCC) in 1953, making her final profession in 1958. She brought her dedicated ministry to the Diocese of Saint Petersburg in 1986. Currently, Sister Pauline is actively involved in her faith community at Blessed Sacrament Parish, where she serves as a lector, spiritual advisor, and a member of the Women's Council. She is a parishioner at St. Ignatius of Antioch in Tarpon Springs.

65 Years

Sister Renetta Graff, SND

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Sister Renetta’s 65 years of service as a Sister of Notre Dame began in February of her freshmen year of college when she entered the community.  In 1960, she made her first vows, followed by her final vows five years later.  When she came to teach at Clearwater Central Catholic (CCC) during the year of her Silver Jubilee, she never thought that Florida would be her home for 40 years.  

​Assisting in parish youth ministry, Sister continued to encourage teens to become men and women who are comfortable with themselves and willing to reach out to others, especially the poor and marginalized. This love for youth continues now through a special ministry that provides opportunities to mentor young girls incarcerated at a facility in Tampa.  For the past ten years, Sister has continued to provide love, connection, and hope for these young girls. In addition to this special ministry, Sister Renetta also serves in the funeral ministry at Espiritu Santo Catholic Church in Safety Harbor, Florida.  

Father Joseph Hertel, OFM

Father Joseph Hertel was received into the Order of Friars Minor in July of 1959. He professed his simple vows in 1960, solemn vows in 1963, and was ordained a priest on March 5, 1966. He was assigned to St. Anthony Friary, St. Petersburg in 2011. He has worked with the friars themselves, as Guardian, and has served in several ministries over the years, until the Covid-19 pandemic.

60 Years

Sister Donna Dewitt, OSB

Sister Donna was born in Bloomfield, New Jersey.  At an early age, she moved with her family to Miami, Florida where she attended Catholic schools. After high school, in August 1963, she entered the Benedictine Sisters of Florida and made her first religious vows in 1965.  

Sister Donna was the first Sister from Holy Name Monastery to graduate from Saint Leo College (now University) after it became a four-year, coed institution. She taught grade school children for many years at Holy Name Early Childhood Center at St. Anthony Catholic School until she became the Monastery Kitchen Manager and prepared meals for the Sisters and guests for over 26 years. She has a gift for baking, which lends itself to Benedictine hospitality, and she continues to serve as weekend Kitchen Manager.  

She ran and was elected to a seat as a St. Leo Town Commissioner in 1997 and still serves in that capacity. Sister decided to return to education in 2008 where she taught preschool and VPK children at Sacred Heart Early Childhood Center in Saint Joseph, FL. She retired from teaching in 2020 and began volunteering at Daystar Hope Center in the food pantry. In 2022, Sister Donna returned to Sacred Heart Early Childhood Center as a volunteer providing administrative support. In her free time, she finds joy in gardening.

Father James Nero, OFM

Fr. Jim was received into the Order of Friars Minor in July 1964, made solemn profession in March 1969, and was ordained to the priesthood in 1971. He received an M.A. in Theology from the Washington Theological Union and an M.A. in Counseling Psychology from Boston College in 1981. He has served as Director of Postulants and Director of Novices for the Province of the Holy Name, pastor of various parishes, retreat director, provincial administrator, and for 21 years served in hospital ministry before retiring in St. Petersburg in 2022.

50 Years

Sister Rosamunda Massawe, CDNK

As the eighth of eight children, Sister Rosamunda’s life has always been full. Yet, it was on the day of her First Holy Communion that she first felt a distinct call, a profound movement to be united with Jesus in a special, lifelong way. This spiritual seed began to sprout when she was fifteen and accepted to join the community of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Kilimanjaro (CDNK) as an aspirant. She spent three foundational years progressing through candidacy and postulancy, and two years in novitiate growing in relationship with Christ.  

It was a profound joy to receive her new religious name, “Sister Rosamunda,” and the habit of the CDNK Sisters. She made her final profession on August 5, 1984, when the bishop put a ring on her finger indicating that she is permanently a spouse of Christ – something she had longed for many years. Now, with profound gratitude, she is celebrating her Golden Jubilee in this Holy Jubilee Year of Hope, 2025.  

The Holy Spirit works in mysterious ways; she was surprised when her superiors sent her to the United States in 2004 to serve in the Diocese of Saint Petersburg. She feels immensely blessed to be part of this community, particularly at St. Catherine’s, where she joyfully uses her talents to continue Christ’s mission to the poor through her outreach ministry.

Sister Phyllis Shaughnessy, OSC

Sister Phyllis Shaughnessy entered the congregation of the Sisters of St. Clare in 1973 and made her temporary vows in 1975. Her formation period took her to both California and Ireland. Upon returning, she continued her ministry at St. Lawrence in Tampa before being sent to Central America. She returned to the Diocese of Saint Petersburg in 1992 and currently works part-time as the parish secretary at Sacred Heart Parish in Pinellas Park.

Sister Mary Ann Urch, SSND

Sister Mary Ann is the oldest of 3 children. She, like her brothers, Tom and Bob, were baptized at Saint Joseph’s. Sister also received her First Holy Communion at Saint Joseph’s. She attended Saint Joseph Catholic School from first through fourth grade until the diocese changed parish boundaries, after which her family began worshipping at Most Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Gulfport.  

Sister Mary Ann attended Holy Name School for grades five through eight and then Notre Dame Academy, which is now Saint Petersburg Catholic High School. Following her high school graduation, Sister Mary Ann studied at Saint Petersburg Junior College and then joined the School Sisters of Notre Dame. 

Having ministered her entire teaching career in middle school, Sister worked in Baltimore for 10 years, Tampa for 14 years, and 11 years at Transfiguration Catholic School.  Sister Mary Ann is currently in her 19th year teaching Religion and Math at Sacred Heart Catholic School in Pinellas Park.

25 Years

Sister Marie-Therese Dondja, SSFAT

Sister Marie-Therese belongs to the congregation of the Sisters of Saint Francis of Assisi of Tshumbe (SSFAT). The order is located mainly within the ecclesiastical territory of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tshumbe, of the Republic of Congo in Africa. She has been a member of her order since she was 19 years old. She entered novitiate in 1996, professed first vows in 2000, and professed her final vows in 2008. She currently ministers at St. Joseph Hospital in Tampa as a hospital chaplain and also ministers at Holy Cross Parish in St. Petersburg as a volunteer sacristan. 

To view the Religious Jubilee Mass via livestream, click here.