Thirteen Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco marked their Jubilee anniversaries — from 25 to 70 years of religious profession — during a Mass that Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney celebrated at St. Joseph Chapel on the campus of their eastern provincial offices in North Haledon. These sisters have given about 735 years of service in consecrated life so far.
Salesian and Paterson Diocesan priests concelebrated the liturgy. Participating were many of the Salesian jubilarian sisters, including Sister Theresa Lee, diocesan chancellor and delegate for religious, who is marking 25 years of religious service. During the liturgy, Sister Colleen Clair, provincial, led the jubilarians in renewing their vows on the chapel’s altar.
Bishop Sweeney noted that the 13 honored sisters are marking their Jubilees during the Jubilee Year of Hope 2025, which the universal Church is celebrating. He called the Mass for the Jubilarians “an opportunity to celebrate and give thanks for their lives of hope and love and their commitment and generosity.”
“We are inspired by their response to Jesus. We thank God for them and their joy,” Bishop Sweeney. He noted that the sisters take much inspiration from St. Don Bosco and St. Mary Mazzarello, co-founders of the Salesian order in 1872.
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Sister Mary Anne Zito, who is celebrating 65 years of service, addressed the congregants. She thanked Bishop Sweeney for celebrating the Mass and the priests for concelebrating the Mass. She also thanked the sisters who organized the Mass and the reception that followed at The Tides Estate in North Haledon.
The Salesian Sisters are the largest congregation of women religious in the world, with more than 10,500 Sisters serving in 97 countries. They evangelize young people through reason, religion, and loving kindness. In the diocese, they founded and run Mary Help of Christians Academy in North Haledon and operate the Sacred Heart Retreat Center and Camp Auxilium, both located in Newton.
During her address, Sister Zito reminded the Salesian jubilarian sisters of their Christ-centered impact on other people.
“Somewhere, somehow, even after many years, or perhaps now, even in this chapel, someone is remembering your enlightened sentence or kind deed that still gratefully rests in his or her memory, heart, and life,” Sister Zito said.
Salesian Sisters marking milestone anniversaries
70 Years of religious profession
Sister Cecilia Besi
Sister Carmen Morales
65 Years of religious profession
Sister Catherine Altamura
Sister Estelle Johnson
Sister Mary Anne Zito
60 Years of religious profession
Sister Lise Guitard
Sister Ann Hottot
Sister Patricia King
Sister Alphonsine Roy
Sister Judith Suprys
50 Years of religious profession
Sister Rufina Delgado
25 Years of religious profession
Sister Theresa Lee
Sister Hyunjoo Cecilia Park
