WEST PALM BEACH | The purpose of the Palm Beach Diocesan Council of Catholic Women’s annual “Take a Sister to Brunch” event is for the members to show their appreciation, recognition and gratitude to the consecrated women for their selfless service.
The Dec. 7, 2024, brunch at Mary Immaculate Parish in West Palm Beach had joy and spirituality on the menu.
“Our religious sisters work tirelessly throughout the Diocese of Palm Beach in various capacities, and we are grateful for their hard work,” said Dorothy Harper, diocesan council president. “Take a Sister to Brunch is a way to thank and honor them.”
Laurie Ulseth, National Council of Catholic Women leadership commission chair, said, “Our religious sisters need to be recognized for all the things that they do for God and for us, and for all the things that they do that we don’t know anything about.”
The special event began with Mass celebrated by Father Zbigniew “Andy” Rudnicki, diocesan council spiritual advisor and pastor of Our Lady Queen of the Apostles Parish in Royal Palm Beach. His homily focused on the importance of being an example of Christ’s love even if it seems difficult to do.
“Don’t be afraid to love; don’t be afraid to love even if it hurts,” Father Rudnicki said, repeating advice given to him by a sister of the Missionaries of Charity order founded by St. Teresa of Kolkata when he was on a retreat in India.
Following the Mass, standing before an Immaculate Conception statue in the church, Sister Anita Gabarczyk of the Sisters of the Most Holy Soul of Jesus Christ reflected on the importance of preparing our souls for Christ during the Advent season with a short prayer, “Jesus, may our souls be your Bethlehem.”
In the parish hall was a delicious brunch prepared and served by members of the Mary Immaculate Knights of Columbus and council women that included a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus joyfully greeting the guests at each table.
Another highlight was the singing of Christmas carols led by Cardinal Newman High School music teacher Roberta Rehner and her students. The room was filled with laughter when Rehner directed each table to portray characters in “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” and the sisters and council women acted out “four calling birds, six geese a-laying,” etc.
Sister Jadwiga Drapala of the Sisters of the Most Holy Soul of Jesus Christ introduced the consecrated women, including Sister Diane Mack of the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm. “There are four of us here at the moment; Sister Ann will be arriving shortly,” Sister Mack said. “We take care of the elderly at Lourdes Noreen McKeen on Flagler Drive here in West Palm Beach.”
Sister Clare Hunter of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist, who works with the men in formation at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach, said, “I am here with Sister Mary Roberta Connors, and actually there are four of us. Two of our sisters could not come here today.”
Harper expressed gratitude for those who attended and assisted at the event, saying, “Thank you, Father Andy Rudnicki, and a special thank you to Father Tomasz (Makowski, pastor of Mary Immaculate Parish) and the Knights of Columbus and the ladies here at Mary Immaculate for their wonderful hospitality. And thank you to Father (Andrew) Brierley, our spiritual director.”
For more information on the Palm Beach Diocesan Council of Catholic Women visit pbdccw.org. To learn about consecrated life in the Diocese of Palm Beach, email Sister Drapala at jdrapala@diocesepb.org.
