2026
140 Years of Hope
A Celebration of Remarkable Service
“I am the Door. Whoever passes through Me will be saved.” Jesus’ words from John 10:7 reveals a pilgrimage that leads to eternal life. Through Christ’s words, Pope Alexander VI established the ceremony of opening the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica in 1500. This liturgical ceremony continues to this day as an important indicator that Christ is accessible to us through our journey.
The Catholic tradition of Jubilee is far more than a simple anniversary. It is a sacred interruption of routine to answer a call to reconciliation and spiritual renewal that dates back to 1300. At that time, Pope Boniface designated the first Catholic Jubilee as a pilgrimage to receive God’s grace and pardon for our sins. For the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon, this sacred event provides the perfect framework to celebrate their 140-year legacy of prayer, education, health care and service. From their earliest days, the Sisters have answered their call to serve. They have established a tradition of serving in local, national and global classrooms, chapels, hospitals and communities to meet the needs of the underserved. The spirit that has sustained this Community for 140 years is one of deep trust in God.
This year, for the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon’s (SSMO) Jubilee celebration, they have reached a significant crossroads in their journey. These valiant women are simultaneously celebrating their profound renewal of commitment to God and the monumental marker of their congregation’s 140th anniversary. This convergence of milestones presents a wonderful opportunity for both deep reflection and joyful gratitude. It is a moment to look back at a legacy that began with faith and a willingness to accept challenges, and to look forward into a legacy building future.
The Sisters’ legacy of trust in God is exemplified by the 2026 SSMO Jubilarians, Sister Ruth Frank and Sister Josephine Pelster. This year’s Jubilarians have personal and unique journeys of prayer and service. Together, they have a combined 130 years of service with love here in our community.
70th Jubilee
Sister Ruth Frank
Seven Decades of Faith and Formation
Sister Ruth Frank marks an extraordinary personal milestone this Jubilee year: her 70th anniversary as a Sister of St. Mary of Oregon. With a joyful spirit, she notes, “I have been a part of this Community for exactly half of our 140-year history.” Her story is a testament to the Sisters’ legacy of excellent education.
Born into a large Oregon family, Sister Ruth Frank’s call to teaching began in her childhood, where she learned to teach and care for her younger siblings. This early experience foreshadowed a lifetime dedicated to Catholic education.
Sr. Ruth Frank spent decades serving in Catholic schools across the state, pouring her energy into ensuring students received not just academic instruction, but a holistic spiritual and personal formation. For Sister Ruth, being an educator was a direct way of fulfilling her vows. “Teaching is my call to be Christ’s hands and heart for my students,” she said. This profound responsibility helped her shape thousands of young lives in dramatic ways.
Teaching the whole person – body, spirit and mind – naturally enabled Sister Ruth Frank to integrate spiritual values and intellectual rigor into her students. She also found ways for it to help her be a vital resource for health and pastoral care during the early days of Maryville.
During the summer breaks from the classroom, Sr. Ruth Frank ministered at Maryville. While there, she assisted residents with care, embracing the diversity of people she met, and thoroughly enjoying the opportunity to be present with the older community. These summer ministries were a time of enrichment, offering a different yet equally rewarding way to live out the Sisters mission, charism and values.
Seventy years is a remarkable journey — a pilgrimage marked by unwavering faith, the perseverance required to navigate the changing landscape of education, and an ever-present sense of joy. Sister Ruth Frank is a dynamic chapter in the 140-year legacy of the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon.
60th Jubilee
Sister Josephine Pelster
Six Decades of Faithful Presence and Compassionate Care
Sister Josephine Pelster is celebrating her 60th Jubilee. Her life is defined by a powerful sense of rootedness, belonging, and a commitment to faithful presence. Finding peace and joy within her Community, Sr. Josephine’s spiritual foundation is the cornerstone of her six decades of ministry in health care.
“I have always found this Community to be nourishing and centered on prayer,” says Sr. Josephine. “My Sisters and my time spent simply praying through Scripture have always helped me find peace and joy in my life and vocation.”
Sister Josephine spent 30 years as a nurse at Maryville, a ministry where her quiet and compassionate nature found its perfect expression. She views her work at the bedside as far more than passing medicines, saying “It was important to me to walk with a person through the rest of their life.” This philosophy transformed her nursing duties into spiritual companionship by being a present friend in critical moments. “My role was to be there. Through sickness, recovery, and ultimately their transition to eternity, I found my purpose in being present to offer comfort, dignity and support,” Sister Josephine said.
This profound desire to be with people, to accompany them in their most vulnerable moments, guided Sister Josephine’s career transition from nurse to Director of Spiritual Care. In this important role, she spent 20 years serving the spiritual needs of Maryville residents. Mastering the art of quiet presence, she focused on being a consistent and calming companion.
“I was able to help Maryville residents and their families navigate aging, grief, and exploring their unique spiritual journeys by simply listening and being present,” Sr. Josephine commented. Her gentle guidance has supported people of all ages across the Northwest and is a testament to the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon’s Charism.
Celebrating her 60th Jubilee in the midst of the Community’s 140th anniversary is a moment of deep gratitude for Sister Josephine. “This Jubilee is very special for me. I see it as a personal ‘thank you’ to my Community for helping me find the strength to serve others and as an opportunity for us as a Community to praise God for His goodness to each of us,” she remarked.
Building on the Legacy: The Journey Continues
The collective milestones celebrated this year: 140 years of the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon and the combined 130 years of religious life offered by Sister Ruth Frank and Sister Josephine Pelster, tell a powerful story of unity, endurance and grace.
Whether the Sisters are found in a bustling classroom shaping future generations, offering solace in a chapel, tending to a patient’s needs, or providing spiritual care through the quiet art of presence, the 140-year legacy of the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon moves forward. The Jubilarians are just two examples of the teaching, nursing and pastoral care of the courageous women who said, “Yes!” to their calling at the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon.
Jubilee is a moment of renewal, a time to draw strength from the deep roots planted 140 years ago. It calls the Sisters’ Community and everyone who partners with them to recommit to the founding ideals of prayer, education, health care, and service. This celebration is more than a historical observation, it is a shared legacy that acknowledges how the Spirit of God guided those early Sisters and how His presence remains vitally active today. As the Sisters honor their past, they also illuminate a clear path forward. They remain grounded in the enduring goodness and faithful presence of God, ready to serve the needs of the next generation here in the Tualatin Valley.
