2025
Eight Women, 515 Years
Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon Celebrate a Legacy of Faith and Service for their 2025 Jubilee
In the Catholic tradition, a Jubilee is a sacred milestone, a celebration of decades lived in faithful service to God and others. It is both a time of deep reflection and joyful gratitude. In 2025, the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon (SSMO) will honor eight extraordinary women who, collectively, represent 515 years of religious life, compassion, and community commitment.
On Sunday, July 27, 2025, friends, family, and community members will gather at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Chapel inside the Sisters’ Motherhouse for a special Jubilee Mass and celebration.
The honorees: Sisters Elizabeth Sohler, Theresa Hathaway, Marcella Parrish, Marilyn LeDoux, Elma Heesacker, Marie Bernadette George, Sara Goggin, and Theresa Lan Nguyen, reflect the joy and resounding effect of lives devoted to service. From classrooms to chapels, gardens to global journeys, their stories speak to a lifetime of faith in action.
“These women embody what it means to live a life of compassion,” said Sister Michael Francine Duncan, SSMO Superior General. “They have uplifted thousands of lives through their ministries of education, health care, community service, and prayer. Each of them brings unique gifts, and together they represent the enduring mission of our SSMO Community.”
Meet the Jubilarians:
75th Jubilee
Sister Elizabeth Sohler
Tending to God’s garden
Sister Elizabeth Sohler is celebrating her 75th Jubilee. The seeds of God’s love took root through her early childhood connection to the Sisters and as a boarding student at St. Mary of the Valley High School. Sr. Elizabeth embraced the ministries of teaching music and elementary children at nine schools and then spending 27 years in the business office at Maryville.
Sr. Elizabeth’s ministry continues today in the area of hospitality as she prepares guest rooms for visitors to the Motherhouse and enjoys tending the Sisters’ flower garden.
“It just grew in me,” Sr. Elizabeth recalls. “I thank God for calling me to be a Sister of St. Mary of Oregon.”
75th Jubilee
Sister Theresa Hathaway
May the dear Lord reward you
Sister Theresa Hathaway, celebrating her 75th Jubilee, found joy in following God’s call. She clearly remembers being called to religious life one Saturday when she decided to visit the chapel. After graduating from St. Mary of the Valley, she joined the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon and followed her vocation and ministry as a teacher, principal, secretary and librarian.
Through it all, she found the most joy and blessings by serving alongside her sister, Sister Mary Ann Hathaway.
“Listen. Sometimes, the call comes suddenly, like it did for me. I didn’t want this life—until I did. It struck me so hard one day, I thought, ‘Was that my angel nudging me?’” Sr. Theresa said. “If you feel that pull, talk to someone. Maybe it really is Jesus saying, ‘Follow me.’”
70th Jubilee
Sister Marcella Parrish
It is a blessing to serve with love
Sister Marcella Parrish is celebrating her 70th Jubilee. She is a career educator and life-long artist who says, “It is a blessing to serve with love.” She found joy in serving God and others through roles as teacher, principal, assistant superintendent, community councilor, homeless advocate and worker and activities director with her Sisters.
As an educator, Sr. Marcella taught everything from religion and chemistry to photography and electronics — even auto mechanics. While serving the homeless, she was a volunteer, team member and director at St. Joseph Shelter in Mt. Angel. Currently, Sr. Marcella finds joy in serving the retired Sisters and providing companionship to those with memory loss.
“Religious life can be demanding, but it’s joyful and fulfilling,” says Sr. Marcella. “I have been blessed with good health, deep friendships, and the chance to love and serve God in many ways.”
70th Jubilee
Sister Marilyn LeDoux
Sharing the gift of art with others
Sister Marilyn LeDoux is celebrating her 70th Jubilee. She has loved teaching children and helping them grow. She taught at schools across Oregon for many years and spent several summers teaching religious education at parishes in Oregon, Washington and Montana. Sr. Marilyn totally loved teaching but her absolute joy was to teach and share art with others.
“God has always blessed me with great joy through art,” Sr. Maryilyn said. “Through teaching art to children and sharing it with others, I have always found God’s calling for me.”
70th Jubilee
Sister Elma Heesacker
Serving her Sisters so they can better serve others
Sister Elma Heesacker is one of the most joyful Sisters at the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon. As she celebrates her 70th Jubilee, she attributes her joy to being able to serve her Sisters in so many ways throughout her life. Between baking, cleaning, driving and much more, she has cared for her Sisters’ needs so that they were at their best when serving others.
“I have always strived to serve God by being myself and by loving and serving others,” Sister Elma said.
70th Jubilee
Sister Marie Bernadette George
Jesus is present here – that is pure joy
Sister Marie Bernadette George is also celebrating her 70th jubilee. She is the living example of putting something on paper in order to see it through. Her desire to be a Sister began at a very young age, but she wrestled with it throughout high school and in the Sisters’ Aspirancy Program.
Once she wrote her letter to Mother Collette, her decision was final and she found complete joy in being with the other Sisters, teaching and living in the House of God.
“This best part about being a Sister is living in the house of God,” Sr. Marie Bernadette said. “Jesus is present here in the Tabernacle. That is such a joy.”
60th Jubilee
Sister Sara Goggin
God’s love is meant to be shared
Sister Sara Goggin, celebrating her 60th Jubilee, has dedicated herself to sharing God’s love with others. Whether teaching religion, math, science or history, Sister Sara always found a way to help her students see God’s love for them. Today, she is an advocate for God’s creation as she shares with others about the importance of conservation and caring for the earth. She recognizes the important and joy-filled task God has entrusted to us as humans – to care of our world. The world he has created for us to enjoy.
Sr. Sara reminds us, “Once you experience God’s love you have to share it.”
25th Jubilee
Sister Theresa Lan Nguyen
Answering the call with her whole heart
Sister Theresa Lan Nguyen is celebrating her 25th Jubilee. Her amazing life spans both continents and cultures. Born in South Vietnam, Sr. Theresa Lan was encouraged by her mother to become a Sister. Unfortunately, the unexpected death of her mother and the rise of Communist control in her home country would delay her path to religious life for 15 years.
Eventually, Sr. Theresa Lan would find her way to the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon where she found warmth, encouragement, community and a place to pour herself into serving others.
“As for what God and Mary mean to me—well, I’d like to share in Vietnamese,” say Sr. Theresa Lan. “Chúa luôn yêu bạn, chết vì bạn. Khi bạn vui, buồn, lo lắng hay cần giúp đỡ, hãy gọi Ngài. Ngài sẽ ở bên bạn, an ủi bạn và cùng bạn đi tiếp con đường.”
(Translation: God always loves you and died for you. Whether you are happy, sad, worried, or in need, call Him—He will be with you, comfort you, and journey with you.)
These are just eight of the thousands of stories that make up the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon. These valiant women of prayer have faithfully served God and their community for more than 138 years. To learn more about visiting or joining the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon, visit ssmo.org/vocations.
Check back here in June when we will share videos from our 2025 Jubilarians and dive deeper into their individual stories of faith and service.
