Celebrating the Feast Day of St. Marguerite

Written on: October 27, 2022

The feast day of St. Marguerite d’Youville, October 16, happened to be a Sunday this year. In three of the Philadelphia worship sites where Grey Nuns gather on Sundays, Mass was celebrated in St. Marguerite’s honor for the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart.

At the Medical Mission Sisters’ Chapel, the presider was Father Tim Lyons, CM. Prior to the liturgy Fr. Tim was collaboratively coached by both Grey Nuns and Medical Mission Sisters about St. Marguerite.  Fr. Tim happily complied by reading a synopsis of her life and mentioning her and the Grey Nuns in the prayers of petition and in the Eucharistic prayer. After Mass, the choir and the whole worshiping community serenaded us with “Happy Feast Day to you…” 

At Redeemer Chapel, the Sisters of the Redeemer had arranged for the Mass intention to be offered for the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart in honor St. Marguerite’s Feast Day. Rev. Ed Brady was the presider at both that celebration as well as Lafayette Redeemer, and spoke about St. Marguerite both times.

In Buffalo, the Grey Nuns gathered for a celebration of jubilarian Sister Barbara Harrington as well as St. Marguerite on the feast day. The pastor of St. John XXIII parish sent flowers to Sacred Heart Center where Sisters Donna and Sheila live, and to Sr. Barbara Schiavoni, former resident of Sacred Heart Center, who now lives way down in Philadelphia!

The Feast day Mass celebrated in Buffalo was in the chapel at D’Youville University. Sisters and Associates present are pictured here left to right: MJ Key, GNSHA, Sr. Donna Lord, Paula Zinzola, GNSHA, Deacon Mark Bialkowski, GNSHA, Sr. Karen Marie Voltz, Sr. Sheila Stone. Not pictured Sr. Barbara Harrington.

Deacon Mark Bialkowski, Grey Nun associate, opened the Mass for Marguerite by reading the letter that Sr. Denise Roche, former President of D’Youville and currently President of the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart congregation had sent for the feast day. We were reminded of how St. Marguerite had responded to challenges and sufferings in her life with continuing trust in God’s loving Providence.

Reverend James Loiacono, OMI celebrated the Mass assisted by Deacon Mark. The Mass was offered for Sister Mary Charlotte Barton, GNSH former president of D’Youville; Sr. Rita Lewandowski and Sr. Carol Bartol were remembered in prayer.

Closing remarks were given by Dr. Denise DiRienzo, Chief Mission Officer and all joined in a closing prayer.

St. Marguerite was well recognized on her Feast Day!

This entry was posted in From our Sisters and tagged: Buffalo, D'Youville University Chapel, Feast Day, God, Grey Nun Associates, Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart, honor, Lafayette Redeemer, Mass, Medical Mission Sisters, Philadelphia, Providence, Redeemer Chapel, Sacred Heart Center, Sister Mary Charlotte Barton, Sisters of the Redeemer, St. John XXIII Parish, St. Marguerite