Twelve religious Women and four religious men are celebrating significant anniversaries this year. They will be honored at the annual Religious Jubilee to be held Sunday at St. Mary’s Cathedral. In recognition of their 70, 65, 60, 50 and 40 years of religious life, the North Country Catholic presents autobiographical profiles of the jubilarians.

70 Years:

Brother Pierre Marceau, MSC
Pierre Marceau was born in East Brouthton, Quebec, on Jan. 31. 1922. He was one of nine children, three of whom are still living.

He joined the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in 1938. He made his first profession of the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in 1941.

Brother Peter accepted a transfer to Watertown, NY in 1943. He was given the position of custodian of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart church and school. He performed this job until the 1961, when he became the custodian and maintenance man for the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart Seminary and community residence on Thompson St.
He recently retired from these duties and now enjoys retirement and cares for the community's camp near Cape Vincent.

65 Years:

Sister Jane Frances Cutting, SSJ
I am celebrating sixty-five years as a Sister of St. Joseph this year. I entered the Sisters of St. Joseph in Watertown, NY on September 8, 1945. Sister Mary Louis was Novice Mistress at the time I entered religious life. Sister's example taught me the importance of living for God and neighbor.

Most of my religious life has been in the ministry of Catholic education. I taught for fifty-two years in grades three through six in our diocesan Catholic schools. These years were happy because I love children and the challenge of teaching them. I also did parish work in Adams for a short time.

After I retired, I continued to live in Gouverneur. I visited the Kinney Nursing Home residents and some of the elderly in the Gouverneur community. Occasionally I volunteered in St. James School where I taught for sixteen years.

At the present time I live at our Motherhouse in Watertown and enjoy being with the Sisters. I visit our infirmary and help with various household duties. During my free time I enjoy reading, playing cards and doing crafts. When the weather is nice I often take a walk and enjoy the beauty of nature in our North Country.
There have been many more blessings in my religious life than sacrifices. God's abundant love has carried me over the difficult times. Sixty-five years have gone quickly.

I pray that many more women will answer God's call and enter religious life. It is a life of love, joy and peace that the world cannot give.

Sister M. Carolyn Madden, RSM
Sister M. Carolyn Maddenwas born in Saranac Lake, the daughter of Francis and Lillian (Calburn) Madden.  She has two living sisters, Betty and Eileen and a deceased sister Helen and brother Thomas.  Her elementary education was with the Sisters of Mercy at St. Bernard’s School in Saranac Lake.  She attended Saranac Lake High School and entered the Sisters of Mercy on Aug. 6, 1945 in Tarrytown, NY.

After her novitiate formation, she received a BS from Fordham University and a MS from State University, Plattsburgh and further education in Public Relations, Drug Education and Administration Supervision. Her teaching and administration ministries have been at St. John’s Academy, Plattsburgh; St. Patrick’s, Rouses Point; St. Bernard’s, Saranac Lake; in the Archdiocese of New York at Camdr JJ Shea and St. Cecilia’s in Spanish Harlem; Transfiguration and Our Lady of Victory, Tarrytown; St. Margaret Mary’s, Bronx; Our Lady of Victory Academy, Dobbs Ferry. 

She was principal at Camdr JJ Shea, St. John’s Academy, Transfiguration and St. Agnes School, Lake Placid. 
In 1977 Sister became the Director of Arts in Education/Summer Sampler at the Lake Placid Center for the arts in Lake Placid and North Country Community College in Saranac Lake.

Presently Sr. M Carolyn is a volunteer at AMC/Uihlein and High Peaks Hospice.  She serves on the Diocesan Council of Religious and has for many years.  She is also on the Board of Mercy Care for the Adirondacks.
She enjoys gardening, walking, reading, music, cross-country skiing, and the great beauty of the Adirondacks.
Sister is grateful  to God for allowing her to God for allowing her to serve Him and His people for so many years and hopes to continue for many more.

60 Years:

Sr. Mary Teresa LaBrake, GNSH -
I, Sr. Mary Teresa LaBrake, GNSH, am one of 14 children born to George and Hilda LaBrake. My parents raised my seven sisters, six brothers, and me on a dairy farm in the town of Lisbon, NY.

After graduating from St. Mary's Academy, Ogdensburg, NY, I entered the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart, Philadelphia, P A, where I received three years of formation.

My teaching years were spent as an elementary teacher in Jackson Heights, L.I., Atlanta, GA, and Ogdensburg, NY. The years involved in Elementary Administration were in Eden, NY, Buffalo, NY, and Ogdensburg, NY. I earned an undergraduate degree from D'Youville College, Buffalo, NY, a Masters in Education and a Masters in Educational Administration from SUNY Plattsburgh, NY.

