Golden Jubilee Joy ...by Sr. Monika

There are no words that have not already been said about celebrating a golden jubilee. “How time flies!” “I can’t believe it’s been 50 years...” “Where in the world does time go?”

I just celebrated my Golden Jubilee as a Benedictine sister here at St. Placid Priory. I came right after high school graduation in 1971 and made first vows in 1974. My dad was 46 then. He’s 96 now. And he came to the celebration! Quite spry, too.

Leonard Ellis, Sister Monika's father

It was so good to be surrounded in love by my sisters, family and friends. The day began with beautiful liturgies. The community transformed the dining room with flowers, gold décor, and beautiful table settings. My family came for my renewal of vows during the Evening Praise liturgy, and enjoyed dinner with the community afterwards. The foods were German-themed. Bratwurst and German potato salad. Yum-yum. AND the pineapple upside down cake was GREAT!

Sister Monika and her family at dinner

The party began at 7 pm, when my friends gathered at yet another beautifully decorated multi-purpose room. There on the serving table was ANOTHER cake with Jubilee wishes on it. LOTS of other foods and snacks, beverages, and flowers everywhere. Balloons, too. At some point Sister Ann-Camille became the MC for a segment called, “Let’s roast Sister Monika!” That was fun and tender, too. 

Family & friends enjoy the Jubilee celebration

Then we turned on the music from the 1970’s and danced. At least, some of us danced. All of us talked and shared our lives and our memories. I brought a scrapbook into the room that my mother created. There was a photo of my sister, Katie, in her wedding dress and white veil with her sister, Monika, in her black dress and white veil (I was a novice.) We both made life commitments in 1974 and the photo is sweet. Many folks enjoyed going through that book.

Katie in her bridal veil with Sister Monika in her Novice's veil, 1974

Then the clean up. All went very well. I am grateful for the sisters who worked so hard to celebrate my Golden Jubilee. God bless each and everyone of you who put it on, and who came to celebrate. I can’t believe it’s been fifty years!