Two local Sisters of Mount Carmel celebrate jubilees

By Clarion Herald Staff

Two sisters of Mount Carmel were honored Nov. 4 in celebration of the anniversary of their religious professions at a Mass and lunch at the Mount Carmel Motherhouse in New Orleans.

The two jubilarians are Sister Gwen Monahan, celebrating 50 years of profession, and Sister Margaret Williams, celebrating her 25th. Sacred Heart Brother Louis Couvillon, an ordained priest, celebrated the anniversary Mass.

Also honored this year and celebrating in the Lafayette Diocese is Sister Christina Marie Griggs (70th). Sister Rose Marie Penouilh (70th) chose not to celebrate publicly. Sister Monica Teves (50th) and Sister Rosa Fulleros (50th) celebrated in Dumaguete City, Philippines.

• Sister Gwen, formerly Sister M. Shawn, is a New Orleans native. She attended St. Dominic and Mount Carmel Academy and received a bachelor’s degree in math education and a master’s degree in applied math from Nicholls State University. She entered the congregation in 1964 and professed vows in 1967. In addition to teaching assignments in Lafayette, New Iberia, Abbeville, Crowley and Thibodaux, she has taught at Mount Carmel Academy, Brother Martin High School and the Academy of the Sacred Heart. She serves on the planning committee for Contemplatives In Action, a triannual publication of the congregation, and is a math tutor at Mount Carmel Academy.
• Sister Margaret, a native of Birmingham, Alabama, received a bachelor of science degree in medical technology from the University of Central Florida and a master’s degree in college teaching with a concentration in physiology from Auburn University.  She served as a volunteer in mission in Thailand, where she converted to Catholicism. She entered the Visitation Monastery in Mobile in 1989 and made final vows in 1992. In 2003, she began her transfer to the Sisters of Mount Carmel and has worked as a medical technologist in several area hospitals, including East Jefferson General, Ochsner and Lakeview Regional. She has worked in the sisters’ formation program in the Philippines and served on retreat teams for the Kairos Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women. She has been a member of the St. Clement of Rome Bell Choir and a client advocate for ACCESS Pregnancy Center. She publishes the quarterly congregation environment newsletter. She serves as a blood bank technologist at Tulane Lakeside Hospital for Women and Children.
• Sister Christina, a native of New Orleans, entered the congregation in 1944 and professed vows in 1947. She received her bachelor’s degree in education with a minor in science from Mount Carmel Normal/Loyola University, New Orleans, and her master’s degree in home economics from St. Louis University. She taught at Our Lady of Prompt Succor School in Westwego and also in high schools in Thibodaux, Abbeville, New Iberia and Abbeville. She also served as a campus minister and religion coordinator in Lafayette and as program director of the Carmelite Spirituality Center in Lacombe. She was associate provincial directress of the Lay Carmelites of the Most Pure Heart of Mary Province for 12 years and served in prison ministry in Ville Platte. She resides at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Nursing Home in Opelousas.
• Sister Rose Marie, a native of New Orleans, entered the congregation in 1944 and professed vows in 1947. She attended Mount Carmel Academy and received her bachelor of science degree in elementary education and a master of education in administration and supervision from Loyola University New Orleans. She pursued postgraduate work in science, physics, chemistry, math, guidance, library science and computers.  She devoted more than 41 years to Catholic education, teaching at St. Dominic, Our Lady of Prompt Succor and St. Joseph the Worker elementary schools; at Mount Carmel Academy and at schools in New Iberia, Abbeville and Thibodaux. She served as principal of St. Joseph the Worker, Mount Carmel High School in New Iberia and Vermilion Catholic High in Abbeville. Sister Rose was assistant to the president from 1973-77, congregation secretary from 1985-93 and president 1993-2001. She served as administrative assistant at Mount Carmel Academy until 2015. She is the professional and Carmelite spirituality consultant at Mount Carmel Academy.
• Sister Monica, a native of the Philippines, entered the congregation in the U.S. in 1964 and professed vows in 1967. She received her bachelor of science degree in elementary education from Nicholls State University. She taught at St. Dominic and at schools in the Philippines. She served as the Philippine region as vocation and development director and also served in hospitals and as a volunteer catechist. She resides at Magnificat Place of Prayer in Beluga, Philippines.
•  Sister Rosa, a native of the Philippines, entered the congregation in the U.S. in 1964 and professed vows in 1967. She received her bachelor of arts degree in elementary education from Nicholls State University. She taught at schools in the Philippines and as a pastoral minister, vocation director, spiritual formator, women’s center coordinator, justice and peace coordinator. She is a volunteer with the Diocesan Social Action, Diocese of Dumaguete, Philippines, and resides at Magnificat Place of Prayer in Balugo, Philippines.