These 36 years of experience equipped me to serve as Assistant Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of Ogdensburg for 7 years. In 1997 I left the field of education to become Pastoral Associate in St. Mary's Cathedral Parish, Ogdensburg, NY, where I continue in full time ministry today. Along with my other duties I have been one of three Directors who officially represent the Grey Nuns' mission perspective on the Board of the Claxton Hepburn Medical Center.

I have seen God visible through the shining eyes of children, through the faith of teachers in my role as Principal and Assistant Superintendent of Schools, and in those who have come into full membership in the Catholic Church through the RCIA process.

My deep love of the Eternal Father, my growing trust in Divine Providence, and an awareness of the Holy Spirit alive and active in my life have carried me through these many years.

Brother Jean Paul Paradis, MSC
Jean Paul was born at Mont Carmel, Quebec, on Sept. 25, 1931. His parents and seven brothers and sisters are deceased.

Jean Paul joined the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in 1947, making his first profession of vows on May 31, 1951.

Br. Jean Paul has served in several MSC communities in Quebec. He has worked as a secretary and printer at the community's residence in Watertown and for several years was the Director of the Archconfraternity of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart.

From 1987 to 1994, Br. Jean Paul was on the staff at the MSC General House in Rome, Italy.
Returning to Watertown Br. Jean Paul attended a Clinical Pastoral Education course to prepare him to be Catholic Chaplain at Samaritan Medical Center. He retired from this position in 2009 and now helps with cooking and bookkeeping for the community in Watertown.

Sister Mary Denise Wilke, RSM
I was born and raised in the Inwood section of upper Manhattan in New York City. In growing up, the Good Shepherd Parish was the center of our lives, and the Paulist Fathers, the Sisters of Mercy and the Christian Brothers were all present for us.

I was introduced to the Sisters of Mercy in CCD class, as I went to public grammar school. I attended the academy of the Sacred Heart of Mary in high school. The Sisters of Mercy continued to attract me and I entered on September 8, 1951, right after high school. Our novitiate was in Tarrytown, New York.

My professional career was that of social work. I graduated from Marymount College and Fordham School of Social Services. I worked for 12 years in child care at St. Michaels Home on Staten Island and for 37 years in Health Care including St. Francis Hospital in Port Jervis and what is now Adirondack Medical Center-Uihlein where I have had two tours one as social worker and now working part-time in Pastoral Care.

My ministries each brought their own joy and blessings. When I had to leave the children at St. Michaels and go from Staten Island to the Adirondacks, it was very difficult. However, in a very short time I loved the beauty of the mountains and my elderly residents.

My 22 years in hospital ministry were always a challenge. You are serving age spans from the new born to the elderly. There were simple problems and very crucial ones to be handled, but I always felt God's presence with me. I spent four years in leadership in the New York region of the Mercy Sisters and administered our assisted living facility for our Sisters in Yonkers for five years.

I am presently involved with Mercy Care for the Adirondacks as a Board Member and a volunteer.It was a privilege to serve my Sisters through leadership and administration. I always received more than I gave.

God has bestowed many blessings on me for the last sixty years, and for this I am very grateful.

50 Years:

Fr. Richard Kennedy, MSC
Father Richard was born Feb. 6, 1941, in Mansfield, Ohio. He attended St. Peter's Grade School in Mansfield until the completion of his 8th grade.  He then entered Sacred Heart High School Seminary in Geneva, Illinois, from 1955-60.

After an additional year of seminary college in Geneva, Illinois, he entered Sacred Heart Novitiate at Youngstown, Ohio.   In 1961 he professed temporary vows as a Missionary of the Sacred Heart.

Fr. Richard attended Sacred Heart Major Seminary, Shelby, Ohio, for three years of philosophical education and four years of theological education. He professed perpetual vows as an MSC on Sept. 13, 1964. He was ordained a priest at St. Peter's Catholic Church, Mansfield, Ohio, on Sept. 30, 1967.

In August 1968 he was appointed Vocation Director for the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. In the spring of 1973 Fr. Richard transferred to the MSC Religious Education Center in Shelby, Ohio, to become business administrator and part-time high school religion teacher at St. Peter's High School in Mansfield, Ohio.

From August 1976 - July 1988 he was stationed at the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart Residence in Watertown, NY. From 1976-81 he worked as a full-time religion teacher at IHC. From 1977-81 he was religious superior of Watertown MSC community. In 1980 he became parochial vicar for Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Parish, Watertown. From 1981-88 he was pastor of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Parish, Watertown.

