Two sisters of St. Joseph of Carondolet this year mark special years of service to their community and to the Church.

Sister Benedicta Chaussee, CSJ, a Michigan native who came to Atlanta in 1971 to teach at St. Joseph’s High School, observed her Golden Jubilee March 19 with a special Eucharist celebrated at the Village of St. Joseph by Msgr. Jerry Hardy, Archdiocesan Chancellor.

Later in the week, Sister Benedicta, along with members of her community, attended Mass in St. Joseph’s Convent in Marietta, where Father Lawrence Schmuhl, SM, Father John McShane, SM, and Father John Zolota, SM concelebrated the Eucharist.

Father Schmuhl, pastor of St. Joseph’s Church, addressed Sister Benedicta with affection in his homily: “Although you are not a native Georgian, you possess all the gentle graciousness of the so-called ‘Southern lady’”

Sister Benedicta, though retired from teaching, still remains active in community service and was named “Chaplain of the Year” at Kennestone Hospital two years ago.

Another member of the Carondolet order, Sister Jeanne Urschel, CSJ, will also be honored on the occasion of her anniversary this year.

On April 10, a Mass of Thanksgiving will be celebrated at Sacred Heart Church in Atlanta in honor of Sister Jeanne’s silver jubilee.

Following graduation from Sacred Heart School in 1957, Sister Jeanne entered religious life and has served in St. Louis, St. Paul, Kansas City and Augusta.

She returned to Atlanta in 1979 and presently serves as an Adult Nurse Practitioner at the Northwest Grady Satellite Clinic, living at St. Joseph’s Convent in Marietta with Sister Benedicta Chaussee.

Sister Jeanne’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas C. Urschel, were longtime members of St. Thomas More parish in Decatur.