Five Sisters of Life Profess First Vows

Five Sisters of Life professed their first vows June 26 at Sacred Heart Church in Suffern.  Bishop James Conley of the Diocese of Lincoln, Neb., celebrated the Mass of Profession.

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Sister Eden Marie, S.V., 29, graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University with a bachelor's degree in psychology; she also attended the University of Texas at Austin, and studied theology at Franciscan University (online). Before entering the Sisters of Life in 2018, she ran a housekeeping business and was studying to be a marriage and family counselor. She was a graduate assistant and substitute teacher. While attending college in the Diocese of Baton Rouge, she was involved in retreat ministry to junior high and high school students. She is the daughter of Ted and Theresa Veazey of Slidell, La., and has two older brothers.

Sister Noelle Marie Bethlehem, S.V., 27, graduated from Duke University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and a master’s in Leadership for the New Evangelization from the Augustine Institute in Denver, where she discerned religious life before entering the Sisters of Life in 2018. She is the daughter of David and Lori Haley of Fort Worth, Texas, and has two brothers and two sisters.  

Sister Elena Marie, S.V., 26, graduated from Hillsdale College in Michigan with a bachelor’s degree in history. Before entering the Sisters of Life in 2018, she was the program coordinator at the Newman Institute for Catholic Thought and Culture at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. She is the daughter of James and Carol Wathen of Lincoln, Neb., and has three brothers and two sisters.

Sister Maria Annunciata, S.V., 26, graduated from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette with a bachelor’s in general studies. Before entering the Sisters of Life in 2018, she served at the Missionaries of Charity Summer Camp and Catholic Services of Acadiana; was a LifeTeen core member at her parish; and went to Alaska on mission twice with the College Missions Company. She is the daughter of Arthur and Karen Rabalais of Youngsville in Lafayette Parish, La., and has a younger brother. 

Sister Rose Patrick O'Connor, S.V., 24, graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Australia. She majored in journalism and minored in music, psychology, Italian and Mandarin Chinese. Before entering the Sisters of Life in 2018, she was a radio news reporter for Australian Broadcasting Corporation. She is the daughter of Paul and Fiona Webb of Toowoomb, and has nine brothers and two sisters.