Happy Birthday Sr. Benedicta

Saturday May 21 is Sr. Mary Benedicta's (our Aunt Eleanor McCorry's) 98th birthday. Sr. Mary Acquinice (Aunt Rita) sent the commemorative card, with photo, of Sr. B that marks her 80th year as a Mercy Nun in 2016. She entered the convent on Sept. 8, 1936, took her first vows on March 19, 1939 and took her perpetual vows on Aug. 16, 1942.

On the back side of the commemorative card is this message from Sr. Benedicta:

"As a Sister of Mercy, my passion for justice has guided my life of service. My passion for justice was first learned from my immigrant father who brought the poor home for the holidays. Later, I was attracted to the works of Catherine McAuley and the Sisters of Mercy because of their focus on serving the poor. That same passion continues to inspire me through each Sister of Mercy, and I am most grateful to be a part of this ministry throughout my life."

Sr. Acquinice told me that she will be sending copies of the commemorative card by snail mail to each of the McCorry nieces and nephews shortly. Both of the nuns are stable and resting comfortably at Mercy Circle in Chicago. They celebrated Sr. Benedicta's 80th jubilee about three weeks ago.

Another McCorry aunt, Mary Ann (Barnes) McCorry, (pictured above with son Dan) has a birthday Sunday, May 22. I remember it because it's the same date as my birthday. Aunt Mary Ann would have turned 93 on Sunday, I will be 61. My nephew, Samuel Mullins Gesley, who lives in Berkeley, turns 36 on May 25. Any other McCorry May birthdays I'm forgetting? Let me know.

I hope you all have a great summer! Keep me posted on family news -- graduations, weddings, vacations, brawls you get into at political rallies -- so we can share it on the blog!

Robert Mullins