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Celebrating a Century

March 12, 2021
By CSA Sisters of St. Agnes

This article appears in the February Issue of Reflections and Connections

Rosa Ines
“I say, ‘Thank you, Lord, for letting me be a Sister of St. Agnes.’ - Sister Rosa Inés Silva, CSA

This fall, two sisters of St. Agnes celebrated their 100th birthdays. In October of 1920, Sister Mary Ellen Johnston was born in Ireland and in December of that same year Sister Rosa Inés Silva was born in Nicaragua. In 1951, at the age of 30, they both made their first professions and became Sisters of St. Agnes.

Throughout her years in active ministry, Sister Mary Ellen taught and served in administration in schools throughout Wisconsin, as well as in Fort Wayne and Crown Point, Indiana; Evanston, Illinois; and Tucson, Arizona. Upon retiring, she returned to Fond du Lac to serve with the Office of Justice and Peace and eventually moved to Nazareth Court.

Sister Rosa Inés began her ministry in the US working in the medical labs at St. Agnes Hospital before being called back to Nicaragua to serve as a teacher in Waspam. There she learned the Miskito language and assisted the English-speaking sisters as they learned to teach in Spanish and Miskito. She continued to minister in Nicaragua until she retired to Nazareth Court in Fond du Lac.

In 2020, Sisters Mary Ellen Johnston and Rosa Inés Silva celebrated their 100th birthdays under the same roof at Nazareth Court & Center and in 2021 they now celebrate their 70th Jubilees together.

Happy birthday to our CSA Centenarians!

Mary Ellen
“When I found out I was 100 years old it just did something to me. I was so full of joy.  I know God is with me and loves me. Being 100 years old is great! What added to my joy was knowing that I will be seeing the Lord soon, something I really want to do.” - Sister Mary Ellen Johnston, CSA

Read the full issue of Reflections & Connections here.

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