In 1988-89 Fr. Richard took a sabbatical year at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, IL. Then he accepted a foreign mission assignment. In 1990-91 he was a teacher on New Ireland Island in Papua New Guinea at Mongop High School. He returned to the United States, and from 1991-98.  He was High School Principal at St. Peter's High School, Mansfield, Ohio. He then returned to Papua New Guinea, and from 1999-2003 he was Rector of Chanel College Seminary, Kokopo, East New Britain, Papua New Guinea.

On Jan 1, 2004 he became administrator and then pastor of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church, Watertown. He continues in this ministry in Watertown. Fr. Richard has a brother Will Kennedy living in Mansfield, Ohio, and a sister Dorothy Blackburn, living in San Antonio, Texas, and numerous nephews and nieces. His parents and two brothers are deceased.

Sister Mary Juliana Raymond, SSJ
The first daughter of Frederick and Shirley Lynch Raymond, I was born in Ticonderoga, NY and lived in Tahawus, NY, a small mining town in the heart of the Adirondacks.

I attended Newcomb Central School K-12, with K-3 being in Tahawus and 4-12 in Newcomb. Classes were small and great emphasis was placed on local high peaks history, the source of the Hudson River and our Adirondack environment.

My immediate family consisted of my parents, three sisters and a brother. I had grandparents, aunt, uncles and cousins nearby. I was baptized in St. Joseph's Church, Olmstedville, and St. Therese's Church, built in Tahawus and moved to Newcomb when the mines closed, was home to worship and Sacraments.

After high school graduation I entered the Sisters of St. Joseph and Mater Dei College on September 8, 1960. From there my education continued at SUNY Potsdam where I earned a BA in English and a MS in Early Childhood. Advanced studies included summer courses from the Gesell Institute of Child Development in New Haven, Ct.

In the Ogdensburg Diocesan Catholic Schools I taught first graders for 36 years. For the past nine years I have served in Diocesan Campus Ministry as College Chaplain at Jefferson Community College in Watertown, where I also serve as an Instructor in Early Childhood Development.

In addition to teaching at the elementary and college levels, I have been a member of the Diocesan Ecumenical Commission, summer faculty at Mater Dei College, elementary school principal, volunteer as Prison Chaplain's Assistant weekly for three years during the tenure of the late Fr. William Connor, MSC, and have participated on many committees in schools, towns and Community.

My early introduction to our earth as gift has been the inspiration for countless nature workshops, gardening, bread making, creative sewing, craft classes and, in recent years, sharing my rich Adirondack heritage by teaching others how to make traditional Adirondack packbaskets.

My family, friends, Church and Community nourished my vocation. I am grateful!

Sr. Mary Ellen Brett, SSJ
I was born in Watertown, NY, the oldest of four children to Mary and Kenneth Brett. My siblings are John, Kenney and Jane Brett Scott. My family was a member of Holy Family Parish. I graduated from Holy Family School and Immaculate Heart Academy.

I entered the Sisters of St. Joseph for a six month trial. In my 50th year as an SSJ, I'm grateful that the Lord captured my heart.

I received my Bachelors and Masters Degree in Education from Potsdam State University. I enjoyed my years of teaching in the Catholic Schools in St. James, Gouverneur, St. Agnes, Lake Placid, St. Augustine's, Peru, St. Joseph's Dannemora and Sacred Heart, Watertown. I always looked forward to teaching in the Religious Education programs in those respective parishes.

Further training through the Institute for Pastoral Life in Kansas City, MO. and the Paulist National Catholic Evangelization Association (PNCEA), Washington, DC enabled me to minister through the Offices of Formation for Ministry and Evangelization.

A highlight of my life was my visit to St. Martin de Porres Parish, Mollendo, Peru at the invitation of Fr. George Maroun, Director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith. The Peru experience has helped me in my current ministry in the mission office. Most of my days are happily spent at our motherhouse responding with the sisters to the Lord's surprises that daily come into our lives.

Sister Cecilia Marie Hermann, SSJ
It doesn't seem possible that 50 years have passed since I received the Habit of the Sisters of St. Joseph. Time passes quickly when one serves the Lord. God has been very good to me - very, very good! He blessed me with a wonderful family.

My parents, Adolf and Anna Hermann, were the best in the whole world. He also gave me five marvelous brothers and three delightful sisters. (One of my sisters is also a Sister of St. Joseph, Sister Mary Helen). I have one more sister, Mary Jean, who is praying for us all as she went to her heavenly reward as an infant.

