Sr. Barbara Swindells Celebrates 70 Years of Religious Life
Jubilees are an opportunity for all of our Sisters to thank God for the gift of their vocations. On Sunday, June 22, we had such an opportunity to celebrate with Sister Barbara Swindells the 70th Anniversary of her religious life.
Metropolitan Archbishop William C. Skurla offered the Divine Liturgy of Thanksgiving. In his homily, Archbishop noted that the Gospel was particularly fitting since it was about the call of the Apostles. Like these apostles, Sister Barbara answered the invitation to follow Jesus and did so faithfully over the course of many years.
Sister Barbara Swindells entered the community from St. Mary Church in Chicago, Illinois. For over 20 years, Sister Barbara’s energy was devoted to education from the elementary level through high school, at times serving as principal or assistant principal. Following these years, Sister was involved in a variety of ministries, ranging from Religious Education to administration on the local level and as Provincial Councilor.
Sister Barbara spent many years as manager of Mt. St. Macrina Cemetery. She oversaw the reorganization of vast cemetery documents and had the foresight to initiate the Cemetery Integrated Management System, a computerized mapping system. Sister directed a further expansion of the cemetery and the renewal of the Bishop’s crypt area, while simultaneously caring for the many unseen but meticulous details required of management.
Presently, Sister Barbara schedules the requested Divine Liturgy intentions.
At the festive meal following the Liturgy, Sister Susan thanked Sister Barbara for her fidelity to her vocation and her life of faithful service. Each Sister also offered her congratulations to our Jubilarian, taking the opportunity to share memories of years gone by. Sister Barbara also shared a few remarks, thanking the sisters for all they did to make her celebration so joyful.
May God grant to Sister Barbara many spiritually fruitful, blessed, and happy years!