Each year the sisters celebrate the anniversary of their entrance into religious life. The 2022 Jubilarians are:
Three Sisters of Mount Carmel will celebrate their Jubilee of vowed life this year. Honored are Sister Maryphilip Surban (60th), Sister Barbara Breaud (60th), and Sister Thérèse Grégoire (60th). Sisters Barbara and Thérèse will be honored in celebration of the anniversaries of their religious professions at a liturgy and reception at the Carmelite Spirituality Center, Lacombe, LA. Sister Maryphilip was honored in the Philippines.
Sister Maryphilip Surban, O. Carm. celebrates 60 years of religious life as a Sister of Mount Carmel. Sister Maryphilip, born Bernardina Surban in Calolbon, Catanduanes, Philippines, is the daughter of the late Andres B. Surban and Carmen Soner. She has two sisters and seven brothers. She entered Carmel in 1960 and professed first vows in 1962. Sister Maryphilip finished elementary grades at Catanduanes College in Virac, Catanduanes and graduated from high school at Colegio de la Immaculada Concepcion in Cebu City, Philippines. She is a graduate of San Juan de Dios Hospital School of Nursing and received her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Cebu Velez College of Nursing. Sister Maryphilip has worked as infirmary nurse at the Sisters of Mount Carmel Motherhouse, New Orleans, LA and in the healthcare ministry in Thibodaux, LA and New Orleans, and Mount Carmel Mobile Clinic and Holy Child Hospital, Dumaguete City, Philippines, ministries of the Sisters of Mount Carmel. She has also served as Philippine Regional Coordinator, postulant directress, formation team member, and as Canonical Novice Formator and Coordinator of the Novitiate House. She is currently residing at Magnificat: Place of Prayer in Dumaguete City, Philippines where she is a Carmelite presence of prayer and hospitality.
Sister Barbara Breaud, O. Carm. celebrates 60 years of religious life as a Sister of Mount Carmel. Sister Barbara was born in New Orleans, LA and is the first of four children of the late Elvin Stevenson Breaud and Mary Theresa Wetta. She entered Carmel in 1959 and professed first vows in 1962. Sister Barbara attended St. James Major and Mount Carmel Academy in New Orleans. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education from Loyola University, New Orleans, a Master of Arts degree in Religion and Personality from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA and a Master of Science in Mathematics from Notre Dame du Lac, Notre Dame, IN. Sister Barbara taught religion, mathematics and science. She served as director of Blessing Place, Lacombe for fourteen years, coordinator of direct services and adult education in the St. Thomas Housing Project at Hope House in New Orleans and as Executive Councilor and Assistant to the President of the Congregation. Sister has spent many years teaching spirituality to adults, giving retreats and days of recollection and offering spiritual direction as well as serving as Director of Initial and On-Going Formation for the congregation. Sister served as Executive Director of the Carmelite Spirituality Center, Lacombe, LA. She is currently working with Pilgrim Companions and Visiting Angels, New Orleans, LA.
Sister Thérèse Grégoire, O. Carm. celebrates 60 years of religious life as a Sister of Mount Carmel. Sister Thérèse was born in Lowell, MA and is the oldest of three children born to the late Lionel Gustave Grégoire and the late Gertrude C. Houle. Sister began her religious life as a member of the Sisters of Charity of Ottowa entering in 1960 and making first vows in 1962. She transferred vows to the Congregation of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in 1982. Sister Thérèse attended St. Louis de France, St. Jeanne d’Arc and St. Joseph High for Girls in Lowell, MA and Lowell State College where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Education with a minor in Mathematics, and Nicholls State College in Thibodaux for computer education. She taught in grades one through 12, in schools in Lowell and Haverhill, Mass and Ogdensburg, NY and in Louisiana schools in Abbeville, Kaplan, and New Iberia. She left teaching in 1998 when she was asked to assume the dual positions of Congregation Treasurer and Congregation Archivist, positions she continues to serve in today.