Family has always been very important to each of us and always will be. I have many nieces and nephews. They have added a great deal of joy to my life. My parents gifted me with 12 years of Catholic education at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart School and Immaculate Heart Academy. That is one of the greatest gifts they gave me because I truly believe that the gift of a Catholic education is one that lasts forever.

I am grateful to my Mother and Father and to the Sisters of St. Joseph who taught me (they were the best). I also want to extend my gratitude to the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart who were a major influence in my early years, to the diocesan priests, and the very dedicated lay teachers with whom I have been privileged to work.

It has been a blessing for me to live with the Sisters of St. Joseph for 50 years. They have provided me with valuable friendships and so many opportunities that I would never have had if I had not been called to the Religious Life. It is a grace filled life!

My ministry has been Catholic school education. I am happy to pass on to our young people what was given to me. In my opinion there is no finer way to practice the spiritual and corporal works of mercy and serve the dear neighbor.

As a teacher I have been brought into contact with so many gifted people and have learned much from them. As I said, God has been so good to me!

On the occasion of my jubilee, I thank God for His many graces and blessings and pray for all the people who have been a part of my life.

Sister Judy Adams, SSJ
Sister Judy Adams, is a member of the Watertown Sisters of St. Joseph. An Ogdensburg,  native, and daughter of John and Jean Adams.  She attended Bishop Conroy School, St. Mary's Academy, Mater Dei College, SUNY Potsdam and Manhattan College.

She taught in various schools throughout the Diocese of Ogdensburg and served as principal of Sacred Heart School in Watertown, St. Peter's School in Lowville, and has been involved in the General Administration of the Sisters of St. Joseph. Currently she is the Science and Technology Coordinator at Trinity Catholic School in Massena.


Sister Shirley Anne Brown
Blessing and gift are the dominant words for the celebration of the 50th Jubilee. The original blessing was my family of origin. Born as the middle child to Catherine and Richard Brown in Ft. Covington, NY, I grew up in a family with 10 siblings.

This domestic church family was the source of my introduction to God through prayer and sound family life values.
It was family that taught me to pray, brought me to the sacraments of youth at St. Mary's Church, to catechism classes with the Sisters of St. Joseph in the parish and later to boarding school at Immaculate Heart Academy. I graduated from IHA in 1961.

My vocation was born in and nurtured by my family.

Blessings continued as I entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Watertown. It was here that the opportunities for a deepening spirituality were provided along with an appreciation of the charism of the Sisters of St. Joseph and the ways that could and would be lived out in my life in the Church in the years that followed as a vowed member of the community.

I was also blessed and gifted by the Sisters with an excellent academic education with opportunities to study and earn degrees at Potsdam and Plattsburgh State Universities as well as Boston College.

Blessings and gifts continued to flow during my 47 years of engaging in Catholic Education in the dioceses of Ogdensburg and Syracuse. Through the years as teacher, principal and assistant superintendent of schools, I have journeyed with countless students, parents and colleagues and parishioners.

All of them I credit with the richness and quality of my life. For all of them I give thanks for giving me the glimpse of the multi-faceted beauty of God in our midst.


Sister Carol Kraeger, SSJ
I was born on a dairy farm in Port Leyden, the third oldest of 10 children. I went to a public school, but both parents instilled in us the importance of religion and caring for others.

At 17, I entered the Sisters of St. Joseph in Ogdensburg. We were the first group to enter the novitiate at Mater Dei College. There were 21 who entered that year; fifteen received the habit on June 24, 1961.

I've traveled throughout the diocese teaching in the elementary grades. I thank God every day for the gift of my vocation. I received it very young.

As I get older, I can see how He's been my faithful spouse throughout these years. I feel He has saved the best till last for me. I've never been happier than here in the mountains.

I used to be with children, now I am mostly with the elderly. I visit the "home bound", the sick in the hospital, and those in nursing homes. I bring them communion and make sure they are cared for spiritually and physically. I make sure the priests have what they need in the three mission churches.

I still have time to put  puzzles together (I'm now in my fourth summer working on a 5,000 piece puzzle). I also enjoy my flower and vegetable gardens.

Sister Mary Gregory Munger, SSJ
My journey to become a Sister of St. Joseph began in Newark, N.J.where I was born and received my early education from the Sisters of St. Joseph of Chestnut Hill, PA. I was the oldest of three children. Following my family's move to Alexandria Bay,I attended Saint Mary's Elementary School in Clayton and Immaculate Heart Academy in Watertown.

