On October 19, 2007, Sr. Rose Therese Cooper made her final profession of vows in our community. Sr. Rita-Maria Käß (superior general), Sr. Teresa Reulbach (formation director for the junior sisters), and Sr. Josepha Delray (born in Racine and has been living in Würzburg for 25 years) had come for this celebration. Together with all the sisters of the Racine convent they had a triduum to prepare for the event. The mermorials of the saints Ignatius of Antioch (October 17) and Luke the evangelist (October 18) emphasized essential contents of religious life: Following Jesus Christ in surrendering one’s life and proclaiming the good news. Late Friday afternoon the sisters were waiting for Archbishop Timothy Dolan from Milwaukee who was the presider at Mass. The Augustinian fathers Joseph Stobba, Jack Shirley and Al Metzger as well as Fr. Paul Daniels (chaplain at St. Monica’s Senior Citizens Home) and other priest friends of our community celebrated Holy Eucharist with the archbishop. In his homily he said, "Religious life is all about love, love for God and neighbor" and referred to pope Benedict XVI.‘s encyclical ‚Deus caritas est‘. Archbishop Dolan pointed out that Sr. Rose Therese‘s final profession of vows is a symbol for the entire Church who is the bride of Jesus Christi, ready to surrender her life to the Lord. After the homily, general superior Sr. Rita-Maria asked Sr. Rose Therese whether she would be ready to journey on with our community forever and to join in the mission of the sisters of St. Rita. Sr. Rose Therese answered in German "Ich bin bereit" which means "Yes, I will." During novitiate and juniorate, Sr. Rose Therese had learned some German and had stayed in German convents twice for a longer period of time. Her profession of vows she then proclaimed in English, so the whole festive congregation was able to understand what she was saying. After this, Sr. Rita-Maria gave her a ring, a replica of the wedding ring of St. Rita, and said, " "Wear this ring as a sign of belonging in truth to God and to our community." All the people in church – residents of St. Monica’s, Sr. Rose Therese’s blood sister Christine Hicks from Colorado, sisters and friends of Sr. Rose Therese – applaudet full of joy. After Mass all the guests met for dinner. When the celebration was over the sisters met in the common room to look at all the gifts Sr. Rose Therese had received. Everybody was happy and grateful for the day and for the good community atmosphere.
Sr. Rose Therese signs her profession form on the altar.
Archbishop Timothy Dolan signs the professon form of Sr. Rose Therese
