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CHARLOTTE — Merriam-Webster defines service as a contribution to the welfare of others. And for a combined 375 years, seven Sisters of Mercy celebrated their service during their jubilee May 28 at St. Gabriel Church in Charlotte. Bishop Emeritus William G. Curlin celebrated Mass followed by a reception.

The Jubilarians were Sister Marianne Angert, 70 years; Sister Mary Charles Cameron, Sister Bernadette McNamara and Sister Mary Timothy Warren, 60 years; Sister Paula Diann Marlin and Sister Ann Marie Wilson, 50 years; and Sister Grace Anisio Joseph, 25 years.

In 1941 Sister Marianne received her father's consent to travel from Pittsburgh to Belmont to enter the Sisters of Mercy and begin a life of prayer and service. For most of her ministry she has done this in health care. After receiving training as a medical and X-ray tech from the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minn., she served as supervisor of the X-ray and lab departments at St. Joseph's Hospital in Asheville for seven years. She went on to teach microbiology to nursing students at Mercy Hospital in Charlotte and Sacred Heart College in Belmont, where she later served as the college's dean of women. She also taught science at Belmont Abbey College and the University of West Virginia.

Sister Mary Charles, a native of County Mayo, Ireland, entered the Sisters of Mercy when her aunt, who was a Sister of Mercy, was so helpful to her parents while she was growing up. She taught at many schools including St. Patrick and Assumption in Charlotte, and for 40 years she was a teacher, principal or school president in Guam.

Sister Bernadette, also a native of County Mayo, began her relationship with the Sisters of Mercy in preschool. Her call to religious life emerged when sisters from various communities visited her school and spoke about their missions in China, Africa and India. After learning about the needs of the Church in Raleigh from her aunt, she decided to come to America in 1951. She began her ministry as an elementary school teacher and later served as a principal and parochial administrator. Since 2007 she has served as a pastoral associate at Queen of Apostles Church in Belmont. Among her duties are working with the homebound, Hospice, RCIA and baptismal preparation classes.

Sister Mary Timothy, an Asheville native, entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1951. Like many sisters she began her ministry in education. She taught at St. Benedict School in Belmont and in Charlotte at St. Patrick and St. Garbriel schools. She was also principal at St. Joan of Arc School in Asheville. She has also ministered at Mercy Hospital in Charlotte as a cytology technologist, a histology technologist and as the director of continuing education. She's served as a pastoral associate at St. Gabriel Church and in pastoral ministry at Mercy Hospital. She was the vicar for women religious for the Diocese of Charlotte until July 2010 and began her current position as an archivist assistant in Belmont last August.

Sister Paula Diann of Mobile, Ala., felt a call to religious life when she was in sixth grade. She spent 31 years teaching in Maryland, Alabama and Florida. She is now the South Central Community archivist.

Sister Ann Marie, a native of New York, began a career in business yet felt a call to religious life. In 1961, she became a Sister of Mercy and spent most of her ministry in education as a teacher or principal in North Carolina at Sacred Heart Grade School in Belmont, St. Michael School in Gastonia and St. Gabriel School in Charlotte. She served as the hospital chaplain at Carolinas Medical Center-Mercy from 1995 to 2003. She is now working at Sacred Heart Convent in Belmont.

A native of Pollap Island in Chuuk State, FSM ( Federated States of Micronesia), Sister Grace served as a teacher in many schools in Guam. She assists with the care of the sisters at Marian Center in Belmont and delivers meals for Belmont's Meals on Wheels.

-- Paul Bond, special to the Catholic News Herald

Pictured above: From left are Sisters of Mercy jubilarians: Sister Bernadette McNamara, 60 years; Sister Grace Anisio Joseph, 25 years; Sister Paula Diann Marlin, 50 years; Sister Mary Timothy Warren, 60 years; Sister Ann Marie Wilson, 50 years; Sister Marianne Angert, 70 years; and Sister Mary Charles Cameron, 60 years. (photo provided by Paul Bond)