I entered the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1960, receiving my early college education at Mater Dei College.
In subsequent years, I earned a BA in Science from SUNY Potsdam, a MM in music from Catholic University of America and a MEd in Administration/ Supervision from Boston College.

My teaching ministry spans 47 years. During that time, I taught science, math and music at the junior and senior high levels in Catholic schools throughout the Diocese. I taught college level courses in computer related fields at both Boston College and SUNY Potsdam and GED courses at the Cape Vincent Correctional Facility.
I served as principal at St. James School in Gouverneur, St. Patrick's School, Watertown and Most Holy Rosary School, Syracuse,

I have served on a number of committees, including the Diocesan Liturgical Committee, an Interdiocesan Music Curriculum Committee, numerous Middles States Evaluation teams and currently am a member of the National Religious Vocation Conference. Presently I am Vocation Director for the Sisters of St. Joseph.

I am most grateful for God's call to the Sisters of St. Joseph and to those who have supported and nurtured my vocation especially my family, the members of my Community and friends.

Father David DeLuca, MSC   
Born May 16, 1939, in Ravenna, OH, Father David made his first vows as a Missionary of the Sacred Sept. 13, 1960, Youngstown, OH

He was ordained to the priesthood Dec. 17, 1966, by Bishop Geo. Rehring, D.D., Most Pure Heart of Mary, Shelby, OH

Father  David accepted an appointment to serve as a missionary in Papua New Guinea. He arrived there within a day one year after his ordination! Except for periodic leave for vacations, he kept to his missionary apostolate from Dec. 18, 1967 to June 1998—just short of 31 years!

On returning permanently to the United States, Father  David took up studies (1999-2001) at the Chicago Theological Union towards a graduate degree in cross cultural studies with a minor in liturgy. He was posted to the Sacred Heart Retreat and Renewal Center in Youngstown, Ohio, in 2001-2003, went back to CTU for his comprehensives in 2003 and was awarded an MA in theology. From August 2003-2008 he taught theology at Allentown Central Catholic and for much of that time also served as a chaplain to the student body.

In 2009 he was assigned to the MSC community in Watertown,  to be available for pastoral ministry as needed by pastors in the Diocese of Ogdensburg except when on call for mission appeals and other commitments carried forward from previous assignments.

Father David is a bicycle enthusiast and an avid reader who is quite familiar with all the “periti” theologians who had input during the Second Vatican Council.

40 Years:

Sister Diane Marie Ulsamer, SSJ
The journey of faith for me began on June 17, 1951 when my parents, Robert and Audrey Ulsamer, chose to have me baptized at St. Boniface Church in Williamsport, PA. Growing up in a traditional German Catholic family provide all the necessary spiritual nourishment I needed to continue the journey throughout the past 40 years.
I was educated by the Sisters of Christian Charity at St. Boniface Catholic school and as a child, participated in several Church related organizations; Junior Catholic Daughters, Sodality of the Blessed Mother and Children's Choir, to name a few. This background laid the foundation for my relationship with the Lord.

In 1969 I entered the Sisters of St. Joseph in Watertown, NY. At the time I had no idea where Watertown was located nor did I know any of the Sisters in the community. After looking at several different communities, I came to Watertown for a visit and instantly I knew that this was the community to which God was calling me. I found the Sisters to be alive and eager to serve the Lord. They all seemed so happy and full of life. That visit was the beginning of my journey as a Sister of St. Joseph.

Over the years, my ministry experiences have taken me from one end of the diocese to the other where I have met many wonderful people. I have served in education as a primary grade teacher, administrator, and music teacher in schools throughout the diocese.

My teaching ministry ended after 29 years when I was asked by the community to serve as the Motherhouse Superior. Following my term as superior, God led me to the most rewarding ministries of all.

Now, I am serving in Watertown as Coordinator for the Special Religious Education Program for people with disabilities. I am also the Pastoral Associate and Coordinator for the Religious Education Program at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Parish.

Being with my new-found friends has been an amazing journey. Serving the Lord just keeps getting better!
Throughout the past 40 years, I have had many challenges, as well as joyful opportunities to live out the charism and mission of the Sisters of St. Joseph. As I reflect back, my heart is filled with gratitude to God, my family, and my community. I find my joy in knowing that nothing is impossible when God is at the heart of every event of every day. He has taught me the importance of trusting in Him, and that suffering is part of the journey, and remaining in him brings about a joyful heart. As I delight in celebrating forty years of SSJ life and ministry, I can proclaim with great confidence these words adapted from Scripture: "Blessed be the Lord, my God, for His love endures forever."